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Vol.  X. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  J/  NUARY  15,  1884. 


No.  I. 


5Fhe  Sfeevei^s  IM'm^tm. 

rCBLlSHBli  ON  THB 

Wh  OF  EACH  MONTH,  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR. 

BY  THE  STUDENTS  OF 

^teVBD^  In^titate  of  Tec^nologj. 


EoitoK'In-Chisf C.  W.  WHITINO,  '84. 

BusiNBSs  Editor R.  H.  RICE,  '85. 

Exchange  Editor,  CD.  BOYNTON,  '85. 

2.otaI  £)iCtor8. 

A.    P.   KLETZSCH,   '84. 

B.  P.  MOWTON,  '86.  C.  R.  COLLINS.  '86. 

LADD   PLUMLBY,   '87. 


♦  » 


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Subscribers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
ckaHPt  in  their  address  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 
rt^utariy. 

Professors^  alumni^  undergraduates^  and  friends^  are 
invited  to  contribute  literacy  articUs^  itcms^  verses^  dis- 
cussions of  current  topics^  and  personal  notes. 

It  is  particularly  desired  that  Alumni  furnish  us  with 
all  items  of  interest  concerning  themselves  and  every  one 
xvko  has  been  connected  with  the  Institute. 

It  is  expected  that  all  articles  shall  be  written  in  a 
courteous  tone. 

The  writer  s  full  name,  as  well  as  his  NOM  DE  pllmk, 
fuust  accompany  the  article^  as  assurance  of  }^ood  faith 
and  reliability  \  but  it  will  not  be  published^  unless  desired. 

The  editors  do  not  necessarily  endotse  sentiments  ex- 
pressed except  in  the  editorial  and  exchange  columns. 

Publishers  ate  invited  to  send  us  books  and  magazines 
for  notice  or  rrz'iew. 

Exchanges,  contributions^  subset  iptions,  adveiiisemcnts. 
and  ail  other  communications  hymail,  should  be  addressed 
to  The  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  I/oboken, 

isr,j. 

A  li  persons  wishing  to  secure  the  business  patronage  of 
students  and  alumni,  will  find  it  to  their  advantage  to 
send  for  our  advertising  rates. 


TTTHE  initial  number  of  The  Stevens  Indi- 
'  1^  CATOR,  which  we  herewith  present  to  our 
readers,  requires  but  a  few  words  of  introduc- 
tion. 

The  Institute  enjoys,  at  present,  a  period  of 
unusual  prosperity;  it  has  now  achieved  a 
truly  national  reputation,  and  is  recognized,/^r 
excellence^  as  the  leading  school  of  its  class — the 
result  of  a  decade  of  unremitting  labor  on  the 
part  of  those  to  whom  the  management  of  its 
affairs  were  so  fortunately  intrusted.  The  at- 
tendance is  larger  than  at  any  previous  period, 
and,  from  present  indications,  promises  to  re- 
main so  for  some  time  to  come. 

During  a  number  of  years  past  Stevens  has 
had  most  of  the  features  which  go  to  make  up 
modern  college  life;  it  has  long  had  its  socie- 
ties and  clubs,  and  baseball,  football,  and 
other  athletic  sports  have  been  developed  to  a 
certain  extent.  Our  annual,  llie  Eccentric^ 
has  long  been  recognized  as  one  of  our  per- 
manent institutions;  but  we  have  been  com- 
pelled to  forego  the  luxury  and  convenience 
of  a  monthly  college  paper,  which  constitutes 
so  essential  a  factor  in  the  undergraduate  life 
at  most  of  our  important  colleges.  It  was 
evident  to  many  for  several  years  past  that 
Stevens  was  sorely  in  need  of  such  a  paper; 
some  medium  was  wanted  to  express  the  cur- 
rent sentiments  of  the  students  upon  matters 
connected  with  the  curriculum  and  discipline 
of  the  Institute;  some  means  of  bringing  the 
various  athletic  and  other  interests  more 
prominently  to  the  notice  of  the  college 
world,  and  of  correcting  erroneous  impres- 
sions which  occasionally  go  abroad.  The  In- 
stitute has  a  constantly  and  rapidly  growing 
list  of  alumni  who  now  hear  and  see  but  little 
of  the  progress  of  their  ahna  mater,  and  whose 
interest  is  rapidly  cutting  adrift  from  the  as- 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


sociations  of  their  college  days.  A  profes- 
sional school  like  ours,  whose  reputation  so 
largely  depends  upon  the  manner  in  which  its 
graduates  endorse  its  methods,  cannot  afford 
to  allow  them  to  become  wholly  disinterested 
in  its  work.  Again,  the  friends  of  Stevens 
constitute  a  community  which  is  more  or  less 
directly  interested  in  all  that  occurs  at  the  In- 
stitute— an  interest  which  is  certainly  worth 
cultivating. 

The  time,  then,  has  long  been  ripe  for  just 
such  a  paper  as  we  now  take  pleasure  in  pre- 
senting to  the  community  in  which  we  live; 
and  we  trust  that,  to  all  who  have  the  interest 
of  Stevens  at  heart,  The  Indicator  will  at  all 
times  prove  a  welcome  visitor. 

There  can  be  but  one  opinion,  however,  as 
to  the  conditions  under  which  such  a  paper 
can  be  made  a  success;  it  must  have  the  cor- 
dial   support,   both     financial    and    literary, 
which  Stevens  and  its  friends  can  aflford.     We 
are  not  deceiving  ourselves  as  to  the  difficulties 
which  will  arise  and  possibly  thwart  its  suc- 
cess; we  fully  realize,  on  the  other  hand,  that 
there  must  be  no  chance  for  failure,  because, 
if  the  paper  does  not  succeed  now,  it  may  be 
years  before  another  attempt  will  be  made. 
We  know  that  a  paper  like  this  requires  an  ^ 
expenditure  of  time  and  labor  which  we  can 
ill  afford  to  give;  our  legitimate  college  duties, 
already  arduous,  are  constantly  growing  from 
year  to  year,  and  leave  but  little  time  for  out- 
side issues  of  this  kind;  yet  we  are  willing  to 
devote  to  it  much  time  which  would  otherwise 
be  devoted  to  recreation,  trusting  that  all  who 
can  will  bear  with  us  in  the  work. 

We  do  not  hope  to  revolutionize  the  destiny 
of  Stevens;  but  we  are  free  to  confess  that  we 
look  for  some  good  results  to  our  alvia  mater 
from  our  journal.  The  Indicator  will  surely 
reach,  among  others,  a  class  of  readers  which, 
for  several  years  past,  has  become  quite  a  source 
of  supply  for  our  upper  classes,  and  which 
the  authorities  have  always  and  very  wisely 
encouraged.  We  refer  to  those  graduates  and 
upper  classmen  from  classical  and  other  col- 
leges, who  come  to  Stevens  for  a  post-graduate 


course.  To  them  The  Indicator  will  be  the 
means  of  affording  an  insight  to  the  condition 
of  affairs  as  they  actually  exist,  and  which 
even  by  reading  between  the  lines  of  the  An- 
nual Catalogues  or  Announcements  they  could 
not  discern.  Everybody  who  has  had  any 
experience  at  all,  places  little  reliance  in  the 
statements  of  college  catalogues,  and  we  know 
that  our  own  comes  in  for  a  share  in  the 
general  prejudice  with  which  literature  of  that 
class  has  come  to  be  regarded. 

To  those,  as  well  as  to  new  men  about  to 
enter  as  Freshmen,  a  perusal  of  The  Indica- 
tor will  prove  a  valued  means  of  estimating 
the  real  merits  of  Stevens;  and  we  shall  in- 
deed be  greatly  mistaken  if  The  Indicator 
will  not  bring  many  such  men  to  our  halls,  for 
by  the  system  of  exchanges,  it  will  doubtless 
find  its  way  into  every  important  college  in 
the  land. 

We  hope  that  our  readers  may  be  lenient 
enough  to  overlook  any  defects  which  may  be- 
come apparent  in  this,  our  initial  number.  We 
have  yet  to  acquire  experience  and  judgment 
in  journalism;  when  we  have  that,  we  shall 
hope  to  have  molded  The  Indicator  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  needs  and  wishes  of  the 
community  for  whose  benefit  it  has  been  de- 
signed. 


« ^  » * 


P^OW  that  the  football  season  has  ended,  and 
A  [^  Stevens  has  shown  her  mettle  by  taking 
the  first  place  after  Yale,  Princeton  and 
Harvard,  we  have  a  long  rest  until  the  middle 
of  April,  when  the  baseball  season  will  begin. 
In  the  meantime,  we  are  very  much  crippled  by 
having  no  gymnasium,  and  for  this  very  rea- 
son we  should  make  a  more  strenuous  effort  to 
keep  our  place  in  the  college  arena.  In  base- 
ball we  shall  doubtless  be  able  to  do  some- 
thing; but  it  should  be  remembered  that  for 
two  years  Stevens  has  not  been  represented  in 
the  Intercollegiate  athletic  games.  If  we  are 
not  represented  this  year,  we  lose  our  member- 
ship. This  must  not  happen.  We  must  be 
represented;  and,  to  be  able  to  select  the  men 
to   enter    we   must   have   a   Spring   Athletic 


''^mmmmmm 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Meeting,  among  ourselves,  about  the  latter 
part  of  April.  We  have  plenty  of  men  to  pick 
from  and  make  a  fair  show,  if  some  one  or  two 
will  push  the  thing  ahead.  "  We  "  will  try 
and  interest  all  by  keeping  the  subject  well 
ventilated  before  them,  in  our  editorial  columns 
and  elsewhere.  Let  us  remember  that  all  the 
colleges  of  any  importance  have  their  Field 
Days.  Enough  gate  money  will  be  taken  to 
pay  for  medals  for  each  event;  and  thus  an 
object  can  be  placed  before  the  contestants. 
Don't  let  Stevens  be  eclipsed,  but  make  her 
shine  even  more  brightly  than  the  rest. 


*^  » » 


TT7HE  Afichigan  Chronicle  makes  the  score  of 
1  the  game  between  their  football  team  and 
ours  17  to  5  in  their  favor.  In  another  column 
they  publish  a  letter  from  Stevens  placing  the 
score  at  5  to  I  in  favor  of  Stevens.  After 
commenting  on  the  incorrectness  of  the  score 
in  the  said  letter,  in  their  editorial  columns, 
they  remark  that  "  in  accordance  with  the 
final  decision  of  the  referees,  we  were  beaten 
in  every  game  played."  Consistency  seems  to 
be  a  rare  jewel  with  the  Chronicle.  We  would 
refer  them  to  "  Football  Records  of  American 
Teams,'*  by  Walter  Chauncey  Camp,  where 
they  will  find  official  record  of  the  above  game, 
with  a  score  of  5  to  i  in  favor  of  Stevens. 


» #  » * 


0N  Thanksgiving  Day  the  Stevens  Institute 
foot-ball  team  closed  one  of  the  most 
successful  seasons  of  foot-ball  that  have  crown- 
ed their  efforts  since  the  introduction  of  the 
revised  Rugby  game. 

Before  1876,  the  foot-ball  matches  of  the 
different  colleges  were  governed  by  the  Amer- 
ican Association  rules,  which  allowed  no  run- 
ning with  or  passing  of  the  ball,  and  no  tack- 
ling whatever.  While  governed  by  these  rules 
the  Stevens  team  had  not  only  played  good 
matches,  but  succeeded  in  downing  several  of 
her  strongest  opponents. 

With  1876  came  the  change  by  which  the 
more  exciting  Rugby  game  of  foot-ball  was 
substituted  for  the  American  game  ;  and  in  the 


year  following  it  had  been  adopted  by  nearly 
all  the  colleges  playing  foot-ball.  But  the  old 
success  was  gone.  Stevens  no  more  succeeded 
in  piling  up  scores  on  her  rivals,  and,  from 
year  to  year,  the  foot-ball  matches  at  the  cricket 
grounds  lost  their  interest,  so  that  it  became 
almost  an  impossibility  to  put  an  eleven  in  the 
field.  Then  came  the  disastrous  seasons  of  '80 
and  '81.  In  the  latter  year,  our  weakest  op- 
ponent for  many  seasons  succeeded  in  tieing  us. 

The  foot-ball  team  that  season  was  com- 
pletely demoralized,  and  the  college  support 
had  dwindled  down  next  to  nothing.  The  re- 
mark, that  to  play  another  game  would  only 
add  another  defeat  to  our  already  long  list, 
was  frequently  heard.  Stevens  had  good  men 
in  those  days,  better  athletes,  stronger  and 
larger  than  at  present,  and  the  advantage  of  a 
good  gymnasium,  which  we  never  missed  more 
than  during  the  season  just  closed.  Faults 
were  everywhere,  the  captain  complaining  of 
the  team,  the  team  of  the  students,  the  stu- 
dents of  the  faculty,  and  the  faculty  especially 
of  the  team. 

The  members  of  the  Athletic  Association, 
after  having  elected  the  foot-ball  captain  ac- 
cording to  the  bad  system  by  which  he  is  now 
chosen,  thought  their  work  done.  From  the 
Board  of  Directors  he  received  little  or  no  sup- 
port, and  from  the  faculty  still  less,  until  the 
life  of  foot-ball  at  Stevens  Institute  was  nearly 
extinct.  However,  what  use  of  complaining. 
Useful  suggestions  and  restoratives  were 
promptly  applied,  and  with  the  aid  of  '82 's 
season  and  of  class  captains  of  '84  and  '85, 
life  again  manifested  itself  with  renewed  vigor; 
placing  the  college  team  upon  that  successful 
footing  with  which  the  season  of  '2>2i  has 
closed.  The  season  of  1882,  as  for  college 
matches,  might  have  proved  a  more  successful 
one  had  more  games  been  played.  The  cap- 
tain must  have  lost  all  faith  in  his  team,  other- 
wise he  could  not  have  suffered  such  good 
ability  and  material  to  lie  inert. 

It  again  looked  gloomy  for  the  season  of 
1883  by  the  loss  of  four  players,  instead  of  one, 
as  was  first  expected;  but  the  majority  of  those 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


remaining  were  bound  to  wipe  out  the  defeat 
which  under  unfair  circumstances  had  been 
administered  to  them  the  year  before.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  players  went  to  work  with  a  will, 
began  practicing  early,  being  two  weeks  ahead 
of  any  other  college,  and  on  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember played  the  first  match.  The  players, 
however,  were  not  in  a  fit  condition  to  tackle 
stronger  colleges,  owing  to  the  want  of  gym- 
nasium practice.  The  Board  of  Directors, 
under  the  circumstances,  prescribed  the  best 
in  their  power,  requiring  each  member  to  con- 
form with  a  course  of  training,  which,  if  strictly 
adhered  to,  would  certainly  have  proved  still 
more  beneficial. 

On  October  6,  we  played  Yale  at  New  Ha- 
ven; during  the  first  20  minutes  of  the  game 
she  did  not  score  on  us.  Unfortunately  for 
us,  our  captain  and  another  player  were  dis- 
abled in  the  middle  of  the  first  half  ;  still  the 
team  succeeded  in  playing,  during  that  time, 
one  of  the  best  games  which  has  been  played 
with  Yale  during  the  present  season.  In  the 
second  half  the  team,  without  any  one  to  en- 
courage them,  played  loosely  for  a  time,  and, 
aided  by  these  circumstances,  Yale  succeeded 
in  making  the  greater  number  of  the  48  points, 
and  nearly  one  half  the  points  scored  against  us 
this  season.  A  second  game  with  Yale  was 
unwisely  declined.  It  was  solely  the  match 
with  her  team  that  made  our  team.  What  we 
afterwards  gained  was  through  the  hard  and 
persevering  work  of  our  players,  and  we  showed 
our  gratitude  to  Yale  at  her  two  closing 
matches  on  the  Polo  grounds. 

Stevens*  first  game  with  Harvard  was  next 
played  at  home,  and  we  succeeded  in  scoring 
two  touchdowns  against  Harvard's  three,  two 
of  theirs  yielding  goals.  Though  this  game 
was  played  in  a  drizzling  rain,  it  was  pro- 
nounced by  the  spectators  as  one  of  the  finest 
foot-ball  matches  ever  witnessed.  Their  gen- 
tlemanly conduct  during  the  entire  play  was 
warmly  commended,  both  by  spectators  and 
players. 

October  24,  we  played  Princeton  for  the  first 
time,  on  our  own  grounds.     Aided  by  the  wind 


and  referee,  she  succeeded  in  scoring  two  field 
goals  and  one  touchdown  in  the  first  half.  In 
the  second  half  the  wind  had  nearly  died  out, 
and  with  the  sun  in  the  eyes  of  the  home  team, 
we  fought  gamely.  Princeton  succeeded,  and 
allowed  by  the  referee,  in  making  an  unfair 
touchdown  in  this  half,  by  taking  the  ball  from 
one  of  our  half  backs  as  he  was  about  to  make 
a  safety.  Yale's  rough  playing  was  nowhere 
compared  with  the  roughness  and  meanness  of 
this  game.  The  N.  Y.  World  of  October  25 
only  partly  describes  it  in  the  following  article  : 

"  The  Princeton  men  played  with  the  great- 
est roughness,  and  throughout  the  game  took 
advantage  of  their  superior  weight  to  knock 
their  antagonists  about  most  unmercifully.'* 

October  27,  we  played  Columbia,  and  de- 
feated her  in  a  love  game  of  19  to  o.  For  their 
defeat  a  poor  excuse  of  having  seven  substi- 
tutes on  the  team  was  given;  but  we  after- 
wards noticed  eight  of  the  same  eleven  playing 
against  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  Yale. 

Next  on  our  list  came  Lafayette  College,  at 
Easton,  Pa.,  Nov.  3d.  Two  of  our  men  were 
unable  to  play  in  this  match,  and  our  regular 
substitutes  had  withdrawn  from  foot-ball  a  few 
days  before.  We  went  with  the  expectation  of 
being  beaten,  but  succeeded  in  defeating  the 
Lafayette  men  by  a  score  of  14  to  4.  It  was 
in  this  game  that  one  of  our  half  backs  made 
one  of  the  longest  drop-kicks  on  record.  We 
were  no  little  surprised  at  the  ignorance  dis- 
played by  the  referee  of  some  of  the  rules, 
especially  as  regards  off-side. 

November  6,  we  journeyed  to  Cambridge  to 
play  our  return  match  with  Harvard.  A  strong 
wind  blew  diagonally  across  the  field,  and 
though  we  were  aided  by  it,  but  worn  out  by  the 
long  ride,  Harvard,  in  the  first  half,  succeeded 
in  scoring  nine  points  to  our  two.  In  the  sec- 
ond half  the  wind  was  against  us,  and  as 
usual  our  team  played  a  better  and  stronger 
game.  Harvard  only  added  two  more  points 
to  her  nine,  and  acknowledged,  though  aided 
by  the  wind,  that  she  was  outplayed  in  the  last 
three  quarters;  the  final  score  being  11  to  2  in 
Harvard's  favor 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


November  20,  we  played  Seton  Hall.  It 
was  a  one  sided  and  uninteresting  game,  the 
final  score  being  60  to  o  in  favor  of  Stevens. 

November  24,  Lafayette  played  her  return 
game  with  our  team,  on  the  Cricket  Grounds. 
The  ground  was  wet  and  very  slippery,  and 
good  plays  were  at  a  premium.  In  all,  Stevens 
made  four  touchdowns,  of  which  but  one 
yielded  a  goal,  Lafayette  scoring  a  touchdown 
from  which  a  goal  was  kicked,  and  a  beautiful 
drop-kick  from  the  field  giving  her  a  second 
goal,  the  final  score  being  14  to  11  in 
our  favor.  The  last  two  matches  were  played 
with  the.  University  teams  of  Michigan  and 
Pennsylvania,  respectively,  and  are  described 
at  length  in  another  column.  With  the  latter 
game  the  season  closed.  As  regards  success 
and  standing,  we  refer  to  our  record  in  com- 
parison with  those  of  other  colleges,  which 
justly  entitles  us  to  first  place  amongst  the 
non-association  teams,  which  position  has  been 
assigned  to  us  in  the  Foot-Ball  Records  of 
American  Teams. 

Let  us  hope  that  the  success  which  we  have 
attained  is  but  a  start  toward  the  position 
which  Stevens  will  hold  amongst  other  Amer- 
can  colleges. 


« #  » » 


INCE  there  is  always  a  great  deal  of  cheer- 
ing done  when  foot-ball  is  played,  this 
may  be  the  right  place  to  call  the  students*  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  we  are  anxiously  waiting 
for  some  enterprising  genius  to  propose  a  new 
cheer;  it  would  be  well  received  if  it  is  good. 
Let  it  have  some  mouth  filling  and  terror  in- 
spiring vowels  and  consonants  in  it,  0*s,  R*s, 
U's,  etc.  Every  political  house  or  one-horse 
chowder  club  has  adopted  the  fashion  of  spell- 
ing out  its  name,  and  it  is  time  that  our  old 
cheer  should  be  dropped. 


•  ^  » > 


Prof.  { Hearing  a  recitation  in  physics): 
"  Mr.  Blank,  what  is  absolute  zero  ?" 

Mr.  Blank  :  "Not  prepared." 

Prof.  {Suiting  the  action  to  the  word): 
"Correct." 


WHEN  the  Board  of  Editors  of  The  Indi- 
cator organized  and  started  on  the 
several  duties  which  devolved  upon  them,  it 
became  evident  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  edit  a  monthly  paper  and  look  after  the 
property  of  the  same,  in  a  manner  at  all  re- 
sembling business,  without  some  kind  of  an 
office  or  editorial  sanctum.  There  being  no 
unoccupied  space  in  the  college  building  which 
could  be  used  for  that  purpose,  it  was  decided 
to  look  among  the  boarding  houses  for  a  room. 
This  proved  unsuccessful ;  and,  as  a  last  re- 
sort, we  asked  Prof.  Carr  to  let  us  use  part  of 
his  office.  He  consented  willingly,  allowing  us 
all  the  privileges  that  we  could  desire;  and  we 
take  this  opportunity  to  thank  him  heartily  for 
his  kindness.  President  Morton  also  showed 
us  a  great  deal  of  kindness  in  fitting  up  our 
quarters  for  us. 


SKATING  WITH  THE  GIRLS. 


Come  girls,  get  on  your  jockey  hats, 

Dress  in  your  skating  suits, 
Be  sure  to  lace  up  snugly 

Your  pretty  little  boots  ; 
And  we  will  all  go  skating. 

For  the  ice  is  clear  and  bright, 
The  moon  will  soon  be  up,  my  dears, 

We'll  have  a  lovely  night. 

Then  soon  we're  off,  a  little  hand 

Tucked  snugly  'neath  each  arm, 
While  all  the  boys  are  making  love. 

And  keeping  darlings  warm. 
Oh  !  don't  you  think  it's  jolly 

Mixing  up  one's  self  with  curls. 
And  going  off  on  moonlight  nights 

Skating  with  the  girls  ? 

But  when  it  comes  to  putting  on — 

Lord,  love  us !  ain't  it  nice — 
To  hold  the  darling's  little  foot 

You  have  to  be  precise, 
Or  the  skate  won't  fit  so  snugly  ; 

So  with  many  twists  and  twirls, 
How  long  it  takes  in  putting  on 

The  skates  of  pretty  girls. 

The  foot's  so  small,  so  very  trim. 

The  boot  so  high  and  neat ; 
Perhaps  a  glimpse  of  stockings  then 

May  cause  your  heart  to  beat. 
It  takes  so  long  to  put  on  skates 

Of  pretty  ones  with  curls  ; 
And  yet  we  wish  we  always  could 

Go  skating  with  the  girls. 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


STEVENS*  FOOT  BALL  RECORD  FOR 

1883. 


Stevens'  record  for  this  fall  will  be  long  re- 
membered as  one  of  the  most — if  not  the 
most — successful  season's  work  since  the  game 
began  to  be  played  by  our  students.  When 
it  is  taken  into  consideration  that  our  total 
number  is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and 
that  the  team  must  be  chosen  from  this  small 
number,  the  record  of  games  won  is  some- 
thing to  be  proud  of.  We  think  that  if  the 
chosen  men  could  have  some  place  for  indoor 
exercise  on  stormy  days,  the  pleasing  record 
of  this  season's  work  could  be  repeated  next 
fall ;  even  although  we  lose  four  or  five  very 
good  men  next  June.  The  management  of  the 
team  this  year  has  been  all  that  could  be  de- 
sired, and  showed  a  decision  which  was  very 
beautiful  in  its  effect. 

The  team  was  notified  early  in  the  fall, 
what  was  expected  of  them,  and  what  restric- 
tions were  placed  on  their  diet  and  other 
incidental  pleasures ;  and  nobody  can  deny 
that  the  physical  condition  of  the  team  was 
better  than  ever  before.  This  indiscriminate 
smoking,  and  eating  greasy  stuffs  and  pastry 
must  become  a  thing  of  the  past,  now  that  its 
evil  effects  have  become  so  plainly  apparent. 
The  faults  of  the  team  cannot  be  passed  over. 
The  most  grievous  of  these,  and  certainly  the 
most  hurtful  to  the  reputation  of  Stevens,  is 
the  bad  taste  of  all  trying  to  talk  at  once  when  a 
disputed  point  comes  up.  They,  certainly 
would  not  do  so  in  a  ladies*  parlor,  and  why 
should  they  do  in  a  foot-ball  field,  what  they 
would  all  consider  disgraceful  anywhere  else  1 
Unfortunately  for  us,  this  fault  has  been  gen- 
erally noticed,  and  detracts  from  our  other- 
wise good  reputation.  Let  us  turn  over  a 
new  leaf,  and  next  year  put  the  quietest  team 
of  all  in  the  field  ;  it  will  help  us  in  every 
way. 

The  new  system  of  counting  by  points  is  to 
be  commended  in  every  way,  for  it  not  only 
helps  to  prevent  ties,  but  it  gives  the  unini- 
tiated an  idea  of  who  won  ;  because  he  can 
see  by  the  score,  who  has  the  greater  number 
of  points. 

Summary.  Score  by 

points. 
Sept.  29.     Brooklyn  Polytechnic  vs.  Stevens. . .     o     59 

Oct.     6.     Yale  vs.  Stevens 48       o 

**       20.     Harvard  vs.  Stevens 14       4 

"       24.     Princeton  vs.  Stevens 14       o 

"      27.     Columbia  vs.  Stevens o     19 

Nov.    3.     Lafayette  vs.  Stevens 4     14 

"        6.     Harvard  vs.  Stevens 11       2 


Nov.  20.     Selon  Hall  vs.  Stevens o  60 

"      24.     Lafayette  vs.  Stevens 11  14 

"      27.     University  of  Michigan  vs.  Stevens. .      i  5 
'*      29.     University  of  Pennsylvania  vs.  Stev- 
ens      6  6 

Games  won  by  Stevens 6 

Games  lost  by  Stevens 4 

Tie  games i 

Total  of  points  gained 183 

Total  of  points  lost loc} 

Points  gained,  over  points  lost 74 

<^  »  » 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MICHIGAN  vs.  STEVENS. 


HOBOKEN,  Nov,  27,  1883. 

The  game  between  the  team  from  Michigan 
and  the  home  team  was  well  played,  and 
showed  very  plainly  what  Stevens  can  do  if 
she  tries.  The  Michigan  team  was  decidedly 
heavier  than  the  Stevens  eleven,  and  to  an 
outsider  appeared  to  have  a  decided  advan- 
tage in  point  of  size  and  weight.  During  the 
game,  the  Michigan  men  proved  themselves  re- 
markable runners,  beating  our  men,  with  one 
or  two  notable  exceptions,  every  time  the 
occasion  demanded  a  race,  and  if  the  visiting 
team  had  possessed  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
game,  the  score  might  have  been  different, 
although  it  is  but  fair  to  suppose  that  if  our 
team  had  been  pressed  harder,  they  would 
have  worked  harder.  The  weather  was  all 
that  could  be  desired,  a  little  windy,  perhaps, 
but  then  the  boys  work  better  when  it  is  a 
trifle  cold. 

The  game  was  called  at  3.1 1  p.  m.,  Stevens 
losing  the  toss,  having  to  play  the  first  half 
against  the  wind,  and  Michigan,  what  little  sun 
now  and  then  flashed  out  from  under  the 
clouds  in  the  south-west. 

Bush  put  the  ball  in  play  by  dribbling  it 
and  passing  it  to  Cotiart,  who  tried  to  run 
with  it,  but  was  stopped  before  he  had  run 
twenty  feet;  then  followed  a  succession  of 
downs  very  close  together,  but  yet  sufficiently 
far  apart  to  allow  Stevens  to  retain  the  ball  in 
her  possession.  Jones  soon  had  the  ball,  and 
made  a  magnificent  run  toward  the  opponents* 
goal,  but  in  the  next  down  it  was  brought 
dangerously  near  our  home,  Kletzsch  stopping 
the  Michigander  by  a  beautiful  tackle,  turn- 
ing the  holder  of  the  ball  around  about 
three  times,  and  finally  seating  him  on  the 
ground  conveniently  near,  so  that  in  case  he 
desired  to  run  or  to  pass  the  ball,  he  could 
be  stopped.  The  visitor  had,  however,  no 
such  desire,  and  yelled  "down."     Then  fol- 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


lowed  three  downs  for  Michigan,  which  gave 
the  ball  to  Stevens.  In  the  next  scrimmage, 
through  some  unexplained  fact,  one  of  the 
opposing  team  kicked  the  ball,  and  sent  it  flying 
over  our  goal  line.  Away  rushed  both  teams 
for  the  ball,  but  Michigan  got  there  first  and 
held  the  ball.  Immediately  there  was  a  long 
discussion  as  to  whether  it  counted  a  safety 
for  Stevens  or  a  touch  down  for  Michigan. 
Finally,  the  referee,  a  Mr.  Hildreth,  from  C. 
C,  N.  Y.,  decided  that  it  was  a  touch  in  goal, 
although  he  afterwards,  in  the  second  half, 
changed  his  decision,  and  decided  that  it  was 
a  safety  for  Stevens. 

The  ball  was  then  kicked  from  the  25 -yard 
line   by   Bush,  and   stopped   by  one  of  the 
Michigan  team,  who  tried   a  goal  from  the 
field.     The    ball    went    flying    over  the  bar 
and  betw^een  the  posts,  but  the  kicker  having 
neglected  to  allow  the  ball  to  touch  the  ground 
before  kicking  it,  it  had  to  count  as  a  "  punt  " 
only,  although   it  was  a  very  good   attempt. 
The  ball  was  again  put  in  play  from  the  25- 
yard  line.     Michigan  got  the  ball,  but  after  a 
few  very  bad  fumbles,  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  home  team,  and  then  Wurts  started  on 
one  of  his  famous  runs,  gaining  sixty  odd  feet 
and  then  passing  the  ball  to  Cotiart,  who  car- 
ried it  still  further  into  the  opponents'  end  of 
the  field.     During  the  game  Jones  made  some 
splendid  kicks.     Time  was  then  called,  and 
ended  the  first  half. 

The  second  half  was  started  by  Michigan 
adopting  our  tactics  and  dribbling  the  ball. 
Wurts  got  possession  of  the  ball,  and  by  one 
of  his  splendid  and  telling  kicks  sent  it  far  to- 
ward the  Michigan  goal.  By  a  dint  of  mag- 
nificent tackling  and  running  Stevens  got  the 
ball  close  to  Michigan's  goal,  and  then,  by 
watching  his  opportunity,  Wurts  kicked  a  goal 
from  the  field.  Jones  caught  the  ball  when  it 
was  kicked  out  by  Michigan,  and  tried  for  a 
goal,  but  missed.  The  ball  was  then  worked 
by  Michigan  well  down  toward  our  goal. 
Wurts  captured  the  ball  and  ran  with  it, 
ahnost  crossing  the  boundary  line  before  he 
kicked  it,  sending  it  flying  toward  Michigan's 
goal,  but  as  the  referee  decided  that  he  went 
outside,  it  had  to  be  brought  back  and  played 
over  again  from  the  line.  After  this,  iDad 
fumbling  on  both  sides  was  the  order  of  the 
day.  During  the  scrimmage  that  followed, 
both  Torrance  and  Jones  did  some  remarkable 
tackling  and  running,  frequently  arriving  just 
m  time  to  prevent  a  great  gain  by  the  visiting 
team.  Several  times  during  the  game  a  great 
big  Michigan der  would  reach  over  the  strug- 


gling lines  and  catch  hold  of  Baldwin '&*wrist 
just  as  he  tried  to  pass  the  ball  to  our  half 
backs,  thereby  compelling  us  to  lose  ground. 
Cotiart  distinguished  himself  in  this  half  by 
his  good  tackling  and  general  promptitude  in 
"  getting  there  "  just  in  time.  The  ball  was  at 
this  time  about  midway  in  the  field  on  one 
side,  and  during  a  scrimmage  a  Michigan  man 
got  possession  of  the  ball,  and  carried  it  over 
our  goal  line,  the  Stevens  team  making  no  at- 
tempt to  stop  him — as  the  referee  declared  it 
was  a  foul — and  stood  still,  waiting  for  the 
referee  to  call  the  ball  back.  For  a  while, 
however,  he  seemed  to  have  no  such  idea,  and 
it  was  only  after  some  time  had  been  lost,  and 
lots  of  arguments  for  and  against  it  had  been 
made,  that  he  called  back  the  ball  to  be 
played  from  where  the  Michigan  man  had 
picked  it  up.  Meanwhile,  noticing  that  the 
two  Michigan  men  who  had  the  ball  were 
doing  some  very  funny  gymnastics  with  it,  one 
of  the  students  of  Stevens  went  down  to  see 
what  they  were  doing,  and  on  asking  the  ques- 
tion, was  told  that  they  were  "  making  touch 
downs."  Time  was  then  called,  and  the  game 
decided  for  Stevens — 5  to  i. 

Michigan — Goals,  o;  touch  downs,  o;  safe- 
ties, o. 

Stevens— I  goal  from  field  ;  touch  downs, 
o;  safeties,  o. 

Teams. 


University  of  Michigan. 


Rushers. 

Allcott,  Capt. 
Beach. 
Beach,  E.  E. 

BiTNER. 
KiLULEA. 

Wright. 
Prettyman. 
Moore,  Half  Back 
Gemmel,  Half  Back. 
McNiEL,  Quarter  Back 
Gilmore,  Full  Back. 

Umpire. 
H.  S.  Mahon. 

Referee — Mr. 


Stevens. 
Rushers. 


Kletzsch,  Capt. 
Cotiart. 

BURHORN. 

Bush. 

DiLWORTH. 

Torrance. 
Williams. 
Wltrts.  Half  Back. 
Jones.  Half  Back. 
Baldwin,  Quarter  Back. 
Campbell,  Full  Back. 

Umpire, 
E.  MuNKwrrz 

HlLDRETH,  C.  C,  N.  V. 


"♦♦♦- 


UNIVERSITY    OF     PENNSYLVANIA     vs. 

STEVENS. 


HoBOKEN,  Noiy.  29,  1883. 

The  game  between  the  above-named  teams 
was  one  of  decided  interest,  both  because  it 
was  our  last  game  this  season  and  on  account 
of  its  being  the  closest  game  Stevens  has 
played  this  fall.     As  always  seems  to  be  the 


8 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


case,  the  opposing  team  appeared  to  have  the 
advantage  in  weight.  The  day  was  perfect  for 
the  game,  although  the  ground  was  rather 
slippery  and  apt  to  be  treacherous  to  the 
players. 

Game  called  10.50  a.  m.,  after  deciding  to 
play  half-hours  instead  of  three-quarters. 

Stevens  won  the  toss,  taking  the  wind, 
which  was  blowing  rather  briskly. 

Pennsylvania  put  the  ball  in  play  by  drib- 
bling it  and  passing  it  to  the  right  end  rush, 
who  carried  it  almost  across  our  goal  line. 
After  the  next  down  Jones  made  a  beautiful 
run,  carrying  the  ball  well  into  the  centre  of 
the  field.  In  the  next  scrimmage  Wurts  was 
deliberately  and  maliciously  run  into,  and  his 
ankle  hurt.  We  say  deliberately,  because 
Beck,  of  Pennsylvania's  team,  was  overheard 
to  say,  "  We  must  injure  these  half-backs  if  we 
want  to  win  this  game."  However,  Wurts  was 
not  hurt  enough  to  prevent  his  playing.  Jones 
then  tried  for  a  free  catch,  but  was  interfered 
with.  The  referee,  however,  gave  Jones  the 
right  to  a  free  kick.  Baldwin  now  commenced 
to  show  up  to  good  advantage,  kicking  re- 
markably well.  In  fact,  for  the  next  ten  min- 
utes Stevens  did  some  very  good  running, 
and  tackling  to  such  good  effect  that  Bush 
soon  scored  a  touch-down  which  yielded  a 
goal.  This  touch-down,  and  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  made,  was  one  of  the  main  fea- 
tures of  the  game.  Cotiart  and  Torrance  both 
did  very  good  work  in  getting  the  ball  over 
our  adversary's  goal  line. 

After  this  the  ball  stayed  very  close  to 
Stevens'  goal  ;  in  fact,  so  close,  that  after 
three  successive  downs,  Pennsylvania  had  not 
advanced  or  lost  enough  ground  to  retain  the 
ball,  and  therefore  it  passed  into  our  hands. 
Baldwin  kicked  the  ball,  after  allowing  it  to 
pass  over  a  third  man's  foot.  After  a  short 
tussle  Wurts  got  the  ball  and  made  a  good  run 
well  up  to  Pennsylvania's  goal,  and  then 
kicked  it  further,  so  that  for  a  short  time  the 
contest  was  almost  on  top  of  our  opponents' 
goal  line. 

Shortly  after,  while  running  to  get  the  ball, 
which  had  been  kicked  outside  by  Pennsyl- 
vania, Bush  was  interfered  with  and  pushed 
aside,  thereby  causing  him  to  fall  and  injure 
himself,  so  that  he  had  to  withdraw,  Burhorn 
going  on  as  a  substitute,  and  Dilworth  playing 
the  downs.  Immediately  after  the  next  down 
Jones  had  an  opportunity  for  a  free  kick, 
and  sent  the  ball  flying  toward  our  oppo- 
nents' goal,  but  which  was  caught  by  one  of 
the  visiting  team,  who  in  turn  had  a  free  kick. 


Then  followed  a  touch  in  goal  for  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  ball  was  kicked  out  by  Kletzsch. 
Cotiart  followed  up  the  ball  by  one  of  his 
runs,  and  supplemented  it  by  a  tackle  which 
brought  the  holder  of  the  ball  down  in  a  lively 
manner. 

In  the  next  scrimmage  a  man  was  hurt  on 
the  Pennsylvania  team.  Pennsylvania  got 
the  ball,  and  having  a  clear  field,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Maury,  it  seemed  for  a  moment  that 
a  touch  down,  and  possibly  a  goal,  would  be 
scored  ;  but  Maury  saved  us  this  by  bringing 
the  man  down  in  a  manner  more  forcible  than 
was  consistent  with  gracefulness.  This  placed 
the  ball  about  thirty  feet  from  our  goal,  and  in 
the  next  tussle,  by  a  series  of  good  passing 
and  kicking,  and  also  by  an  act  of  the  grossest 
interference,  our  visitors  succeeded  in  making 
a  touch-down,  which  yielded  a  goal.  Kletzsch 
succeeded  in  getting  the  ball  almost  immedi- 
ately after  it  was  kicked  out,  and  started  on 
one  of  his  telling  runs,  bringing  the  ball  well 
up  to  Pennsylvania's  goal.  For  the  next  few 
minutes  the  fight  was  sharp  and  strong,  but 
with  the  evident  advantage  on  Stevens'  side. 

Time  was  then  called,  and  this  ended  the 
first  half. 

In  the  second  half  Baldwin  put  the  ball  in 
play  by  dribbling  and  passing  it  to  Jones,  who 
kicked  it  far  down  the  field.  Pennsylvania 
then  got  possession  of  the  ball,  working  it  well 
up  to  our  goal.  However,  it  was  soon  brought 
back,  and  our  visitors  began  to  lose  ground, 
although  working  hard.  In  the  next  few  min- 
utes both  Wurts  and  Jones  made  splendid 
free  kicks.  Bad  fumbling  then  seemed  to  be 
the  order  of  the  day  for  Pennsylvania.  As 
may  be  imagined.  Beck,  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
used  to  attend  Yale,  lost  no  opportunity  to 
carry  out  the  idea  that  he  had  expressed  to 
his  associates,  namely,  that  of  injuring  our 
half  backs,  and  at  the  first  opportunity  threw 
himself  on  Wurts  while  he  (Wurts)  was  lying 
prostrate  on  the  ground,  although  Wurts  had 
called  "  down  "  quite  some  time  before  Beck 
came  up  to  him.  For  the  first  time  since  he 
had  been  playing  with  Stevens,  Wurts  got 
angry,  and  gave  Beck  some  merited  punish- 
ment. Then  followed,  in  rapid  succes- 
sion, two  free  kicks  by  Wurts,  and  a  most 
magnificent  run  and  tackle  by  Kletzsch, 
who  now  began  to  make  up  for  some  bad 
play  he  had  made  in  the  early  part  of  the 
game.  After  the  next  down,  Torrance  came 
to  the  front  by  catching  and  bringing  down 
his  man  in  his  usual  prompt  and  effect- 
ive way.     Seeing  the  necessity  for  harder  work, 


THE   S  TE  YENS   INDICA  TOR. 


if  they  wanted  to  win,  Pennsylvania  now  did 
her  level  best,  but  was  met  by  just  as  deter- 
mined a  resistance  as  the  effort  they  had  put 
forth,  so  that  nothing  was  gained  or  lost,  only 
the  position  of  the  players  would  change  from 
first  one  end  of  the  field  to  the  other.  Finally, 
Pennsylvania  made  a  foul  pass,  which  put  the 
ball  in  Stevens'  hands,  and  from  that  moment 
our  boys  commenced  to  do  better  work,  gain- 
ing considerably  on  their  opponents,  and  forc- 
ing the  ball  dangerously  near  to  their  goal. 
Before  any  good  could  come  of  this  hard  work 
— for  it  was  hard  work — time  was  called,  thus 
leaving  the  game  a  tie,  which  was  not  played 
off. 

Teams  : 


University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Rushers. 

Gray,  Capt. 

Bell. 

Price. 

Sargent. 

Thompson 

Beck. 

Harvey. 

Mack,  Half  Back. 

Thayer,  Half  Back. 


Stevens. 

Rushers. 

KLErzscH,  '84,  Capt. 
McCoy,  '85. 
Cotiart,  '86. 
Bush.  '84. 
Torrance,  '84. 
Dilworth,  '85. 
Williams,  '85. 
Jones.  '86,  Half  Back. 
WuRTS,  '84,  Half  Back. 


Lindsey,  Quarter  Back.      Baldwin,'85,  Quarter  Back. 
Noble,  Full  Back.  Maury,  '84,  Full  Back. 


Umpire. 
T.  L.  Montgomery. 


Umpire. 
E.  Munkwitz. 

Referee— Vi.  W.  Harry. 


« #  » » 


NEW  AND  OLD. 

What  is  the  glory  of  the  former  ages, 

Or  those  to  come,  contrasted  with  to-day  ? 
Is  it  the  dale  of  Shakespeare's  many  pages. 
Or  is  there  genius  hidden  in  each  lay, 
That  makes  renown  for  him?    Which,  living  yet, 
Shines  oat  so  bright,  we  present  worth  forget. 

Two  men  once  quarreled.    They  were  rather  young, 

And  quickly  raised  and  somewhat  sharp  of  tongue; 

But  their  dispute  of  such  a  nature  was 

That  you  will  smile  ;  they  differed  just  because 

One  had  a  coat  of  relative  deceased. 

And  with  this  garment  he  was  highly  pleased, 

For  to  it  wondrous  stories  were  attached. 

And  he  declared  its  fame  could  n^t  be  matched. 

His  neighbor  had  a  jacket  new  and  trim, 
Whose  cut  and  fit  had  much  delighted  him, 
And  he  had  seen  the  other  coat  and  smiled. 
His  friend  at  this  would  not  be  reconciled. 
But  tried  to  prove  that  history  sur[>assed 
All  recent  manufactures.    So  at  last 
They  did  agree  to  court  decision  wide, 
And  by  this  better  judgment  to  abide. 


A  wise  old  man  dwelt  rather  near  them,  so 
Unto  his  house  they  did  next  morning  go. 
They  laid  their  cause  before  him  ;  anger  led 
To  bitter  words,  and  thus  the  lirst  one  said  : 
'•  I  own  a  garment  which  I  cherish  much, 
Because  it  holds  some  value.     It  is  such 
An  ancient  thing,  and  is  with  stories  rife, 
Left  me  by  one  of  long  extended  life." 

The  other  one  commenced  to  argue,  too, 
And  said,  *'  My  coat  is  better  ;  it  is  new." 
Then  spoke  the  sage,  **  My  children  cease  dispute, 
Old  things  may  one  and  not  another  suit. 
You  cannot  dress  to  please  the  varied  mind. 
So  each,  his  own  taste  suited,  then  may  Bnd 
Each  his  own  loser  ;  for  the  wise  have  told 
Some  like  the  new,  while  some  prefer  the  old." 

Learn  from  this  tale  that  time  gotte  by  is  great, 
What  \%yet  here  its  issue  we  must  wait ; 
And  though  to-day  may  much  of  genius  show, 
"  Little  is  known  of  what  there  is  to  know  ;" 
And  that  each  act  of  goud  or  ill  will  make 
Links  in  a  chain,  which  we  can  never  break. 

And  I.NDICATOR  may  you  now  appear, 
To  public  eyes,  before  this  Senior  year 
Has  closed  forever — may  you  welcome  find 
With  college  men,  and  with  the  college  mind. 
Though  Shakespeare  cannot  write  a  life  for  you. 
You  may  be  much  esteemed,  if  vtry  new. 
May  Wisdom  bear  her  brilliant  torch  before, 
To  light  your  pages  much,  the  public  more. 


SHALL  THE  REPUTATION  OF  STEVENS 
INCREASE  OR  DECREASE? 


With  the  greatest  sorrow,  we  notice  in  the 
addenda  to  the  last  catalogue  this  statement: 
"  The  entering  or  freshman  class  of  next  year 
will  be  limited  to  fifty  students,  who  will  be 
selected  by  the  faculty  after  examination, 
from  the  entire  number  of  applicants,  on  the 
ground  of  superior  fitness  and  promise  of  de- 
velopment." 

We  know  not  upon  which  body  the  respon- 
sibility of  this  rule  rests,  whether  trustees  or 
faculty,  or  both;  and,  if  allowed  to  express  our 
own  sentiments,  we  should  judge  that  some 
have  been  unduly  hasty  in  the  consideration 
of  this  most  important  matter.  In  such  a 
question  as  this,  which  vitally  concerns  the 
welfare  and  reputation  of  each  alumnus,  should 
not  their  opinions  at  least  have  a  particle  of 
weight  ? 

There  is  nothing  incompatible  whatever  in 
having  large  numbers,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
the  very  best  quality  and  the  highest  require- 


lO 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


ments.  The  fact  is,  that  all  the  celebrated  uni- 
versities of  the  world,  have  the  highest  requis- 
itions and  standards,  and  are  always  filled  with 
vast  numbers  of  students  of  the  first  quality. 
Why,  then,  is  it  necessary  to  cripple  the  grow- 
ing influence  of  our  Institution,  which  is 
clearly  manifested  by  the  appearance  of  large 
numbers  of  freshmen  ?  The  raising  of  the  re- 
quirements was  also  intended  to  effect  a  re- 
duction in  numbers,  but  to  the  contrary  it  is 
always  seen  to  effect  an  increase.  We  would 
by  no  means  advocate  a  reduction  in  the  re- 
quired studies,  let  them  be  further  raised. 

But  "  where  are  these  multitudes  of  new 
students  which  you  advise  to  be  put  ? "  some 
one  suggests,  "  The  Institute  is  now  filled  to 
its  utmost  capacity."  Let  us  see  :  you  say 
specially,  that  "  the  drawing-room  facilities  are 
inadequate."  There  are  more  than  a  hun- 
dred tables — these,  therefore,  accommodating 
a  hundred  students  ;  and,  if  each  table  is 
then  supplied  with  two  boards,  as  one-half 
now  are,  there  will  result  accommodations  for 
two  hundred  more.  Therefore  three  hundred 
students  can  have  the  usual  drawing  conven- 
iences which  are  sufficiently  ample  for  the 
present,  and  the  needs  of  the  near  future. 
*  Where  are  the  recitation  rooms  for  these 
large  classes,  as  they  certainly  will  have  to  be 
divided,  and  there  is  not  now  room  ?"  As  we 
look  at  things  we  think  there  is,  but  it  is  oc- 
cupied for  purposes  in  no  way  connected  with 
the  college  good.  We  refer  to  the  High 
School,  which  occupies  one  entire  wing  of  the 
building.  The  managers  of  this  affair  have 
recognized  that  it  would  be  poor  policy  to 
limit  their  classes  to  fifty,  and  to  have  require- 
ments for  admission,  and  consequently  they 
have  reaped  a  harvest  of  enormous  numbers, 
which  threatens  to  engulf  the  whole  college. 
They  have  turned  out  our  respected  janitor  from 
his  cosy  and  comfortable  quarters,  and  now 
they  have  encroached  to  the  very  heart  o^  the 
Institute's  domains.  "  Preps  "  have  the  right 
to  the  occupancy  of  the  lecture  rooms  of 
physics,  languages,  etc.,  and  their  childish 
needs  are  ministered  to  by  college  professors; 
they  have  also  asserted  the  right  of  the  entire 
campus,  so  that  now  it  is  almost  impossible 
for  the  college  students  to  use  it  at  all. 

What  is  all  this  leading  to  ?  In  a  few  years 
when  the  present  students  return  as  alumni, 
they  will  behold  mere  children,  the  "preps" 
enjoying  all  the  advantages  and  doing  all  the 
honors  of  the  Institution;  they  will  then  in- 
dividually retire  to  the  "  Elysian  Fields  "  and 
straightway  commit   suicide  from  shame  and 


mortification  at  having  entrusted  their 
tion  to  such  a  degenerate  Alma  Mater. 

Surely  it  is  not  the  duty  of  a  reputable  col- 
lege to  furnish  preparatory  education.  If  the 
school  desires  to  continue,  there  is  certainly  to 
be  found  in  Hoboken  some  other  building 
suitable  for  the  purpose,  but  whether  there  is 
or  not,  THE  PREPS  MUST  GO.  We  appeal  to 
you,  alumni,  who  above  all  have  the  interest 
and  welfare  of  the  college  at  heart;  we  appeal 
to  you,  students,  whom  it  may  not  affect 
now,  but  it  will  after  graduation,  to  aid  by 
your  influence  to  see  that  the  preps  are  com- 
pelled to  go.  Seeing  that  the  college  receives 
the  same  amount  from  a  student  as  from  a 
prep,  and  that  the  former  requires  less  at- 
tention than  the  latter,  there  is  then  no  reason 
they  should  remain  and  occupy  this  needed 
space  in  exclusion  of  the  college  men. 

Then  again  you  say,  "  These  larger  classes 
would  necessitate  more  instructors  (not  neces- 
sarily professors),  and  possibly  more  room  even 
than  the  High  School  could  supply.  Where 
then  is  the  money  coming  from  to  obtain 
these  ? "  "  Ask  and  ye  shall  receive."  Once 
make  the  need  known  throughout  the  country, 
in  the  scientific  and  technical  press;  beg  hard, 
and  something  is  bound  to  be  received,  for  there 
is  certainly  as  much  wealth  in  the  engineering 
profession  as  in  any  other  of  equal  size,  and 
there  is  no  reason  why  Stevens  cannot  draw  it 
out  as  well  as  any  other  college.  During  the 
last  summer,  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology  by  this  means  obtained  an  endow- 
ment for  a  very  large  amount.  Why  Stevens 
has  not  received  donations  before,  has  been 
due  to  the  prevailing  idea  that  it  was  so  mag- 
nificently endowed  as  to  go  on  forever  con- 
stantly living  much  within  its  income.  Why  not 
also  apply  to  the  State  Legislature  for  an  ap- 
propriation ?  Other  colleges  of  not  half  the  im- 
portance of  this  have  done  so,  and  as  a  result 
have  secured  large  amounts. 


-♦♦♦• 


IMPORTANT    ELECTRICAL    TESTS  AT 

THE  INSTITUTE. 


The  commission  appointed  by  the  Chicago 
National  Exhibition  of  Railway  Appliances,  to 
test  the  leading  systems  of  electric  lighting, 
have  selected  the  Institute  as  the  site  of  their 
experiments  with  various  large  dynamos. 

The  work  will  commence  with  the  testing  of 
a  Weston  24  arc  light  machine,  and  a  Weston 
two  light  incandescent  machine.  These 
machines  are  now  at  the  Institute  ready  for 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


1 1 


running,  and  the  work  of  arranging  the  shaft- 
ing, dynamometers,  electric  circuits,  and  elec- 
trical measuring  apparatus  is  being  rapidly 
pushed  to  completion. 

Additional  floor  space  has  been  secured  in 
the  shop  gallery  by  flooring  over  a  portion  of 
the  open  centre  space  of  the  gallery  floor  so 
that  a  total  area  of  nearly  i,ooo  square  feet  is 
devoted  to  the  dynamos,  their  mountings  and 
connections. 

Each  dynamo  is  to  be  run  in  turn  by  a  vertical 
belt  directly  off  the  flywheel  of  the  shop's  en- 
gine, and  the  power  to  drive  it  is  to  be  deter- 
mined by  balancing  the  dynamo  on  knife  edges 
so  that  the  effort  of  the  driving  belt  will  tend  to 
deflect  the  machine  from  a  vertical'position; 
but  a  scale  beam  attached  to  the  dynamo  will 
be  weighted  so  as  to  resist  such  deflection;  and, 
from  the  weights  added  to  this  scale  beam,  the 
power  to  drive  the  dynamo  will  be  determined. 
This  method  of  measuring  the  power  which 
has  been  lately  given  prominence  by  publica- 
tions of  Prof.  Brackett,  of  Princeton,  in  the 
English -£/r^/r/V/tf«,  eliminates  all  friction  out- 
side of  the  machine  except  that  due  to  the 
knife  edges  upon  which  the  machine  is  hung, 
and  this  will  be  so  small  an  amount  as  to  be  a 
neglectable  error.  The  electrical  energy  de- 
livered by  the  machine  will  be  measured  both 
by  galvanometers  and  a  voltameter,  one  method 
checking  the  other.  A  special  tangent  galvan- 
ometer has  been  designed  by  Dr.  Thomas,  of 
the  University  of  Missouri.  Several  other  im- 
portant instruments  have  been  supplied  by 
Dr.  W.  E.  Geyer,  and  Prof.  Brackett,  of  Prince- 
ton, and  elaborate  arrangements  are  made  in 
the  way  of  resistance  coils,  switches,  etc.  The 
experiments  will  commence  in  a  few  days  and 
will  continue  some  weeks.  The  commission 
c  :)nsists  of 

Dji.    Henry    Morton,   Chairman,  of 
Stevens  Institute. 

Mr.  Coleman  Sellers,  Philadelphia. 

Prof.  Brackett,  of  Princeton. 

Prof.  Thomas,  of  University   of   Mis- 
souri. 

Prof.  Denton,  of  Stevens  Institute. 


While  two  of  the  freshmen  were  watching 
the  operation  of  the  large  Weston  dynamo  in 
the  gallery  of  the  workshop,  one  was  heard  to 
remark  :  "  You  had  better  button  up  your 
overcoat  if  you  don't  want  your  watch  mag- 
netized." 


As  a  result  of  a  preliminary  examination  of 

the  Institute  Library,  it  was  found  that  the 
material  was  good,  but  rather  too  light  to^tand 
the  strain  that  would  come  upon  it  should  it 
be  run  to  its  full  capacity.  Its  standing  parts 
are  well  arranged,  but  its  setting,  or  surround- 
ings, are  notably  bad.  It  is  placed  in  a  part 
of  the  building  where  it  can  never  be  accessible 
for  general  use,  and  its  movable  parts  are  con- 
sequently always  to  be  found  in  different  pro- 
fessors' rooms,  where  the  students  cannot  get 
them. 

In  "  indicating"  the  library,  it  was  found  to 
give  a  very  poor  card,  due  almost  entirely  to 
its  poor  management,  bad  setting,  and  non- 
regulation.  It  seems  to  "cut-off"  before  the 
beginning  of  the  stroke,  indeed,  if  it  ever 
makes  a  stroke. 

The  back  pressure  in  the  form  of  a  noisy 
location,  want  of  a  catalogue,  and  the  number 
of  books  indefinitely  in  professorial  hands,  is 
very  nearly  equal  to  the  effective  pressure, 
thereby  reducing  the  efficiency  to  a  minimum. 
As  it  is  impossible  to  make  such  a  machine  as 
a  college  library  automatic,  it  should  have  good 
care  and  attendance.  The  engineer  should  be 
on  hand  at  all  times,  and  should  be  alive  to  his 
duties.  Until  this  year  there  has  always  been 
a  regular  engineer,  but,  according  to  the  1883- 
1884  catalogue,  we  now  have  none.  The  P'ac- 
ulty  should  remedy  this  oversight,  and  let  us 
have  here  an  efficient  department,  which  could 
be  made  of  value  to  all  others.  It  is  feared 
the  College  Library  will  not  bear  comparison 
in  any  respect  to  the  well  managed  private  col- 
lections of  any  of  the  professors. 

"  Can  such  things  be, 

.\nd  overcome  us  like  a  summer  cloud, 

Without  our  special  wonder?" 

Macbeth. 

Note  :     We  did  not  try  a  dynamometer  on  the  library, 
fearing  the  embarrassment  of  a  negative  result. 


The  fact  of  Prof.  Carr's  sitting  in  the  room 
during  Prof.  Wood's  examination  of  the  Senior 
Class  last  term  has  been  much  talked  of.  That 
the  Seniors  regard  it  as  a  most  uncompliment- 
ary action  on  Prof.  Wood's  part,  evincing  an 
attitude  not  in  accordance  with  his  usual  and 
past  treatment  of  the  class,  is  certain,  and  the 
very  fact  of  his  being  Prof.  Wood  made  it  much 
more  noticeable  and  insinuating.  If  Prof.  Carr 
was  there  for  his  own  good,  we  have  no  objec- 
tions; but  this  is  not  at  all  likely.  Again,  it  is 
just    as  unlikely  that  Prof.  Wood  considered 


12 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


himself  unable  to  examine  the  class  alone,  for 
Prof.  Carr  took  no  part  in  the  examination. 
It  would  appear,  then,  that  Prof.  Wood  feared 
the  class  would  use  unfair  means,  and  endeav- 
or to  cheat,  and  thought  it  necessary  to  have  a 
spy  on  hand  to  detect  any  attempt  to  "crib." 
This  might  do  for  Freshmen  or  *  Preps,"  but, 
when  one  becomes  a  Senior,  he  is  expected  to 
have  some  respect  for  his  professor,  for  him- 
self, and  for  his  class.  He  realizes  that  his 
time  is  short,  and  tries  to  learn  what  he  can, 
not  to  see  what  he  can  pass  by  unlearnt.  On  the 
other  hand,  taking  the  view  that  the  Senior  is 
but  an  experienced  deceiver  and  well  practiced 
cheat,  up  to  all  conceivable  tricks  for  "  skin- 
ning," it  would  be  indeed  strange  if  he  could 
not  "  pony  "  through  it  all,  without  Prof.  Wood, 
or  Prof.  Carr,  or  any  other  professor  seeing 
him.  In  order  to  make  perfect  this  system  of 
preventing  unfair  help  on  examinations,  there 
would  have  to  be  a  deputy  professor  for  each 
student,  who  shall  keep  close  guard  upon  him, 
and  watch  his  every  movement  as  a  cat  does 
a  mouse.  If  this  be  so,  why  not  try  another 
plan,  one  which  is  at  least  practical,  and  one 
which  is  honorable  and  more  in  standing  with 
a  Senior  Class:  that  is,  rely  on  their  manliness. 


•<#»»- 


iBRsei^piis. 


We  have  endeavored  in  this  issue  to  record 
all  changes  in  the  movements  of  the  Alumni 
which  have  occurred  since  the  publication  of 
the  last  Institute  catalogue.  Alumni  and  all 
former  Stevens  men  are  requested  to  co- 
operate with  the  editors  in  making  these 
columns  as  interesting  as  possible,  by  promptly 
reporting  any  changes  that  may  from  time  to 


time  occur. 


'73. 


J.  A.  Henderson,  assistant  engineer,  U.  S. 
N.,  is  at  present  on  duty  on  the  Miantonomoh. 

'75- 

F.  M.  Leavitt,  since  Dec.  ist,  is  assistant 
superintendent  for  E.  W.  Bliss,  manufacturer 
of  presses  and  dies,  Brooklyn. 

■76. 

G.  C.  Henning  can  now  be  addressed:  care 
of  Maurice  &  Kellogg,  bridge  builders,  Athens, 
Pa. 


William  Kent,  who  was  associated  wi& 
W.  F.  Zimmerman,  '76,  in  the  Pittsburg  Tc^*  ^ 
ing  Laboratory  in  1883,  is  now  superintendent^^] 
of  the  sales  department  of  the  Babcock  %c:f\ 
Wilcox  Company,  30  Cortlandt  Street,  Nc« 
York. 

A.  W.  Stahl,  assistant  engineer,  U,  S.  N^  .^ 
was  assigned  in  August  to  duty  at  the  Purdoe  v. 
University,  Lafayette,  Ind.,   as  professor  of: 

mechanical  engineering. 

'77. 

L.  H.  Nash  is  the  patentee  of  a  very  neat. 
little  gas-pumping  engine,  which  is  manufac- 
tured   by    the    National     Meter    Company^ 
Brooklyn. 

E.  A.  Uehling  is  chemist  to  the  Bethlehem 
Iron  Co.,  South  Bethlehem,  Pa. 

Franklin  Van  Winkle  resigned  his  posi- 
tion at  the  Texas  State  College  in  June,  and 
coming  north,  opened  an  office  as  consultmg 
engineer  at  20  Cortlandt  Street,  New  York. 

'78. 

W.  R.  Baird's  "American  College  Fra- 
ternities "  has  recently  seen  its  second  revised 
edition.  The  work  is  the  only  one  upon  the 
subject  which  has  any  claims  for  accuracy  and 
authenticity,  and  has  had  a  large  sale.  It  is 
published  by  the  author.  Box  1848,  New 
York. 

H.  J.  Bonn  will  be  connected  during  the 
present  year  with  the  construction  of  the 
Elevated  Railroad  on  Ferry  Street,  Hoboken, 
which  will  haul  the  street  cars  from  the  ferries 
to  the  Heights  by  cable  traction. 

H.  T.  Brueck  is  with  W.  H.  Bowers,  con- 
sulting mining  and  civil  engineer.  Mills  Build- 
ing, New  York. 

A.  De  Bonneville  is  draughting  at  the 
Delamater  Iron  Works,  New  York. 

J.  W.  LiTTELL,  second  lieutenant,  U.  S.  N., 
is  stationed  at  Fort  Wayne,  Mich. 


•79- 

W.  P.  Jacobs  is  of  the  firm  of  Jones  & 
Jacobs,  consulting  engineers,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah. 


I^^M^fei 


-Coi7i;E/^sg- 


^peoCton    Sour  o^  OfoM  of  '8^, 
rouj^A    CAo    S2?a«t  Surno-rc. 

m&iilC  S^oad^n    oA  a  Ba^C  Soolf,      . 
9ar*»S' 3  A*    vKmafAUr  Sbrmsr, 

^.^^A. ■^'He     3r*JAm.tn:*   ^^-u  . 


THE 


iQTfeve^^s  THdi(ial@R 


Vol.  1. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  FEBRUARY,  1884. 


No.  2. 


PUBLISHBD  ON  TUB 

IMh    OF   EACH  MONTH,  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 

BY  THE  STUDKNTS  OF 

^teVen^  Institute  of  TBCpoIogij. 


SlvCtors. 

K01TOK.IK.CHIBF,      .  .     C.  W.  WHITING,  '84. 

BUSI9IU8  Editur A.  P.  KLETZSCH,  '84. 

ExcuAMCB  Editor,   ....    JOHN  M.  RUSBY,  '85. 

ftoral  £l»Ctors. 

ROLLIN    NORRIS,  '85. 
K.  P.  MOWTON,  '86.  C.  R.  COLLINS,  '86. 

LADD   PLUMLEY,    '87- 


■♦♦■ 


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Emini  tt  lUfe^B  Pmt  i\tm  at  Ktrvrnd  Ua^t  MoUtr. 


SathseripHoHs  taken  by  the  business  matia^er^  who  will 
'  the  paptr  to  any  address^  prepaid,  on  receipt  of 


copies  can  be  obtained  at  Lnihin's  book  store, 
Hodoktn,  N,J, 

T*he  paper  mil  be  sent  regularly  to  subscribers  until 
0wAred  io  be  discontinued. 

Subsefibers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
ckanse  in  their  address  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 
rwgteiarfy. 

^rofessors^  alumni^  undergraduates^  and  friends^  are 
imviUd  io  contribute  literary  articlis,  items,  verses^  dis- 
€MSsiems  of  current  topics,  and  personal  notes, 

Vif  is  particuLirly  desired  that  Alumni  furnish  us  with 
all  items  of  interest  cotueming  themsehes  and  e7'ery  one 
loMa  keu  been  connected  with  the  Institute. 

It  is  expected  that  all  articles  shall  be  written  in  a 
eauarUaus  tone, 

T'ke  wriief^s  full  name,  as  well  as  his  nom  de  pli'me, 
r/  aeeompany  the  article,  as  assurance  of  ^^ood  faith 
'reHahiiiiy;  but  it  7vill  not  be  published,  unless  desired. 

JTMe  editors  do  net  necessarily  endofse  sentiments  ex- 
pressed except  in  the  editorial  and  exchange  columns. 

J^wsbtsshers  ate  invited  to  send  us  books  and  magazines 
J0r  watiee  or  review, 

£^ehanges,  contributions,  subscript  ions,  advertisements, 
msui  €tii other  communications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
ta  Tl«  Ste\'ENS  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Iloboken, 

Ali  ptrsoms  wishing  to  secure  the  business  patronage  of 
simeisnts  and  alumni,  will  find  it  to  their  advantage  to 
'  fcr  our  adx'ertising  rates. 


HE  Stkvkns  Indicator  is  no  longer  a 
^1'"'  thing  of  the  future,  but  is  now  actually  in 
existence.  Its  initial  number  has  been  out  for 
several  weeks,  and  criticisms  upon  it  have  been 
pouring  in  upon  us  during  that  time.  Natu- 
rally, these  were  of  a  varied  character,  some 
pleasing  us,  while  others  were  well  designed 
to  produce  a  contrary  feeling  ;  some  comment- 
ing on  the  contents  of  our  paper,  while  others 
took  the  frict  as  a  basis  for  their  criticisms, 
and  all  tending  to  make  us  feel  that  an  editor's 
life  is  not  a  happy  one.  These  comments 
originated  in  the  minds  of  professors,  students 
and  outsiders  ;  but  as  yet  we  have  received 
none  from  that  other  most  important  source, 
the  college  press. 

The  support  given  us  has  been  about  as  we 
expected,  little  and  hesitating  at  first,  but  ever 
on  the  increase  ;  and  we  take   this   opportu- 
nity to  thank  those  contributors  and  subscrib- 
ers who  have  seen  fit  to  favor  us.     Our  con- 
tributors are  few  as  yet,  and  we  would  urge 
on  the  students  the  necessity  of  lending  their 
every  aid  to  the  promotion  of  such  an  enter- 
prise as  this,  for  it  is  only  with  such  aid  that 
it  can  exist  at  all,  and  we  think  none  will  ques- 
tion the  advisability  of  such  an  existence.    We 
would  appeal  more  particularly  to  those  who 
have  some  connection  with  the  college  inter- 
ests, such  as  the  captains,  officers,  and  com- 
mittees appointed  by  the  athletic  association, 
to  jot  down  their  proceedings  in  suitable  form 
for  publication  and  forward  them  to  us.    Such 
news  as  this  is  of  the  most  importance  in  any 
college  paper,  and  we  would  keep  our  columns 
well  filled  with  it.     Our  subscribers  are  fully 
as  numerous  as  could  be  expected  so  early  in 
our  existence,  yet  we  hope  to  double,  and  even 
treble,  the  present  list  in  a  very  short  time,  and 
would  kindly  solicit  subscriptions  from  all  who 
are  in  any  way  interested  in  our  welfare. 


u 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


rN  the  first  number  of  our  journal,  nothing 
was  said  concerning  its  name  and  how  it 
came  by  it.  We  simply  offered  a  monthly 
college  paper  to  our  readers,  and  let  them  un- 
derstand that  we  intended  to  call  it  The  Ste- 
vens Indicator.  Now,  it  may  please  some 
to  know  why  it  is  so  called  and  what  is  meant 
by  the  name.  At  a  meeting  of  the  college, 
which  was  held  to  discuss  the  advisability  of 
publishing  a  paper,  several  names  were  pro- 
posed and  voted  on.  This  resulted  in  the 
adoption  of  our  present  title,  as  being  very 
suitable  to  the  character  of  the  intended 
paper  and  to  the  Institute  itself. 

We  all  know  what  a  steam  engine  indicator 
is,  and  that  it  records  on  a  diagram,  which  we 
are  able  to  translate,  what  actions  take  place 
within  a  steam  cylinder  during  a  revolution  of 
the  engine.  So,  also,  does  our  Indicator  re- 
cord in  such  form  as  to  be  readable  whatever 
of  interest  occurs  at  the  Institute  and  among 
its  friends  during  the  scholastic  year.  Follow- 
ing up  the  duty  of  an  indicator,  it  also  at- 
tempts to  show  the  engineers  what  pressure 
is  being  carried  and  where  it  is  cut  off,  sug- 
gesting at  the  same  time,  to  those  competent 
to  read  our  "  Indicator  Cards,"  where  it  should 
be  cut  off.  In  our  last  issue  the  "Stuffing 
Box  "  was  empty,  but  is  well  packed  this  time, 
and  as  a  natural  consequence,  we  expect  to 
have  a  smoother  run.  Our  "  Chippings  "  are 
of  a  rather  inferior  quality  as  yet,  since  our 
work  has  been  of  the  rougher  sort  ;  but  in  the 
looked  for  advance,  we  hope  to  have  work  on 
finer  metals,  and  then  our  pile  of  "  Chippings  " 
will  be  of  more  value. 


rT  has  been  suggested,  as  a  last  resort,  that 
in  the  event  of  not  having  sufficient  mat- 
ter to  fill  the  columns  of  the  Indicator,  the 
vacant  spaces  could  be  filled  by  such  odds  and 
ends  as  "  Wants,"  "  Lost  and  Found,"  etc.  It 
would  rather  seem  that  these  odds  and  ends 
are  of  some  importance  to  us,  hereabouts,  for 
we  have  suffered  a  great  loss,  and  a  longing 
has  arisen  for  the  lost  article,  but  which,  we 


are  sorry  to  say,  has  not  been  and  does  not 
seem  likely  to  be  found. 

Now  that  we  have  a  means  of  communi- 
cating with  those  beyond  our  walls,  as  well  as 
those  interested  within,  it  might  be  conducive 
of  some  good  results  if  we  made  a  note  in  each 
issue  of  our  paper,  in  bold  type,  that  we  have 
lost  our  gymnasium,  and  that  we  want  an- 
other if  the  old  one  cannot  be  found. 

We  are  poor,  and  cannot  offer  any  induce- 
ment in  the  way  of  a  reward  for  the  finder, 
but  we  can  show  that  we  appreciate  any 
effort  for  a  revival  of  the  gymnasium  by  put- 
ting it  to  good  use  in  the  development  of  phys- 
ical strength,  by  which  we  may  be  better  able 
to  meet  the  demands  of  the  lecture  room. 

The  second  term  of  the  college  year  is  con- 
ceded to  be  the  hardest  term  of  the  year,  and 
partly  or  wholly  for  the  reason  that  the  whole 
time  is  given  up  to  study,  and  only  in  excep- 
tional cases  is  there  any  active  physical  exer- 
cise indulged  in. 

For  those  of  the  students  who  are  blessed 
i^-ith  strong  constitutions,  this  extra  strain  is 
soon  remedied  when  spring  weather  permits 
of  out-door  exercise  ;  but  there  are  many  to 
whom  this  constant  tax  on  their  minds  is  posi- 
tively hurtful,  and  its  effects  can  be  easily 
traced  through  their  subsequent  lives. 

The  standard  of  the  Institute  is  constantly 
being  raised,  and  the  work  increased,  by  the 
addition  of  new  professorships,  as  though  the 
boys  who  come  to  Stevens  were  of  a  peculiar 
order  of  beings  especially  designed  to  have 
their  heads  filled  and  crammed,  crammed  and 
filled  for  four  years,  and  when  turned  out  are 
expected  to  assume  the  duties  of  an  expert 
M.  E. 

When  one's  lot  falls  in  green  fields,  other- 
wise a  luxurious  New  York  office,  the  strain 
is  not  so  great ;  but  when  called  to  new  coun- 
tries and  to  hard  work,  which  is  inseparably 
connected  with  such  a  position,  the  lack  of 
physical  ability  often  hinders  a  great  mind 
from  following  its  natural  inclination. 

The  Institute  has  been  aptly  likened  to  a 
"great   rock  breaker,"  whose  purpose  is  to 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


15 


"  craunch  and  sift "  those  who  enter  its  doors. 
True  ;  but  this  machine,  like  all  other  ma- 
chines, has  its  defects,  and  much  valuable  ore 
is  lost  by  slipping  through  with  the  waste. 

Some  few  of  the  students  who  have  the 
means,  use  a  gymnasium  in  the  town,  but  only 
a  few ;  whereas,  if  we  had  a  building  which 
could  be  called  our  own,  it  would  attract  all, 
giving  equal  opportunity  to  every  one. 

We  have  our  fall  and  spring  out-door  sports, 
we  know,  but  for  the  winter,  no  means  what- 
ever of  attending  to  this  important  necessity 
of  physical  culture. 

In  the  meetings  of  the  Athletic  Association, 
a  committee  is  always  appointed  to  look  into 
the  matter  of  a  gymnasium  with  a  regularity 
that  would  lead  an  outsider  to  suppose  the 
proceeding  was  a  part  of  the  by-laws  of  the 
Association,  but  nothing  has  thus  far  been 
accomplished. 

We  would  respectfully  ask  the  Trustees  to 
consider  this  subject,  not  doubting  but  that 
they  will  appreciate  the  necessity  and  advisa- 
bility of  erecting  a  gymnasium,  and  thus  add- 
ing to  the  already  numerous  advantages  of 
Stevens  Institute. 


FOOTBALL  is  now  more  than  a  science.  It 
is  an  industry,  and  the  man  who  would  ex- 
cel in  it  must  not  only  be  thoroughly  up  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  its  theory,  but  must  go 
through  a  course  of  the  most  vigorous  training. 
A  model  football  captain  must  be  one  who 
unites  in  his  make-up  the  elasticity  of  india- 
rubber  with  the  toughness  of  the  boarding 
house  steak  and  the  wearing  qualities  of 
the  Freshman's  freshness.  He  should  be  in- 
ured to  hardship  from  his  earliest  infancy.  A 
fall  from  the  roof  of  a  six-story  building,  sup- 
plemented by  exercise  with  glass  dumb-bells 
stuffed  with  dynamite,  should  be  the  morning 
course.  In  the  afternoon  he  should  take  a 
nap  in  a  blast  furnace  and  "  tackle"  the  fly- 
wheel of  a  Corliss  engine,  or,  if  possible,  a  run- 
away express  train.  When,  by  conscientious 
practice,  he  has  reduced  these  minor  details 
to  the  finest  obtainable    point,  he   is  ready 


learn  "rushing."  After  he  has  attained  the 
highest  speed  and  the  greatest  perfection  in 
dodging,  it  will  be  necessary  to  "get  through** 
any  obstruction  in  his  way.  Stone  walls  will 
do  to  begin  on,  and  by  the  time  he  can  get 
through  one  of  Prof.  Thurston's  examinations 
his  training  is  about  100. 

While  we  have  no  authority  for  stating  with 
that  degree  of  positiveness  usually  characteriz- 
ing editorial  utterances,  that  Stevens'  recently 
elected  football  captain  has  pursued  this  course 
of  training,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  affirming 
(so  help  us,  Bobby)  that  he  has  attained  this  re- 
sult— at  least  as  far  as  can  be  judged  from  his  ac- 
tion in  the  football  field.  He  is  not  large,  but 
his  energy,  quickness,  toughness,and  always-on- 
the-ballness,  fully  makes  up  for  his  mere  want 
of  avoirdupois  and  cubic  feet.  Seriously,  Oscar 
Baldwin  has  a  happy  faculty  of  always  "  get- 
ting there."  He  knows  all  the  points  and  tricks 
of  the  game,  knows  the  men  and  how  to  pick 
them,  and — in  short,  he  has  the  qualifications 
of  a  good  Captain.  Let  the  men  go  through 
a  modified  edition  of  the  training  suggested 
above  and  furnish  the  captain  with  the  proper 
raw  material,  and  he  will  get  up  a  team  that 
will  enable  Stevens  to  "  keep  her  end  up"  in 
the  football  field. 


*  ^  » »- 


TT7HE  Inter-Collegiate  Base-Ball  Association 
1       has  now  an  established  existence. 

The  delegates  from  Lafayette,  Rutgers  and 
Stevens  held  a  meeting  Feb.  9  at  the  Stur- 
tevant  House,  New  York  City.  The  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania  decided  not  to  enter  the 
league,  on  account  of  some  uncertainty  as  to 
their  athletic  grounds. 

The  three  first  named  colleges,  however, 
completed  all  the  necessary  arrangements, 
adopted  a  constitution  and  by-laws  as  found 
elsewhere  in  our  columns,  elected  officers  for  the 
ensuing  year  and  arranged  a  schedule  of 
games. 

The  constitution  is  that  which  was  submit- 
ted to  the  convention  at  their  former  meeting, 
Jan.  19,  at  Fasten,  and  which  was  then  agreed 
upon,  subject  to  the  meeting  of  Feb.  9. 


i6 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


A  number  of  changes  were  made,  but  mostly 
relating  to  unimportant  minutiae,  that  relating 
to  the  eligibility  of  players  being  probably  the 
most  important. 

A  unanimous  invitation  to  join  the  league 
was  sent  to  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

We  are  very  glad  that  this  union  has  been 
cemented,  and  would  urge  upon  our  players 
the  necessity  of  constant  practice  and  severe 
training.  A  game  won  or  lost  will  now  be 
more  than  simply  a  won  or  lost  game — it  will 
materially  affect  the  question  of  who  is  to  be 
first  in  the  league  and  who  is  to  be  last.  Of 
course  all  three  colleges  aspire  to  the  former 
position,  but  one  of  them  is  sure  to  have  the 
latter.  Let  one  consideration  pull  us  and  the 
other  push  us  forward  to  such  an  extent  that 
we  surprise  even  ourselves  by  our  fine  playing. 
Let  us  try  to  win  tilery  game  and  then  we  will 
be  sure  of  the  championship. 

We  call  upon  the  base-ball  men  to  see  whether 
they  cannot  eclipse  the  fame  of  our  foot-ball 
men,  and  we  would  like  to  see  a  spirit  of  gener- 
ous rivalry  between  the  two  teams,  each  striv- 
ing to  add  the  greater  glory  to  Stevens. 


MMONG  the  many  excellent  things  the  Ath- 
letic Association  has  done  this  fall,  may 
be  counted  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to 
prepare  for  the  proposed  spring  games.  The 
appointment  of  the  committee  is  a  large  step 
in  the  right  direction,  for  it  shows  a  desire  on 
the  part  of  the  majority  to  push  the  project. 

There  is  no  reason  why  the  meeting  should 
not  be  a  success.  We  have  our  own  grounds, 
and  a  large  number  of  our  students  reside  in 
Hoboken  at  no  great  distance  from  them.  It 
is  from  these  students  that  we  expect  the  most, 
more  especially  as  a  number  of  them  have 
made  arrangements  to  attend  a  gymnasium 
while  the  snow  is  on  the  ground.  The  events 
as  arranged  are  : 

IOC  yards  dash. 
220  yards  dash. 
I  mile  run. 
Running  high  jump. 


Running  broad  jump. 
Putting  the  shot. 
Throwing  the  hammer. 
Throwing  the  base-ball. 
Kicking  the  foot-ball. 
3-legged  race. 
Pole  vaulting. 

And  tugs  of  war  by  representative  teams 
from  each  class. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  every  one  will  try  and 
do  what  he  can  to  make  the  thing  a  success. 
Some  one  will  be  selected,  by  superior  fitness, 
to  represent  Stevens  in  the  inter-collegiate 
games,  and  it  is  from  our  own  meeting  that 
we  expect  the  best  men  to  come  forward.  If 
we  have  no  representatives  in  the  next  inter- 
collegiate contest,  we  lose  our  place,  which  we 
must  not  do.  So,  everybody  practice  some- 
thing, and  be  prepared  to  make  a  good  show- 
ing in  that  something  for  the  benefit  of 
Stevens. 


A  LIFE  IN  THE  WEST. 


O,  a  life  in  the  West  is  the  life  for  me  ! 
Where  the  wild  deer  roam  'neath  the  forest  tree  ; 
Where  no  •*  tender-foot"  comes  with  his  Eastern  ways, 
Nor  the  meek-eyed  dude  with  his  cane  and  stajrs ; 
Where  the  coyote's  howl  and  the  burro's  song 
Make  merry  the  hours  as  they  speed  along. 

I  love  to  camp  on  the  mountain's  peak 
When  the  summer's  sky  has  sprung  a  leak  ; 
When  the  lightning's  flash  and  the  thunder's  crack, 
And  the  rain  pours  gently  down  my  back  ; 
When  the  fire  won't  burn — then  I  howl  with  glee — 
O,  a  life  in  the  West  is  the  life  for  me. 

I  love  to  eat  my  rations  of  fat, 

Of  bacon,  pork,  and  such  as  that; 

Of  coffee,  made  of  the  innocent  bean — 

You  bet,  there's  nothing  about  that's  mean  ; 

With  the  greasy  cards  and  pipe  alight 

To  while  away  the  hours  at  night. 

I  love  to  pack  my  baggage  and  grub 
And  whack  my  burro  with  a  club  ; 
Then  gracefully  down  the  mountain  side, 
With  many  a  tumble,  and  many  a  slide. 
And  hie  away  in  the  morning  damp 
To  the  latest  strike  in  some  mining  camp. 

I  envy  not  the  lot  of  those 
Who  live  in  the  East  and  wear  store  clothes  ; 
Who  sleep  in  a  bed  and  eat  with  a  fork 
And  are  mighty  particular  how  they  talk  ; 
Who  frequent  the  club  and  the  matinee — 
Just  give  me  the  West,  the  West  for  me. 

Swift. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


17 


PROGRESS  OF  ELECTRICAL  TESTS  AT 

THE  INSTITUTE. 


The  work  of  the  electric  commission,  noticed 
in  our  last  issue,  is  fast  approaching  comple- 
tion as  regards  perfecting  the  several  methods 
to  be  used  in  determining  the  efficiency  of 
the  dynamos. 

The  aim  is  to  settle  upon  a  basis  for  the  de- 
termination of  electromotive  force  and  current 
measurement  which  can  be  accurately  applied 
at  any  future  time,  so  that,  should  other  makers 
of  machines  challenge  the  results  and  desire 
to  submit  to  a  comparative  test,  an  unquestion- 
able basis  for  such  comparison  may  remain  at 
the  Institute  and  be  maintained  as  a  standard. 
Present  indications  are  that  the  calorimeter 
jpethod  for  strength  of  current,  and  the  abso- 
lute electrometer  applied  through  close  cells 
for  electromotive  force,  will  be  chosen  as  the 
desired  bases.  The  large  calorimeter  designed 
by  Prof.  Thomas  promises  well,  and  the  self- 
recording  dynamometer  applied  to  the  belt 
driving  the  d5aiamos  is  proving  very  conven- 
ient. The  latter  agrees  with  the  Brackett  dyna- 
mometer to  within  one-tenth  of  a  horse  power. 


<  #  » > 


THE     NEW    PROFESSOR   OF  MECHAN- 
ICAL ENGINEERING  AT  SHEFFIELD 
SCIENTIFIC    SCHOOL. 


It  is  announced  that  Mr.  C.  B.  Richards, 
superintendent  of  the  Southwark  Foundry 
and  Machine  Company,  Philadelphia,  and  for- 
mer Mechanical  Engineer  at  Colt's  Armory, 
Hartford,  is  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
Prof.  Dubois'  transfer  from  the  chair  of 
Dynamical  to  that  of  Civil  Engineering  at 
Sheffield  Scientific  School,  Yale  College. 

In  securing  the  services  of  one  of  Mr. 
Richards'  large  and  rare  experience  as  a  prac- 
tical engineer,  Sheffield  is  to  be  highly  con- 
gratulated. It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  practical 
ingenuity  and  skill  in  devising  experimental 
apparatus,  which  has  marked  Mr.  Richards* 
commercial  career,  as  exemplified  in  the 
Richards'  Steam  Engine  Indicator,  the  Auto- 
matic Testing  Machine,  and  various  dynamo- 
metric  apparatus  at  Colt's  armory,  and  the 
several  ingenious  appliances  used  in  the 
ventilation  of  the  Hartford  State  House,  may 
now  have  their  application  in  scientific  investi- 
gation, while  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  Mr. 
Richards'  great  knowledge  of  applied  me- 
chanics will  render  his  services  as  an  instructor 
of  the  choicest  value  to  the  student. 


INSPECTION    TOUR  OF  CLASS  OF  '84. 

It  is  proposed  that  the  visits  of  the  class 
commence  with  a  trip  to  Bethlehem  on  the 
first  Saturday  in  March,  and  that  they  visit 
Trenton  and  the  machine  shops  at  Philadel- 
phia and  Edgemoor  the  following  Wednesday 
and  Thursday.  It  is  expected  that  Mr.  Can- 
will  then  join  the  class  in  a  trip  to  the  ship 
yards  of  Philadelphia,  Chester,  and  Wilming- 
ton for  Friday  and  Saturday  of  the  same  week, 
so  that  the  entire  western  tour  will  be  accom- 
plished before  the  April  vacation,  when  it  is 
intended  to  make  the  New  England  trip.  It 
is  desirable  that  the  names  of  all  who  contem- 
plate making  the  several  visits  be  deposited 
with  Mr.  Riesenberger  within  this  week,  in 
order  that  the  necessary  preliminaries  regard- 
ing transportation  rates  can  be  effected. 

J.  E.  D. 

♦♦♦ ^ 

A  QUESTION. 


Dare  I  trust  a  boyish  fancy, 
Bom  within  this  swelling  breast, 

Seeking  one  way,  then  another, 
Where,  O  where  can  it  find  rest  ? 

Though  I  seek  and  seek  it  madly, 

Yet  it  nowhere  can  I  find, 
Till  it  seems  that  I  would  almost 

In  despairing  lose  my  mind. 

Yet  I  pray  the  Lord  that  never 
Such  my  dreadful  fate  will  be, 

While  upon  this  earth  I  linger, 
Waiting,  it  may  be,  for — she. 

She,  who  to  my  boyish  fancy 

I  would  picture  all  could  fill, 
If  I  only  could  persuade  her 

To  pronounce  the  words,  **  I  will." 

But  how  is  it,  older  people. 

You  who  have  a  long  time  been 

In  the  holy  bond  united. 
Tell  me  is  this  wish  a  sin  ? 

Is  it  sinful,  older  people, 

When  you  have  a  loving  heart, 

And  a  gentle  creature  won  it, 

From  this  creature  ne'er  to  part  ? 

If  it's  sinful,  older  people, 
Then,  pray  tell  me,  why  did  you. 

In  your  youth,  to  one  another. 

Pledge  and  plight  yourselves  so  true  ? 

If  you  dare  not  say  it's  sinful, 
One  more  question  I  would  ask, 

For  the  same  thing  that  you  practiced  — 
Why  do  you  take  us  to  task  ? 

And  doubt  that  this  our  **  fancy  " 

Can  with  all  your  "  proved  love  "  scope  ; 

*'  We  are  young,"  we, must  remember, 
But  why  crush  such  blissful  hope? 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


THROUGH  THE   BLAST  FURNACE. 

One  of  the  '87  men  was  directed  to  clean 
the  blast  furnace  out,  and  after  usingthe  crow 
bar  until  his  arms  felt  like  elongated  boils, 
concluded  that  there  was  a  more  easy  way  to 
do  the  job.  With  a  pleasant  expression  on 
his  face,  showing  that  he  considered  himself 
one  of  the  foremost  inventors  of  the  age,  he 
drew  himself  under  the  furnace  and  crawled 
up  inside.  For  a  while  the  sound  of  the  blows 
of  a  hammer  came  merrily  out  on  the  gassy 
air.  But  suddenly  an  agonized  cry  broke 
forth,  and  then  the  muffled  words,  '  Moses  ! 
help  me;  I  am  stuck  !"  His  companions  drew 
him  out,  after  the  manner  of  the  pulHng  of  a 
tooth.  His  face  was  bleeding,  his  hair  and 
clothes  were  filled  with  cinders,  and  yet  his 
heroic  spirit  was  far  from  being  quenched, 
and  the  first  words  that  were  spoken  by  this 
"  cinder  eater  "  were,  "  I  am  the  first  man 
through  the  furnace ;  follow  who  that  dare." 


THE  SMOKING  ROOM. 

We  are  highly  delighted  with  the  interest 
and  kindness  which  the  Faculty  have  displayed 
toward  the  two  lower  classes,  in  providing  a 
lunch  and  smoking  room  for  their  special 
benefit.  It  is  true  that  the  two  rooms  are 
combined  in  one,  but  that  does  not  matter  ; 
in  fact,  it  only  adds  to  the  peculiar  odor 
which  fills  even  the  overcoat  pockets  of  the 
happy  (?)  student  who  does  not  smoke,  but 
who,  however,  would  like  to  choose  his  own 
tobacco  if  he  must  be  compelled  to  smell  the 
smoke. 

If  one  is  not  ravenously  hungry,  he  can  con- 
tent himself  with  the  dense  and  stomach  satis- 
fying smell  of  bread  and  butter  which  has 
constantly  filled  the  above  mentioned  room 
since  the  coming  of  '87  ;  not  that  we  have  any 
fault  to  find  with  the  "  staff  of  life  "  and  its 
usual  companion,  but  we  would  prefer  it  in  its 
accustomed  place,  and  not  in  what  was  meant 
to  be  a  coat  room — beg  pardon,  I  meant  ex- 
change. It  seems  strange  to  us  that  young 
men  who  have,  no  doubt,  been  brought  up 
better,  should  be  content  to  sit  in  a  room  not 
fifteen  feet  square  and  about  seven  feet  high, 
and  convert  themselves  into  active  volcanoes, 
until,  even  in  the  small  space  allotted  to  us, 
there  is  need  of  a  guide  to  find  one's  coat 
through  the  dense  smoke  from  bad  cigarettes. 
We  hope  that  the  objects  of  this  notice  will  be 
kind  enough  to  discontinue  their  fumigating 


operations,  or  at  least  change  their  base  of 
operations  and  have  some  consideration  for 
the  feelings  of  their  unfortunate  (?)  college 
mates  who  have  yet  to  learn  how  to  smoke. 
Non-Smoker. 


A  COAT  EXCHANGE. 

One  day  last  month  an  amusing  coat  ex- 
change took  place  in  the  Freshman  class. 

One  of  the  workers  in  the  moulding  room 
drew  off  his  overalls,  !aved  the  smut  off 
his  face  and  prepared  himself  to  regain  his 
proper  place  in  society.  He  was  about  to  put 
on  his  coat  when  he  found  that  it  was  gone. 
A  careful  search  did  not  revea!  it.  A  coat  was 
hanging  in  the  place  where  he  had  left  his 
own.  Hurriedly  he  seized  upon  this,  and  noted 
with  joy  that  it  was  but  about  six  inches  too 
short  and  only  a  foot  too  large  around  the 
body.  As  _he  was  on  his  way  for  a  train  and 
late,  he  hastened  his  steps  through  the  hall, 
and  just  as  he  was  about  to  leave  the  Institute, 
a  fellow  student  passing  him  ejaculated,  "Jiin- 
miny,  somebody  has  my  coat !"  and  the  mo- 
ment afterward  rushed  at  the  victim  of  his 
carelessness,  and  demanded  why  he  had  stolen 
his  coat.  At  the  word  "stolen"  the  blood 
rushed  into  the  face  of  the  first  man,  and,  wait- 
ing for  nothing,  he  closed  with  the  other. 

At  this  moment,  when  the  life  of  each  seemed 
as  if  suspended  by  a  single  thread,  a  professor 
was  seen  approaching  and  the  conflict  was  ab- 
ruptly ended.  Sullenly  the  combatants  ex- 
changed coats  and  separated.  One  to  discover 
that  he  had  missed  his  train  and  would  there- 
fore lose  his  dinner ;  the  other,  that  the  car 
which  was  to  convey  him  to  a  fair  damsel's 
door,  whom  he  had  promised  to  take  to  a  con- 
cert, had  gone,  and  that  it  was  too  late  to  start 
to  walk  the  distance  to  her  door. 

"  Who  stole  who's  coat  ?"  is  still  a  question 
in  the  Freshman  class,  and  it  is  feared  that  it 
will  never  be  settled. 


MORTAR   BOARDS. 

A  few  upper  classmen  have  been  trying  to 
introduce  the  custom  of  wearing  mortar  boards 
around  college. 

No  one  is  to  be  condemned  for  introducing 
a  new  custom,  for  we  always  like  to  see  some- 
thing new  tried  and  to  have  the  college  judge 
as  to  its  merits  and  advisability  of  adoption. 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


19 


This  present  experiment,  however,  we  cannot 
uphold,  as  in  order  to  wear  mortar  boards, 
gowns  also  must  be  worn,  and  this  is  not  con- 
sistent with  a  scientific  course,  especially  since 
we  graduate  with  a  degree  of  Mechanical  Engi- 
neer. 

Although  the  custom  in  itself  is  entirely  in- 
appropriate, there  is  a  great  objection  to  the 
introduction  of  such  a  conspicuous  dress  in  a 
college  situated  in  a  city  and  not  having  any 
dormitories. 

They  have  tried  to  introduce  the  wearing  of 
mortar  boards  and  gowns  at  Columbia  School 
of  Arts,  but,  have  not  fully  succeeded,  for  the 
same  reason  that  they  have  no  dormitories. 

The  red  hats  in  vogue  last  spring  are  better 
than  these,  or  if  the  students  want  something 
new,  why  not  wear  some  sort  of  an  ingenious 
cap,  something  like  the  handsome  skull  caps 
worn  at  the  Columbia  School  of  Mines  ? 


>  ^  » » 


MARK  TWAIN  INSTEAD  OF  FOWLER'S 
ENGLISH  AS  A  TEXT  BOOK. 


To  illustrate  how  hard  the  Freshman  class 
has  been  studying  during  the  recent  term,  the 
following  incident  is  noticed :  One  of  the 
members  of  the  above  class,  after  a  night 
spent  in  study  and  rest  in  unequal  proportion, 
hurried  down  at  10:30  to  his  breakfast,  then 
rushing  to  his  room,  seized  the  book  which  he 
had  been  cramming  the  night  before,  pulled 
on  his  overcoat,  and  started  for  the  Institute 
on  a-hundred-to-the-minute  walk. 

A  studious  individual,  without  a  text-book, 
saw  him  enter  the  building,  and  laying  hold 
of  this  opportunity  which  Providence  had 
thrown  in  his  way,  asked  to  be  allowed  to 
take  a  last  look  at  the  book,  before  his  fate — 
in  shape  of  Prof.  Wall — was  to  be  met.  The 
book  was  handed  to  him,  when  to  his  astonish- 
ment he  discovered  that  the  book  in  question 
was  Mark  Twain's  "Tramp  Abroad.'* 

Comment  is  unnecessary.  To  our  mind 
surely  this  has  a  strange  look.  Whether  some 
evil  spirit  or  spirits  exchanged  Fowler  for 
Mark,  or  whether  Mark  was  crammed  instead 
of  Fowler,  we  cannot  say. 

We  should  advise,  however,  that  if  any  stu- 
dent has  a  copy  of  Mark,  he  put  it  in  a  safe 
place,  for  Mark  will  out. 


*  ♦» » 


Professor  (who  has  been  trying  to  deduce 
a  very  simple  equation,  but  with  indifferent 
success) —    Oh  !  here's  our  mistake." 


THE  AMATEUR   FARMER. 


I  dream't  of  a  beautiful  time, 

When  the  world  shall  happy  be  ; 
When  elephants  and  hyenas 

Shall  blossom  on  every  tree  : 
When  tamarinds  and  potatoes 

Shall  cease  their  dreadful  roar  ; 
When  turnip  trees  shall  blossom 

In  the  garden  evermore. 

I  dream't  of  a  great  Republic, 

When  people  shall  all  go  West, 
Sow  plums  and  reap  tomatoes 

In  the  land  they  love  the  best ; 
Where  pig  iron  and  molasses 

Shall  bloom  on  every  hill, 
And  chickens  low  in  the  barnyard 

While  gooseberries  toil  at  the  mill. 

I'm  weary  of  seeing  the  cabbage 

Handle  the  rake  and  hoe  ; 
I'm  weary  of  watching  and  waiting 

For  the  grasshopper  bush  to  grow  ; 
I  long  for  the  time  when  spinach 

Shall  cope  with  bread  and  milk  ; 
When  hens  shall  lay  potatoes 

.\nd  horses  spin  raw  silk. 

Oh  !  sweet  were  the  vanquished  hours 

When  I  wandered  down  the  glen, 
And  wreathed  my  brow  with  tomatoes, 

Or  plucked  the  ripened  hen  ; 
When  the  donkey  twined  up  the  trellis, 

And  the  cucumber  chirped  in  the  grass  ! 
And  the  sweet  potato  whistled 

To  its  mate  in  the  mountain  pass. 

But  gone  are  the  days  of  childhood, 

And  manhood's  dreams  are  mine  ; 
Yet  I  long  for  the  by-gone  hours 

As  I  sit  'neath  this  Turkish  vine. 
Oh  !  wreathe  your  blossoms  about  me. 

And  soothe  my  aching  breast ; 
While  gooseberry  plaintively  warbles 

And  lulls  me  into  rest. 


LACROSSE. 


For  some  time  past  there  has  been  some 
scattering  talk  about  inaugurating  the  game  of 
lacrosse  at  Stevens. .  The  matter  has  hereto- 
fore gone  no  further  than  talk,  there  being 
apparently  no  one  taking  sufficient  interest  to 
push  the  thing  through. 

At  last,  however,  it  appears  that  we  are  to 
nufnber  this  most  excellent  game  as  one  of 
our  athletic  diversions. 

We  will  not  here  attempt  a  full  description 
of  the  game,  but  will  simply  give  a  brief  out- 
line : 

Lacrosse  occupies  a  position  intermediate 
between  football  and  "  hockey,"  or  "  shinney," 
yet  differs  widely  from  both.  The  object  of 
the  players  is  to  get  the  ball  (which  is  of  solid 


20 


THE    STEVENS  INDICA  TOR. 


rubber  and  about  the  size  of  a  tennis  ball)  be- 
tween goal  posts,  of  which  there  are  two,  six 
feet  high  and  six  feet  apart,  at  each  end  of  the 
field.  Twelve  players  are  required  on  each 
side,  and  they  play  in  pairs.  This  last  is  one 
of  the  pleasant  features  of  the  game  ;  the  men 
have  certain  assigned  positions  in  the  field, 
and  when  the  ball  is  in  another  part  of  the 
field,  a  player  always  has  an  opponent,  also  dis- 
engaged, with  whom  he  can  chat. 

The  "  sticks  '*  with  which  the  ball  is  handled 
are  about  five  feet  long,  bent  over  at  one  end 
and  netted  about  half  way  up.  The  ball  can- 
not be  touched  with  the  hands,  but  must  be 
managed  entirely  with  these  netted  sticks. 
Kicking  the  ball  and  striking  it  on  the  ground, 
as  in  "  shinney,"  are,  in  most  cases,  bad  play- 
ing. Expert  playing  requires  speed  and  agil- 
ity, the  ability  to  dodge  while  carrying  the 
ball  on  the  stick,  and  also  to  catch  and  throw 
with  accuracy. 

Lacrosse  possesses  all  the  advantages  of  foot- 
ball without  its  principal  drawbacks.  It  is 
splendid  as  a  physical  developer,  but  is  not  the 
rough-and-tumble  game  that  foot-ball  is.  Dex- 
terity and  quickness  tell  more  than  sheer  weight. 

The  rules  are  simple  and  easily  learned. 
There  are  no  "  off  side  '*  complications,  every- 
thing being  fair,  except  intentionally  striking 
the  person  of  another  player.  There  are  no 
time  consuming  and  uninteresting  "  downs  " 
to  be  played,  but  the  game  is  essentially  one 
in  accord  with  the  spirit  of  the  age.  The  pace 
is  a  rattling  one  from  beginning  to  end. 

If  we  enter  into  the  matter  earnestly,  there 
is  no  reason  why  the  Stevens  Lacrosse  Team 
should  not  win  laurels  even  from  such  colleges 
as  Harvard,  Princeton  and  Yale. 

We  extend  to  those  interested  in  starting 
this  game  our  best  wishes  for  their  and  its  suc- 
cess, and  if  they  ever  feel  discouraged,  would 
remind  them  of  the  old  proverb,  "  Cest  le 
premUrpas  qui  couU."     ^^^^^^  Snowden. 


«■#  »» 


BASE-BALL. 


The  brilliant  record  made  by  Stevens  last 
season  in  this  scientific  sport  is  so  well  known 
that  it  is  not  necessary  to  publish  the  record 
here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  never  before  since 
we  have  had  a  base-ball  nine  have  we  played 
with  such  strong  teams,  scored  so  many  vic- 
tories, nor  the  standard  of  playing  been  so  high. 
This  is  partly  due  to  the  increased  interest 
taken  in  base-ball  last  year,  but  more  especially 
to  the  fact  that  on  the  team  were  men  who  had 


played  on  the  nine  ever  since  their  Freshman 
year,  and  had  become  expert  players;  but  now 
that  some  of  these  men  have  graduated,  we  have 
only  one  course  to  pursue — to  work  harder 
than  ever  before,  and  keep  the  place  which  we 
now  hold,  viz. :  first  among  the  non  "  American 
College  Association"  clubs.  This  we  are  bet- 
ter able  to  do  this  year  than  last,  owing  to 
the  fact  of  having  a  gymnasium — small  to  be 
sure,  but  sufficiently  large  to  prepare  for  the 
field  practice,  which  promises  to  begin  earlier 
than  usual  this  season.  Every  man  in  col- 
lege who  has  ever  played  should  take  it  upon 
himself  to  use  the  gymnasium  every  Tuesday, 
Friday  and  Saturday  afternoon  from  now  until 
the  first  of  April,  not  simply  as  a  pastime,  but 
work  hard  and  systematically,  especially  in 
developing  the  muscles  of  the  arms,  shoul- 
ders and  chest. 

Before  last  year  altogether  too  much  indif- 
ference had  been  shown  as  to  securing  positions 
on  the  nine.  This  spirit  is  not  yet  entirely  done 
away  with,  but  the  sooner  it  is  the  better  it 
will  be.  ■  The  power  to  accomplish  this  lies 
mainly  with  the  lower  classes,  for  at  present 
there  are  men  in  them  who  would  by  a  little 
practice  make  good  players,  and  if  they  will 
show  more  interest  there  will  be  a  livelier  com- 
petition, a  better  team  and  a  more  brilliant  rec- 
ord; then  it  will  not  be  left  for  the  captain  to 
drum  up  the  men  every  time  there  is  to  be  a 
practice  game. 

This  season  will  be  a  particularly  exciting 
one,  owing  to  our  having  formed  a  league  with 
Rutgers  and  Lafayette.  This  should  be  an  in- 
centive for  hard  work. 

Yale  has  eighteen  men  training  for  the  nine, 
the  idea  of  the  captain  being  for  these  to  play 
a  series  of  games  among  themselves  before 
choosing  the  regular  nine.  In  this  way  each 
position  will  be  filled  by  the  man  who  has  the 
best  record.  It  would  be  well  for  us  to  follow 
her  example,  but  it  cannot  be  done  unless  there 
are  enough  trying  for  the  several  positions  to 
make  up  two  nines.  If  the  men  do  not  care  one 
way  or  the  other  it  is  impossible  for  the  cap- 
tain to  make  them,  but  if  they  will  make  more 
of  an  exception  of  this  year  than  even  last,  they 
can  rest  assured  that  the  best  men  will  get  the 
positions,  and  that  these  men  will  be  the 
means  of  winning  for  Stevens  the  pennant 
which  is  offered  by  the  league.  And  now  if 
all  the  men  who  have  ever  played  or  who  care 
to  try  for  this  season's  team  will  let  me  know, 
it  will  greatly  aid  in  deciding  the  course  of 
training  to  be  pursued. 

C.  L.  Gately,  Capt, 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


CONSTITUTION, 

The  Constitution  adopted  by  delegates  from 
Stevens,  Lafayette  and  Rutgers,  for  a  base-ball 
association,  New  York,  Feb.  9,  1884, 

Article  I. 
Sec.  I.  The  name  of  this  association  shall 
be  the  Inter  Collegiate  Base-Ball  League, 

Article  IL 

Sec.  I.  The  following  colleges  shall  con- 
stitute the  league  ;  Stevens,  Lafayette  and 
Rutgers. 

Sec.  z.  An  annual  lax  of  ten  (10)  dollars 
shall  be  levied  upon  each  college  in  the  league, 
payable  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  May, 
twenty-five  (25)  dollars  of  which  is  to  be  ex- 
pended on  a  pennant  for  the  champion  nine, 
and  the  surplus  to  be  used  in  defraying  general 
expenses  incurred  by  the  Secretary. 

Sec  3.  An  equal  assessment  shall  be  levied 
by  the  Secretary  at  the  end  of  the  season,  upon 
each  college  in  the  league,  to  defray  the  amount 
incurred  for  printing  and  general  expenses. 

Sec.  4.  No  other  colleges  than  those  named 
shall  be  admitted  to  membership  except  by 
the  unanimous  consent  of  the  colleges  of  the 
league. 

Sec.  5.  .\ny  college  wishing  to  enter  this 
league  subsequent  to  its  organization  shall  be 
required  to  pay  an  initiation  fee  of  fifteen  (15) 
dollars. 

Article   III. 

Sec.  I.  The  officers  shall  consist  of  a  Presi- 
dent, a  Vice-President,  a  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, and  a  Judiciary  Committee  of  one  from 
each  college,  the  President  of  the  league  being 
e«-ofEcio  chairman  of  the  committee,  and 
having  a  vote  only  in  case  of  a  tie. 

Sec.  z.  All  officers  shall  be  elected  by  bal- 
lot, except  the  Judiciary  Committee. 

Article  IV. 

Sec.  I.  The  series  of  games  shall  consist  of 
two  (a  J  with  each  college,  the  first  game  only 
on  each  home  ground,  or  on  grounds  mutually 
agreed  upon,  counting;  and  the  championship 
shall  be  decided  by  the  greatest  number  of 
games  won.  In  ca.se  of  a  tie  for  the  champion- 
ship, one  game  shall  be  played  by  each  club 
thus  tying  with  each  of  the  other  tying  clubs. 


Said  games  to  be  played  upon  grounds  mu- 
tually agreed  upon,  and  within  ten  (lo)  days 
after  the  last  schedule  game. 

Sec.  2.  The  schedule  games  shall  be  ar- 
ranged by  the  convention  at  the  regular  meet- 
ing. 

Article  V. 

Sec.  I.  Each  club  shall  receive  its  entire 
home  gate  receipts  and  pay  its  own  expenses. 

Article  VI. 

Sec.  I.  Any  club  having  agreed  to  play  a 
championship  game  with  another  club  on  a 
certain  day,  and  refusing  or  failing  to  meet 
its  engagement,  shall,  unless  the  failure  be 
caused  by  an  unavoidable  accident  in  travel- 
ing, or  the  game  be  prevented  by  rain,  or 
postponed  with  the  consent  of  the  other  club  in 
writing,  forfeit  its  membership  in  the  league. 
A  certificate,  signed  by  at  least  three  (3) 
members  of  the  faculty  shall  also  be  consid- 
ered a  sufficient  excuse  for  failure  to  play  a 
schedule  game;  said  certificate  must  be  for- 
warded to  the  other  nine  within  one  week 
after  failure  to  play. 

Sec.  I.  In  case  of  a  postponed  game,  the 
visiting  team  shall  furnish  three  dates,  one  of 
which  shall  be  a  Saturday  falling  before  com- 
mencement of  the  home  nine,  which  dates 
must  be  furnished  within  two  [a)  days  after 
the  time  of  the  game  postponed. 

Sec.  3.  Tie  games  shall  be  considered  the 
same  as  postponed  games,  but  shall  be  played 
on  grounds  mutually  agreed  upon. 

Article  VII. 
Sec.  1.  Any  student  who  is  regularly  a 
member  of  any  college  of  the  league  shall  be 
eligible  as  a  player.  Any  student  who  shall 
play  on  a  professional  base-ball  nine,  or  who 
has  ever  in  any  way  received  pay  therefor, 
shall  not  be  eligible.  Questions  of  eligibility 
to  be  investigated  and  decided  by  the  Judiciary 
Committee  on  application  of  any  college. 

Article   VIIL 
Sec.  I.  The  home  club  shall   furnish    the 
umpire,  who  shall  not  be  or  not  have  been  a 
member  of  either  contesting  colleges. 


Sec.  I.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  league 
shall  be  held  at  New  York  City  on  the  second 
Saturday  in  February  at  10  a.  m.,  each  college 


22 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


to  be  represented  by  not  more  than  three  (3) 
delegates.  An  extra  meeting  may  be  called  by 
the  delegates  at  the  request  of  three  colleges. 

Article  X. 

Sec.  I.  A  two-thirds  (§)  vote  of  the  league 
shall  be  required  to  amend  this  constitution. 
All  votes  shall  be  taken  "by  colleges." 


-•-•"♦- 


BY-LAWS. 


Sec  I.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary 
to  see  to  the  printing  of  the  Constitution  and 
By-Laws,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  league  in 
convention,  together  with  the  individual  re- 
cords of  the  previous  year's  players. 

Sec.  2.  The  captain  of  the  winning  nine  in 
each  game,  shall  send  the  score  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  league,  within  one  week  of  the  time  of 
playing,  under  a  penalty  of  a  fine  of  five  (5) 
dollars. 

Sec.  3.  The  Secretary  of  the  league  shall 
send  annually  to  the  captain  of  each  club  of 
the  league  ten  (10)  blanks  on  which  the  score 
shall  be  sent  as  provided  for  above. 

Sec  4.  Immediately  on  the  completion  of 
all  games  necessary  to  award  the  champion- 
ship, the  formal  vote  of  each  college,  signed 
by  at  least  one  (i)  of  the  delegates  to  the  pre- 
ceding convention,  shall  be  forwarded  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  league  for  the  disposition  of 
the  pennant,  the  money  for  which  shall  there- 
upon be  forwarded  to  the  manager  of  the  win- 
ning team. 

Sec  5.  The  games  for  the  championship  of 
this  league  shall  be  governed  by  the  "  Ameri- 
can College  Base-Ball  Association'*  rules. 

We  subjoin  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  league 
eUcted  for  the  ensuing  year: 

President — A.  C.  Campbell,  Lafayette. 
V,  President — J.  H.  Stbwart,  Stevens. 
Sec' y  and  Treas. — R.  A.  Levrned,  Rutgers. 

schedule  of  games. 

Rutgers  vs,  Lafayette  at  New  Brunswick,  May  loth. 
Lafayette  vs,  Stevens  "  Easton,  May  17th. 

Stevens  vs.  Rutgers      **  Hoboken,  May  21st 

Lafayette  vs.  Rutgers  "  Easton,  May  24th. 

Rutgers  z/ J.  Stevens     **  New  Brunswick,  May  30th. 
Stevens  vs.  Lafayette  **  Hoboken,  June  3d. 


THE  FRESHMAN'S  SONG. 


And  now  at  Stevens  I  am  here. 
Exams,  are  passed,  and  much  I  fear, 
That  in  the  future  there  may  be 
More  than  enough  to  banish  me. 

My  rosy  mom  in  lessons  long, 

My  noons  in  eating  and  in  song. 

And  now  to  drawing  I  must  fly 
Up  stairs  and  halls  quite  near  the  sky  ; 
Lines  straight,  and  curves  with  shadows  dark 
And  drawing  pens  that  make  no  mark. 

My  afternoon  with  compass  fool. 

And  wishing  that  I  had  a  stool. 

But  when  in  shop  I  take  my  stand, 

The  flying  tools  on  every  hand, 

The  gases  foul  from  foundry. 

Are  quite  enough  to  sicken  me. 

My  eve  with  studies,  trig,  and  French, 

My  night  with  dreams  of  compound  wrench. 

Thus  pass  the  days  and  nights  away. 

But  plucked  I'll  be  ?     I  cannot  say. 

A  siae  door — do  I  enter  here — 

And  of  that  door  I  have  much  fear. 
But  then,  again,  I  should  not  quake. 
For  I'm  of  the  stuff  an  M.  E.  to  make. 


<^  »» 


Stuffing  Bex. 


TTTHE  chirpings  of  '84,  previous  to  recitations, 
®1®  betoken  great  things  for  our  Glee  Club. 

The  pictures  of  the  foot  ball  team  are  fine. 

One  of  our  hopefuls,  Johnson,  '86,  has  left 
college. 

Mr.  Bang  is  said  to  be  the  heaviest  man  in 
his  class. 

A  wiser  than  Solomon  has  appeared;  you 
can  find  him  in  '87. 

Plane  trigonometry  has  been  added  to  the 
entrance  examinations. 

Mr.  Walton  appears  with  a  bang;  the  wonder 
is  where  did  he  get  it  ? 

'85  class  meetings  are  unique.  No  minutes, 
and  but  little  accomplished. 

The  Institute  is  having  80  to  90  volumes  of 
the  Comptes  Rendus  bound  for  the  library. 

What  has  become  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  preserve  the  privacy  of  '85 's  class 
room? 

At  the  class  meeting  of  '87,  held  to  discuss 
the  need  of  a  class  pin,  no  definite  action  was 
taken. 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


23 


The  library  also  receives  specifications  and 
'drawings  from  the  patent  office  as  soon  as 
published. 

The  classes  are  to  be  limited  to  50,  and  not 
to  40,  as  erroneously  stated  in  some  of  the  col- 
lege journals. 

The  class  of  '86  enjoys  the  rather  doubtful 
honor  of  being  the  first  class  on  which  all  new 
Faculty  schemes  are  sprung. 

Mr.  McElroy,  it  is  believed,  has  the  finest 
mustache  in  the  class.  The  reputation  for  the 
faintest  belongs  to  Mr.  Bayless. 

Considerable  talk  about  holding  the  next 
commencement  exercises  in  New  York  is  at 
present  agitating  the  Senior  class. 

The  banjo  fiend  is  abroad  in  '87;  he  goes 
about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour,  bearing 
his  banjo  and  the  tender  name  of  Hart. 

It  is  somewhat  of  a  pleasure  to  see  our  shop 
resuming  its  old  duties ;  for  there  is  much 
work  to  be  accomplished  in  very  little  time. 

The  members  of  the  two  upper  classes  have 
spent  many  enjoyable  evenings  at  the  recep- 
tions tendered  them  by  Prof,  and  Mrs.  A.  R. 
Leeds. 

Co-ordinate  geometry  is  much  liked,  and 
great  admiration  is  expressed  for  the  ingenuity 
of  Des  Cartes,  who  was  one  of  the  originators 
of  the  plan. 

Ashes  on  slippery  mornings,  properly  sprink- 
led about  the  front  steps,  would  greatly  add  to 
the  personal  comfort  and  appearance  of  those 
entering  our  halls. 

The  library  is  indebted  to  Prof.  Thurston 
for  "Box  on  Strength  of  Materials,"  and  "The 
History  of  Steam  Navigation,"  by  Rear  Ad- 
miral G.  H.  Preble. 

The  Entertainment  Committee  report  pro- 
gress. They  are  working  hard,  and  a  very 
complete  and  interesting  programme  may  be 
looked  forward  to. 

The  hall  into  which  the  Hudson  Street  base- 
ment door  opens  is  very  dark.  Perambulatory 
exercise  mi^t  be  materially  assisted  by  keep- 
ing the  gas  lighted  there. 

On  Friday  evening,  Feb.  8,  several  of  the 
Seniors  and  Juniors  were  very  agreeably  en- 
tertained at  the  residence  of  Prof.  C.  W.  Mac 
Cord.  The  young  ladies  present  added  not  a 
little  to  the  pleasure  of  the  party. 


The  exhaust  of  the  rotary  engine  used  in 
the  gallery  of  the  shop  makes  such  a  disturb- 
ance that  it  is  with  difficulty  that  the  recita- 
tions can  be  heard  in  Prof.  Wall's  room. 
There  is  room  for  improvement  here  ! 

Bygones  should  be  bygones  ;  but  as  to  next 
best  place  in  football  after  Harvard,  we  must 
remind  our  friends  at  Wesley  an,  that  Stevens 
enjoyed  that  honor  last  season,  but  then  the 
place  is  open  for  competition  next  fall. 

Charge  in  Editorial  Staff . — Messrs.  Rice,  '85, 
business  editor,  and  Boynton,  85,  exchange, 
editor,  resigned,  Messrs.  Norris  and  Rusby 
being  elected  from  '85  to  fill  the  vacancies. 
The  board  now  has  for  business  editor 
Kletzsch,  '85,  with  Rusby,  '85,  as  exchange 
editor. 

Prof.  Leeds  objects  to  having  umbrellas 
brought  into  class,  but  if  he  could  explain  the 
chemical  laws  by  which  they  evaporate  to  dry- 
ness and  disappear  when  left  to  the  care  of 
the  coat,  umbrella  and  anything-you-can-lay- 
your-hands-on  exchange,  we  wouldn't  say  any- 
thing. 

It  would  be  a  pleasure  to  see  some  of  the 
latent  literary  genius  about  being  developed 
and  mailed  to  the  Board  of  Editors — contribu- 
tions solicited — decisions  as  to  merit  reserved 
by  the  Board.  Incipient  litterateurs  out  of 
postage  stamps  can  hand  the  products  of  their 
genius  to  any  of  the  editors  in  person. 

Prof.  Wood  actually  ventured  into  his  class 
room  while  the  Sophomores  were  there.  Ears, 
eyes,  mouths,  and  pencils,  attested  the  interest 
of  the  class  in  this  novel  innovation,  and  as  he 
withdrew,  each  countenance  relaxed  into  an 
expression  of  longing  and  the  air  seemed  to 
fill  spontaneously  with  requests  for  more  ! 

There  have  also  been  added  to  the  library, 
three  volumes  with  plates  of  "  Experiments  of 
M.  V.  Regnault,"  and  three  volumes  of  "  Max- 
well on  Electricity  and  Magnetism,"  "  Rankine 
on  Ship  Building,"  and  D.  K.  Clark's  "  Rules, 
Tables  and  Data  for  Mechanical  Engineers," 
were  presented  to  the  library  by  the  alumni. 

The  gymnasium  movement  has  become  so 
much  of  a  necessity,  that  a  number  of  the 
students  have  procured  the  use  of  the  best  one 
in  the  town.  Three  afternoons  of  each  week 
have  been  engaged,  and  from  the  interest 
shown  much  muscle  may  be  expected  to  ac- 
cumulate on  the  bones  of  our  undergradu- 
ates. 


L 


H 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Somebody  sends  word  that  a  large  Soph- 
omore has  invented  something.  Woe  betide 
the  man  !  He  little  knoweth  what  becometh 
of  inventors  when  the  products  of  their  me- 
chanical genius  shall  be  brought  to  meet  the 

crucial  test  of  the ,  but  perhaps  his  great 

invention  is  only  a  new  fetch- 'em-out  to  coax 
into  the  light  of  day  the  embryo  hirsute  ap- 
pendage of  his  upper  lip. 


OBirerRSS. 


9  bvers  sat  beneath  ilie  shade 
And  1  un-2  the  other  said  : 
"IIow  14-8  thai  you  be-9, 
Have  smiled  npon  ihis  suit  of  mine  ; 
If  ;  a  heart,  it  palps  for  you — 
Thy  voice  is  music  melody— 
'Tis  7,  a  l>e  thy  loved  1,3 — 
Say,  O  nymph,  will  marry  me?" 
Then  lisped  she  soft,  "Why  13-ly." 

Ex. 
Maiy  had  a  little  lamp, 
'Twas  filled  vith  kerosene, 
She  blew  right  down  the  chimnejr 
And  vanished  from  the  scene. 

Ex. 

Latin  Professor  (to  student  with  a  suspicious 
looking  bunch  in  his  cheek) — "Quid  est  hoc  I" 
Student — ".ffo£  estquid." — Ex. 

College  students  in  Siam  are  allowed  two 
wives  ;  the  Siamese  way  of  hazing,  no  doubt. 
— De  Pauit)  Monthly. 


And  he  was  wondruus  wise  , 

He  wrote  a  crib  upon  his  cuff, 

Of  much  diminished  size. 

But  when  he  felt  a  little  bored, 
Atid  yawned  with  arms  extended, 

This  wise  man  gave  himself  away, 
And  straightway  was  suspended. 


Professor  in  German. — "Mr  W.  how  would 
you  decline  guter,  alter,  rother  wein."  Mr. 
W. — "I  shouldn't  dechne  it." — Orient. 


Oh  Lamp,  thon  art  a  goodly  friend  to  me, 
I  lighl  thee,  and  'lis  by  thy  light  1  see  ; 

I  blow  thee  out,  and  in  return  some  day. 

Perchance  thou'lt  blow  me  up  by  way  of  pay. 


With  the  present  number  of  The  IndicatiX^V 
begins  the  real  existence  of  the  Exchange  Dc-  ( 
partment,  one  which,  although  founded  as  one 
of  the  original  departments  of  the  paper,  has 
been  productive  of  no  mallir  heretofore.  It  ' 
now,  however,  enters  upon  a  career  which  we  I 
hope  will  be  active  and  unbroken,  and  which  | 
we  will  endeavor  to  make  as  interesting  i 
attractive  as  our  ability  and  the  quality  ( 
quantity  of  matter  presented  will  admit. 

This  time,  however,  we  will  have  to  o 
ourselves  with  the  simple  acknowledgment  Of '1 
a  few  exchanges  who  have  favored  us  up  to  -l 
the  present  time.  These  are  The  De  Patna  :'| 
Monthly,  The  Cornell  Peview,  The  OberliM\ 
Revie%i',  The  Lafayette  College  foumal,  teuS'm 
The  Electrician. 


REVIEWS. 


afTHhiKlocy,): 


CD.  N.J.    PuUidMd^ 


Prof.  Mayer's  new  book  is  S4id  to  be  the  finett  ap 
ing  publication  ever  issued  in  this  countij,  and,  fm 
careful  inspection  of  the  book  itself,  we  are  indina 
Ihink  the  statement  true.  It  consists  of  a  serjec  of 
tides  by  the  editor,  and  such  men  as  John  Burnnwha, 
Charles  Dudley  Warner,  etc.,  which  have  been  Uln»- 
Inited  in  the  highest  style  of  the  art  by  the  best  artUts 
and  engravers  of  this  counlry,  and  covert  the  field  in- 
dicated by  ils  title  with  great  thoroughnesi.  Il  inclnde* 
arch.-L'olc^ical,  historical,  and  practical  Biticlei  on  the  : 
sporting  implements,  with  practical  inslnicti 
idetmy  anil  essays  on  sporting  subjects,  i 
which  is  a  great  deal  of  <juiet  humor. 

The  Cenlury  Co.,  who  has   certainly  at  great   re- 
sources as  any  other  house  in  this  couniiy  for  the  pub-    ' 
lication  of  such  a  work,  has  liccn  lavish  with  time  ar  *    ' 
money  spent  upon  it,  and  the  result  has  been  a  ma 
nificence  almost  unparalleled  in  a  book  of  that  clu 
acter.    The  treatment  of  the  subject*  bandied  by  tl 
artists  for  such  a  work  as  this  is  one  of  the  moM  diflU   J 
cult  problems  which  arise  in  the  artistic  career,  and  r*.   " 
(juires  a  personal  acquaintance  and  long-  study,  if  the 
aim   is  truthful  delineation.     In   Ibis  case   the  arttatB    ' 
have  certainly  met  witli  succesi,  and  more  especially  la    1 
Ihis  noticeable,   since,  in  some   instances,   the  wrilen 
have   illustrated  their  own   papers.     As  specitnen*  ol 
wood   engravings,  those   contained   are   eijual  to   tbd 
best  work  in  that  line,  and  we  repeal  again  that  It  ic 
the  finest  American  sporting  book  we  have  yet  m 


Our  professor  in  Mechanical  Engineering 
tells  us  that  out  of  one  huiniruti  boiler  explo- 
sions, two  are  due  to  the  abstnce  of  pressure 
gauges,  while  set'en  are  due  to  defective  gauges? 
Would  it  then  be  safer  to  go  without  a  gauge. 


/r  STEl'JiA'S  llfntCATOi; 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technology, 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOHNDED    BY  THE   LATE   EDWIN   A.  STEVENS, 

HO  BO  KEN,  N.  J. 


HENRV  MOHTON    Ph.  D., 
ALFRED  M-  MAVHR.  Ph.  D., 


.    Ins:;" 
I  hbiiiie  Cueiseerlog  and  li 


r..r.  Hai4.  . 

PffL  Much.  Drtwtof 
.    Prol.  Cbcm'Mti7 

'""---'•I'fci 

■■'"* 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCliUUL. 

THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 
— trf  itii. — 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

RIVKR  STREET,  bei.  Sih  and  5th.  HCEOKEX  A", .'.. 

OPENS  SEPTEMBER    17,  iwi  . 


atntnlastioaa  (or  ^..^ 
INSTRUCTION  GIVEN  Ih 


.lODERK  UK. 

ll.'iKlL,d.  DRAWIBG. 


JUNIOR  DEPARTMENT,   .   -   .   .   saCOO  PER  ANNUM. 
SENIOR  OEPARTMEKT,   .   -   -    ■  SIDO.OO  PER  ANNUM, 

LIS,tttrlun  at  Eb&vooa  IinItUUU. 


THE 


^Uevefl^  JpidiGaliSR 


VoL  I. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  MARCH,  1884. 


No.  3. 


rUBUSHBD  OM  THB 

mm  OF  EMH  MONTH,  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 
BY  THE  STUDENTS  OF 

^Venfl  In^tifentB  of  Tecpologj. 

suitors. 

mr,      .       .       .       .     C.  W.  WHITINO,  *84. 
bmn,      .  .    A.  P.  KLBTZ8CH,  '84. 

EnmHt,  ....    JOHN  M.  RU8BY,  '85. 

moral  SOftoro. 

ROLLIN   NORRIS,  *85' 

B.  P.  MOWTON.  *I8.  C.  R.  COLLINS,  *86. 

LADD   PLUMLBY,   '87. 


■♦♦■ 


TEMIS  :-Ol.lO  p«r  Ymt,  in  Advance.     Singte  Copy,  20  Cents. 


I'mt  Qfltr  MM  Ibnmd  floM  JMfer. 


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Subseribers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
€kamg€  in  their  address  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 
ngJarfy. 

Professors^  alumni,  undergraduates^  and  friends^  are 
imvUed  t»  contribute  literary  articles,  items,  verses^  dis- 
eussioms  of  current  topics,  and  personal  notes. 

It  is  pasrtieularly  desired  that  Alumni  furnish  us  ivith 
mU  Hems  of  interest  concerning  themselves  and  every  one 
who  has  been  connected  with  tie  Institute, 

li  is  tsepected  thai  all  articles  shall  be  written  in  a 
€om'teoMs  tong, 

Tkg  writers  full  name,  as  well  as  his  NOM  DE  pli-MK, 
tmmst  oecomfany  the  article,  as  assurance  of  j^ood  faith 
mmdreBMUty;  but  it  will  not  be  published,  unless  desired. 

no  ediion  do  not  necessarily  endorse  sentiments  ex- 
ptTtMJ^d  except  in  the  editorial  and  exehaptge  columns. 

FwkHsktrs  ase  imnted  to  send  us  books  and  magazines 
^o^wot%C€  or  review* 

Errhetngffi  contributions,  subsctiptions,  advertisements, 
mmd  mil  other  communications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
toTKR  Stbvxns  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Hobohen, 
N.J. 

AH  persons  wishing  to  secure  the  business  patronage  of 
%tmdtni%  emd  aimmni,  will  find  it  to  their  advantage  to 
mmdfor  omr  advertising  rates. 


IN  regard  to  the  circular  which  has  been  sent 
to  all  the  colleges  of  the  United  States, 
concerning  athletics,  Stevens  has  not  accepted 
them,  but  has  tabled  them,  awaiting  an  answer 
from  Harvard,  in  reply  to  a  question  which 
arose  at  the  faculty  meeting,  held  to  discuss 
the  circular.  Some  of  the  daily  papers  have 
erroneously  stated  that  Stevens  has  accepted 
the  proposed  regulations.  We  desire  to  in- 
form all  concerned  to  the  contrary. 


-•-♦- 


0N  Thursday  evening,  February  21st,  the 
Senior  Class  were  tendered  their  first 
reception  this  year  at  the  house  of  Prof. 
Thurston.  The  students  were  received  by 
Professor  and  Mrs.  R.  H.  Thurston,  who  were 
kindly  assisted  by  a  number  of  ladies  and 
several  seniors.  After  spending  several  short 
but  sweet  minutes  in  conversation,  the  '84 
Glee  Club  sang  several  of  their  best  pieces  in 
honor  of  the  occasion.  About  ten  o'clock  a  col- 
lation was  served  to  the  guests  present,  who 
were  bounteously  supplied  by  fair  hands.  The 
ladies  present  added  no  little  to  the  gathering  ; 
considerable  difficulty,  however,  was  met  with 
by  them  in  managing  the  bashful  Seniors. 

Prof,  and  Mrs.  Thurston  are  to  be  highly  con- 
gratulated for  bringing  about  and  successfully 
terminating  one  of  the  most  delightful  gather- 
ings which  the  present  Seniors  have  as  yet 
engaged  in.  After  sufficiently  recovering,  the 
glee  club  gave  several  more  of  their  selections, 
and  all  dispersed  with  many  wishes  and  thanks 
to  the  originators  of  the  pleasant  affair. 

TT70  the  practice,  to  which  some  of  the  stu- 
'1  dents  are  addicted,  of  using  the  floors  of 
the  recitation  rooms  as  spittoons,  we  would 
offer  an  emphatic  protest.  To  a  person  of 
any  delicacy,  scarcely  any  habit  is  more  dis- 


26 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


gusting,  and  to  be  compelled,  as  some  of  us 
sometimes  are,  to  occupy  a  seat,  the  previous 
occupant  of  which  has  been  emptying  his 
mouth,  and,  from  appearances,  blowing  his 
nose  on  the  floor,  is  by  no  means  conducive 
to  one's  peace  of  mind.  This  species  of  orna- 
mentation, though  practiced  to  some  extent  in 
bar-rooms  and  other  places  frequented  by  un- 
cultivated persons,  is  not  yet  a  recognized 
branch  of  art,  and  until  it  is,  we  would  request 
those  who  are  devoting  themselves  to  it  to 
suspend  their  operations  in  this  line.  The 
two  spittoons  in  the  library  are  godsends,  but 
we  would  suggest  to  the  Faculty  the  imprac- 
ticability of  going  from  the  top  story  to  the 
ground  floor  every  time  we  are  obliged  to  ex- 
pectorate ;  could  we  not  have  one  in  each 
class  room  ? 


-*-♦ 


@N  the  twenty-sixth  of  February,  in  re- 
sponse to  a  notice  posted  on  the  bulletin- 
board,  some  twenty  students  assembled  in 
Prof.  Thurston's  lecture  room  to  organize  a 
Lacrosse  Club.  Norris,  '85,  was  elected 
Chairman,  and  Coffee,  '85,  Secretary.  A  num- 
ber of  encouraging  letters  from  prominent 
lacrosse  men  were  read,  in  one  of  which 
Mr.  J.  R.  Flannery,  Secretary  of  the  Na- 
tional Lacrosse  Association,  ojffered  to  come 
over  to  Hoboken  any  Saturday  afternoon  and 
give  the  Stevens  men  some  lessons.  This 
kind  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  Chairman  is 
to  post  a  notice  when  he  may  be  expected. 
It  was  decided  not  to  adopt  any  Constitution 
or  By-laws  at  present,  but  for  a  name,  **  The 
Stevens  Lacrosse  Association "  was  fixed 
upon. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  fifteen  or  more 
of  the  students  handed  in  their  names  to  the 
Chairman  for  sticks. 

We  are  especially  gfad  to  see  that  the  foot- 
ball men  are  going  into  lacrosse,  for  it  will  be 
excellent  training  for  them. 


■#«» 


Student  {trying  to  make  an  apt  quotation): 
**  That  kills  two  flies  with  one  stone." 


FOR  the  March  number  of  the  Indicator 
we  take  great  pleasure  in  presenting  to 
our  readers  a  sixteen-paged  paper,  indepen- 
dent of  the  advertising  pages  and  cover. 
It  will  be  remembered  by  those  interested  in 
our  welfare,  that  our  initial  number  was  very 
uninteresting,  containing  only  foot-ball  matter, 
with  little  else. 

This  was  due  to  three  reasons :  first,  that 
our  time  was  so  occupied  in  starting  the  paper 
and  getting  it  in  running  order,  that  little  was 
left  to  devote  to  writing ;  second,  that  the 
foot-ball  matter  and  records  of  games  would 
be  interesting  and  valuable  to  refer  to  later, 
while  they  would  not  be  acceptable  reading  in 
another  issue  ;  and  third,  that  we  had  con- 
siderable trouble  in  organizing  our  board  of 
editors,  the  two  from  the  class  of  '85  having 
resigned,  thus  leaving  their  work  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  others. 

With  our  second  copy,  however,  there  came 
an  improvement — at  least  we  think  so,  and 
have  been  led  to  believe  it  from  the  remarks 
of  others  ;  but  that  made  us  fear  the  more  for 
the  success  of  what  was  to  follow,  for  a  de- 
crease in  any  way  is  most  disastrous  ;  yet  we 
cannot  always  increase,  or  even  remain  at  the 
height  of  whatever  success  we  may  reach; 

With  our  third  issue,  however,  the  one  which 
we  are  now  pleased  to  bring  out,  there  still 
comes  an  improvement,  and  with  the  aid  of 
students,  alumni  and  friends,  we  will  endeavor 
not  to  fall  back.  Our  advertisers  are  increas- 
ing in  number,  and  subscriptions  are  slowly 
coming  in.  We  hope  to  see  these  latter  "  brace 
up."  Most  of  the  college  papers  are  acknowl- 
edging us  in  their  exchange  columns,  criticis- 
ing us  both  favorably  and  otherwise. 


TTTHE  proposed  regulations  for  Intercolle- 
1  giate  Athletic  Sports  are  something 
which  have  long  been  needed.  We  do  not  say 
that  these  are  the  precise  rules  that  we  have 
been  waiting  for,  but  the  spirit  is  there.  It 
is  unfortunate  for  some  of  the  smaller  insti- 
tutions of  learning  that  they  have  no  gym- 
nasiums in  which  to  keep  up  their  physical 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


27 


health  during  the  season  in  which  it  is  im- 
possible to  practice  out  of  doors  ;  to  these 
the  proposed  rules  will  be  a  benefit,  as  it  will 
increase  their  shares  in  a  match  game  of  any 
kind  with  their  larger  and  more  fortunate 
sister  colleges,  who  have  at  present  not  only 
good  gymnasiums,  but  professional  trainers  to 
care  for  their  physical  needs.  It  is  rather  too 
much  to  exf>ect  a  team  selected  from  two  hun- 
dred students,  and  not  having  the  benefits  of 
professional  training,  to  compete,  with  any 
chance  of  success,  with  a  team  selected  from 
fourteen  hundred,  and  with  every  possible  ad- 
vantage. 

Of  course  we  do  not  expect  these  large  and 
wealthy  colleges  to  give  up  their  many  advan- 
tages and  come  down  to  our  unfortunate  con- 
dition; but  we  think  that  some  sort  of  equality 
should  exist  between  any  two  competing  teams, 
and  that  the  college  athletics  should  be  in- 
cluded in  the  college  work  as  part  and  parcel 
of  the  course  ;  not  making,  as  seems  to  be  the 
case  in  some  institutions,  an  almost  separate 
department  of  athletics,  which  is  sheltered 
under  the  college  name,  but  in  reality  being 
an  almost  complete  department  in  itself,  which* 
is  a  refuge  for  physically  strong  students^  who 
manage,  by  a  great  deal  of  hard  work,  to  re- 
main in  one  class  for  some  time,  paying,  how- 
ever, a  large  amount  of  time  to  athletics,  to 
such  good  effect  that  it  is  good  for  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  college  team  to  retain  them  as  long 
as  possible.  The  fifth  resolution  of  the  pro- 
posed rules  provides  for  this;  and  this  rule,  we 
think,  ought  to  be  embodied  in  any  set  of  rules 
which  the  college  may  hereafter  adopt. 

Rule  I  will,  no  doubt,  have  a  very  good  effect 
on  the  athletically  inclined  student,  who  uses 
the  fact  of  his  being  on  one  of  the  teams  to  do  a 
large  amount  of  unnecessary  cutting,  thereby 
getting  the  team  somewhat  into  disgrace. 

Rule  2  is  the  rule  wnich  is  most  needed  in 
our  colleges. 

The  association  of  professionals  with  our 
games  is  very  much  to  be  regretted,  bringing, 
as  it  does,  a  most  undesirable  factor  into 
what  was  originally  meant  to  be  friendly  com- 


petition. The  foremost  idea  in  a  professional's 
mind  is  anything  but  friendliness  toward  his 
competitors,  and  he  is  very  apt  to  inculcate  a 
like  idea  into  the  minds  of  those  under  his 
charge. 

Rule  3  will  ever  be  a  disputed  point,  which 
we  would  like  to  see  settled  once  for  all,  and 
a  binding  definition  given  to  the  word  amateur. 

Rule  6  is  rather  too  binding,  as  it  compels 
the  teams  to  play  on  poor  grounds,  when  good 
ones  are  near  at  hand,  and  can  be  had  at  a 
small  expense  when  gate-money  is  to  be  had, 
although  the  money  question  is  one  which  re- 
quires very  delicate  handling. '  As  we  have  no 
boats,  Rule  7  does  not  affect  us  at  all. 

In  regard  to  the  eighth,  it  would  be  neces- 
sary to  have  a  sufficient  number  of  colleges  in 
the  proposed  league,  for  a  league  it  will  be, 
to  insure  a  goodly  number  of  games. 

0NE  of  the  first  things  which  will  be 
looked  for  in  this  number  of  the  Indica- 
tor will  undoubtedly  be  an  editoral  on  what 
shall  we  call  it,  physical  culture  ?  Perhaps 
that  is  a  rather  high-sounding  name,  but  it  is 
the  origin  of  our  remarks,  and  a  subject  which 
is  now  agitating  the  students  of  the  Institute 
and  being  agitated  by  them. 

Every  one  who  has  paid  any  attention  to 
his  or  her  physical  education  will  have  heard 
of  Mr.  Wm.  Blaikie,  the  author  of  "  How  to 
get  Strong," — that  very  excellent  book  that 
should  be  found  in  every  household  ;  and  will 
probably  know  that  he  is  a  prominent  New 
York  lawyer,  up  to  his  eyes,  as  he  says,  in 
his  business,  while  lending  considerable  time 
and  energy  to  the  promotion  of  that  most  im- 
portant but  much  neglected  branch  of  Ameri- 
can education,  physical  culture. 

He  is  personally  known  by  several  of  the 
students  of  the  Institute,  and  through  them, 
those  who  are  interested  in  athletics,  were 
enabled  to  secure  his  valuable  services  for  a 
few  hours  Friday  afternoon,  February  29th. 
Prof.  Wall's  lecture  room  was  obtained,  and  all 
students  were  excused  from  work  so  as  to  be 
able  to  attend  the  lecture.     About  a  hundred 


28 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


and  twenty-five  were  present,  including  several 
professors,  and  these  enjoyed  a  very  pleasing 
and  instructive  discourse  on  physical  culture. 
Mr.  Blaikie  is  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College, 
having  while  there  taken  an  active  part  in  all 
athletics,  and  especially  in  rowing. 

Since  then  he  has  followed  up  and  pushed 
ahead  the  subject  of  athletic  exercise,  and  is 
consequently  a  very  able  person  to  lecture  to 
a  body  of  students. 

In  his  little  talk  to  us,  he  began  by  dividing 
education  into  three  parts — mental,  religious 
and  physical.  Taking  the  first  of  these,  he 
gave  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  growth 
of  this  branch  of  education  from  the  little 
school  house,  which  was  the  original  Harvard, 
up  to  the  present  time,  giving  statistics  as  to 
the  number  of  teachers,  schools,  and  pupils 
engaged,  and  the  money  which  has  been  ex- 
pended and  is  being  devoted  to  it. 

Following  these  remarks,  he  said  that  not 
much  less  of  the  wealth  of  this  world  has  been 
used  for  religious  training,  while  little  or 
nothing  has  been  given  to  that  most  impor- 
tant branch  of  physical  culture. 

He  then  proved  very  satisfactorily  and  em- 
phatically that  this  physical  culture,  which  is 
so  much  neglected  in  our  country,  is  of  the 
gravest  importance,  and  should  be  one  of  the 
first  considerations  in  every  one's  life.  This 
he  did  by  citing  numerous  examples,  which 
have  come  up  before  him  or  before  those 
with  whom  he  is  acquainted,  and  which 
served  to  illustrate  each  and  every  point  as  it 
was  brought  up.  These  points  were  :  Any 
part  of  the  body  can  be  developed  ;  symmetri- 
cal development  should  be  aimed  at  by  all ;  a 
teacher  in  physical  culture  is  as  important  as 
one  in  other  branches  ;  the  only  correct  way 
to  exercise  is  with  the  clothes  off ;  and  athle- 
tic exercise  is  conducive  to  good  brain  work 
and  health.  He  closed  by  offering  to  answer 
or  try  to  answer  any  question  that  might  be 
asked.  One  of  these  was  :  "  How  can  we  de- 
velop a  gymnasium  ?*'  This  caused  a  great 
deal  of  laughter  and  applause  ;  but  he  gave  us 
several  ideas  on   the  subject,  one  of   which 


was  that  a  subscription  list  be  circulated 
among  our  students,  professors,  alumni,  and 
friends,  to  see  what  could  be  done  in  a  finan- 
cial way.  This  was  started,  perhaps  hastily, 
by  a  student,  as  soon  as  the  lecture  was  over, 
and  resulted  in  obtaining  promises  for  more 
than  $200  within  a  few  hours.  Now  let  this 
list  be  put  under  the  management  of  an  ac- 
tive committee  appointed  by  the  athletic  asso- 
ciation, and  very  likely  it  will  result  in  some- 
thing worth  talking  of.  **  Patience  and 
perseverance  will  accomplish  all  things";  and 
if  we  make  up  our  minds  to  have  a  gymna- 
sium, we  can  do  so ;  of  course,  not  one  like 
Harvard's,  or  that  at  Lehigh,  but  such  a  build- 
ing and  containing  such  apparatus  as  will  do 
us  as  much  practical  good. 

We  could  have  our  professor  and  a  regular 
course  of  training  like  or  similar  to  that 
adopted  at  the  above  named  universities.  At 
these  places,  there  is  given  to  each  student  a 
hand-book,  which  is  used  in  connection  with 
a  system  of  examinations  by  means  of  which 
the  physical  condition  of  each  student  is  ac- 
curately ascertained.  The  relative  propor- 
tions of  the  different  parts  of  the  body  ; 
the  undue  development  of  certain  ones ;  the 
comparative  size  of  body  and  limbs ;  varia- 
tions of  height,  breadth,  weight,  and  muscular 
strength,  from  the  normal  standard  for  a 
given  age,  must  all  be  taken  into  account  in 
prescribing  any  useful  course  of  physical 
training.  This  information,  together  with  a 
variety  of  facts  concerning  personal  history, 
bone  and  muscle  measurements,  and  acquired 
or  inherited  tendencies  to  chronic  or  func- 
tional diseases,  shows  at  once  the  immediate 
needs  of  the  person  under  advice. 

After  the  condition  of  the  individual  has 
been  ascertained,  the  necessary  apparatus  will 
be  marked,  and  the  weight,  the  number  of 
times,  and  the  rate  of  movement  will  be 
clearly  indicated  throughout  the  book.  The 
remarks  on  exercise,  diet,  air,  sleep,  and  like 
subjects,  which  are  contained  in  this  little 
book,  are  supplemented  by  a  course  of  lec- 
tures. 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


29 


p)ROMPTED  by  the  action  of  the  faculty 
"  toward  the  resolutions  regulating  ath- 
letics, which  were  submitted  to  the  college  by 
the  Harvard  and  Princeton  advisory  com- 
mittee,  we  desire  to  suggest  some  changes  in 
the  roster,  which  the  faculty  might  take  into 
view  at  the  time  when  the  above  rules  come  up 
for  their  final  consideration.  The  reasons  upon 
which  these  rules  are  based,  and  the  number 
of  conventions  lately  held,  which  had  for  their 
object  the  advancement  of  physical  culture, 
show  that  athletics  have  become  an  important 
factor  with  every  American  college.  It  has 
furthermore  been  set  forth,  in  the  preamble  of 
Rule  III.  of  these  rules,  that  they  have  become 
an  important  question  with  each  and  every 
student. 

Though  these  rules  may  seem  beneficial  to 
the  professors  of  the  colleges  by  whom  they 
have  been  drafted,  yet  are  we,  who  have  never 
overstepped  our  bounds,  who  have  not  as  yet 
employed  professional  trainers,  who  have  not 
played  with  professional  teams,  who  have  not 
played  on  any  other  but  college  grounds,  and 
who  have  not  caused  men  to  remain  at 
Stevens  for  the  sake  of  taking  part  directly  or 
indirectly  in  athletics  ;  are  we  to  be  bound 
by  rules  and  regulations  as  long  as  we  remain 
within  the  required  limits  ?  We  have  held  a 
fair  position  in  athletics  among  our  sister  col- 
leges ;  there  is,  however,  no  reason  why  we 
should  not  try  and  improve  it.  This  can  only 
be  done  by  securing  the  assistance  and  co- 
operation of  the  faculty,  and  not  when  they 
place  restrictions  on  the  students  which  are 
distasteful  to  them.  From  time  to  time  new 
studies  are  added  to  the  course,  always  ex- 
pecting a  little  more  work,  and  encroaching 
further  and  further  upon  the  few  free  hours 
that  remain  to  the  student,  not  even  con- 
sidering whether  that  time  is  used  for  study  or 
in  recreation.  Why  not  allow  certain  hours 
each  day  for  the  student  to  recuperate  his 
physical  condition,  in  order  to  be  better  pre- 
pared to  meet  successfully  the  laborious  a.nd 
more  difficult  problem  constantly  looming  up 
before  him  ? 


Even  though  the  course  be  increased,  it  will 
not  be  advisable  to  extend  the  lectures,  recita- 
tions, and  laboratory  work  to  more  than  six 
hours  each  day.  This,  we  think,  is  the  maxi- 
mum limit  at  Stevens,  as  expressed  by  some 
of  the  members  of  the  faculty  ;  but  why  not 
arrange  them  according  to  a  more  systematic 
method,  that  is,  of  having  the  lectures  and 
recitations  begin  for  all  classes  at  a  fixed  time 
in  the  morning,  and  the  drawing,  laboratory, 
and  shop  work  hours  at  a  definite  time  in  the 
afternoon  ?  As  at  present,  our  college  duties 
are  such  as  to  admit  of  but  little  outside  occu- 
pation during  the  day  in  the  shape  of  study  or 
athletics.  Let  us  suppose  that  the  hours  are 
changed  from  the  present  disorderly  condition 
to  nine  to  twelve  in  the  morning,  and  one 
to  three  or  four  in  the  afternoon.  That  is,  the 
college  duties  be  suspended  for  one  hour  only 
at  noon.  The  disadvantages  thus  incurred 
would  be  but  few  ;  the  advantages  many.  Per- 
haps one  of  the  former  would  be  that  the 
professors  now  living  out  of  Hoboken  would 
have  to  start  earlier  in  order  to  begin  their 
work  at  nine  ;  however,  the  hours  might  even 
be  so  arranged  that  it  would  not  affect  these. 

The  advantages  would  be,  in  the  first  place, 
in  having  regular  hours  for  work,  that  great 
desideratum  which  is  the  aim  of  all  institutions 
of  the  government  and  of  learning.  Students 
that  are  continually  late  and  absent  ought  to 
be  made  to  be  punctual  at  early  recitations ; 
if  they  cannot  be  at  college  at  nine,  one  can 
hardly  expect  them  to  be  at  work  at  seven  and 
eight  after  graduation.  If  college  duties  were 
suspended  promptly  at  noon,  it  would  cause 
the  recitations  to  begin  on  time,  so  that  the 
time  allotted  to  one  department  will  not  be 
taken  up  by  another.  This  running  the  reci- 
tations and  lectures  over  the  hour  does  not  only 
considerably  shorten  some  of  our  most  import- 
ant branches,  but  it  also  causes  a  disturbance 
by  the  passing  of  the  classes  through  the  halls, 
to  the  annoyance  of  the  other  classes  attending 
recitations,  thus  using  several  minutes  of  their 
time.  The  only  way  of  remedying  this  evil 
would  be  to  sound  a  large  gong  (to  be  heard 


30 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


over  the  entire  building),  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  hour,  to  dismiss  the  classes,  and  one  five 
minutes  later  to  resume  work.  There  are  some 
gongs  placed  about  the  Institute  for  this  pur- 
pose, but  this  is  where  their  utility  ends,  for 
they  never  ring  on  time.  Again,  some  classes 
being  detained  until  one  o'clock  and  later,  are 
much  disturbed  by  those  dismissed  at  twelve, 
by  the  continual  passing  of  the  latter  through 
the  halls,  so  that  it  becomes  often  an  impossi- 
bility, though  sitting  in  the  front  row,  to  hear 
the  professor  lecturing.  Again,  being  dismissed 
at  all  hours  causes  great  annoyance  to  the  stu- 
dents in  receiving  their  meals.  Those  who  are 
dismissed  early  require  their  meals  early ;  oth- 
ers, finishing  theirs  hours  later,  receive  theirs 
correspondingly  later,  and  the  result  is,  a  cold 
meal,  and,  as  it  oftentimes  happens,  "  getting 
left "  altogether. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  hours  in  the  after- 
noon. Some  professors  resume  work  at  one 
o'clock,  others  at  two,  and  still  others  at  half 
after  two.  The  time  is  thus,  in  some  cases, 
shortened  to  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour 
in  which  to  prepare  one's  self  for  the  labora- 
tory and  shop.  In  the  season  of  out-door 
sports  many  wish  to  be  excused  before  the 
close  of  the  afternoon  hours,  in  order  to  avail 
themselves  of  base-ball  and  foot-ball  practice, 
or  in  order  to  see  the  match  games  which  are 
to  be  played.  This  would  entirely  be  done 
away  with  if  some  other  system  were  adopted. 

With  the  number  of  students  now  at  Stevens, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  the  gymnasium  which 
we  now  use  could  be  secured  during  the  win- 
ter, by  the  more  enterprising,  for  an  hour  or 
more  each  day  during  the  afternoon. 

At  Harvard,  no  match  games  of  any  kind 
are  allowed  before  four,  thus  giving  them  am- 
ple time  after  that  hour  to  practice  together. 
At  Yale,  no  recitations  or  lectures  occupy  the 
time  between  the  hours  of  two  and  four,  and 
the  members  are  conveyed  in  coaches  to  the 
athletic  grounds,  two  miles  distant,  and  re- 
turned in  time  for  the  four  o'clock  lectures. 
At  Lafayette,  no  match  games  are  allowed  on 
the  home  grounds,  with  other  colleges,  except- 


ing on  Saturdays  ;  however,  there  are  no  reci- 
tations between  one  and  four  in  the  afternoon, 
which  time  may  be  used  in  studying  or  ath- 
letics. No  doubt  there  are  other  colleges  in 
which  rules  similar  to  these  exist.  We,  how- 
ever, have  no  such  rules,  and  no  time  is  allot- 
ted to  us  in  which  we  could  practice  together, 
the  teams  practicing  when  the  professors  feel 
inclined  to  excuse  them.  Match  games  are 
promiscuously  arranged,  and  the  captains  have 
the  members  excused  who  happen  to  be  en- 
gaged on  days  upon  which  the  matches  fall. 
As  each  class  at  Stevens  is  free  one  afternoon 
a  week,  why  not  change  the  roster  so  that  all 
classes  are  off  at  once,  and  allow  matches  to 
be  played  on  that  afternoon  and  Saturdays  ? 
We  doubt  whether  the  time  which  would  have 
to  be  sacrificed  by  one  or  other  of  the  depart- 
ments through  such  changes  would  exceed 
that  which  is  lost  by  the  number  of  students 
who  shirk  work.  In  this  age  of  experimenta- 
tion, a  trial  of  one  term  on  the  above  plan 
could  certainly  not  do  much  harm;  should  it, 
however,  be  found  to  be  injurious  or  detrimen- 
tal to  the  interests  of  the  college,  there  always 
remains  one  alternative,  and  that  is  to  fall  back 
on  the  present  system. 

We  must  heartily  thank  the  faculty  for  the 
kindness  displayed  toward  the  students  by 
the  consideration  of  former  proposed  changes, 
and  we  doubt  not  that  the  above,  when  care- 
fully considered,  will  lead  to  a  result  more  con- 
ducive to  the  interests  of  the  college,  and  to 
athletics  at  Stevens. 


^■^  »■»■ 


u 


Scene:  The  Bakery,  12:30  p.  m. — Baker: 

Well,  young  man,  what  have  you  had  ?" 

Freshman  :  "  Well,  lemme   see.     I've  had 

two  tarts,  one  pretzel,  half  an  apple-pie,  an* 

one  of  them,   an'   two  of  them,  an'  two  of 

them." 


«^  » » 


Professor,  while  explaining  the  cycles  met 
with  in  the  combination  of  Adiabatic  and  Iso- 
thermal curves  of  expansion,  numbers  them 
I.,  II.,  III.,  etc. 

Funny  Senior  :  "  Wouldn't  that  second  one 
be  a  bicycle  ?"     The  class  groans. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


31 


OBITUARY  NOTICE. 


Mr.  Wilmer  G.  Cartwright,  of  the  class 
of  1882,  and  for  two  years  an  assistant  in  the 
Department  of  Engineering,  and  assistant  in 
charge  of  the  Mechanical  Laboratory  of  that 
department  of  the  Stevens  Institute  of  Tech- 
nology, died  in  Jersey  City  on  Saturday,  the 
23d  of  February,  of  typhoid  pneumonia,  after 
an  illness  of  about  two  weeks'  duration. 

Mr.  Cartwright  was  a  native  of  Oswego,  N. 
Y.,  and  was  28  years  of  age.  He  evinced  great 
fondness  for  scientific  pursuits  at  a  very  early 
age,  and  was  also  much  interested  in  the  con- 
structive branches  of  engineering.  He  was 
especially  fond  of  chemistry,  and  took  the 
Priestly  Prize  in  the  Department  of  Chemistry 
at  the  Institute.  He  entered  the  Institute  at 
a  more  advanced  age  than  usual,  having  been 
in  business  before  coming  to  Hoboken.  After 
graduation  he  began  a  special  course  of  post 
graduate  study,  which  was  given  up  when  the 
work  of  the  Mechanical  Laboratory  became  so 
engrossing  as  to  take  all  available  time.  Dur- 
ing his  connection  with  the  Mechanical  Lab- 
oratory he  made  some  peculiarly  interesting 
investigations,  including  a  study  of  the  distri- 
bution of  heat,  in  useful  work  and  wastes,  in 
gas  engines  of  several  sizes  and  different 
makes.  He  was  engaged  at  the  time  of  his 
death  in  an  investigation  of  the  efficiency  of 
worm  and  of  spur  gearing,  and  had  nearly  com- 
pleted one  line  of  experiment. 

Mr.  Cartwright  was  a  quiet,  steady,  reliable 
worker,  taking  real  interest  in  the  problems 
presented  in  the  course  of  his  business,  and 
exhibiting  great  intelligence,  ingenuity  and  skill 
m  their  solution.  Professionally,  he  was  a  man 
of  unusual  promise. 

His  personal  character  was  also  admirable  ; 
but  his  quietness,  reticence,  and  repugnance 
of  all  self  assertion  were  such  that  only  his 
most  intimate  friends  were  aware  of  the  excel-, 
lence  and  the  strength  of  his  character.  Kind- 
ness toward  his  juniors  and  subordinates,  re- 
spect and  consideration  for  those  who  were 
his  seniors  in  age  or  his  official  superiors,  ear- 
nest affection  for  his  family  and  friends,  a  high 
sense  of  honor,  appreciation  of  trusts  confided 
to  him,  with  great  self  respect,  were  distin- 
guishing characteristics  of  the  man.  He  was 
honorable  and  faithful,  of  high  moral  princi- 
ple, and  of  unexceptionable  habits.  The  world 
can  ill  spare  such  men. 


INSPECTION  TOUR  OF  THE  CLASS 

OF  '84. 


In  accordance  with  the  notice  printed  m  the 
last  number  of  the  Indicator,  the  Senior 
Class  made  its  visit  of  inspection  to  the  works 
of  the  Bethlehem  Iron  Company  and  also  the 
Lehigh  Zinc  and  Iron  Works  on  Saturday, 
March  ist. 

The  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  very  kindly 
placed  a  car  at  their  disposal,  and  carried 
them  from  Jersey  City  to  Bethlehem,  thus 
making  the  trip  to  and  fro  exceedingly  enjoy- 
able. On  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  Bethle- 
hem, one  of  the  locomotives  of  the  Bethlehem 
Iron  Company  was  attached  to  the  special 
car  and  moved  it  to  the  works,  thus  saving 
the  students  an  unpleasant  walk,  and  landing 
them  in  a  body  where  they  wished  to  be. 

Prof.  Denton  then  leading  the  way,  the 
class  moved  on  to  the  large  converters,  one  of 
which  they  saw  operate,  and  then  walked 
over  to  the  Eagle  Hotel,  where  they  enjoyed 
their  dinner. 

By  the  judicious  management  of  Prof.  Den- 
ton, the  class  was  divided  into  three  sections, 
one  under  his  guidance,  another  under  Mr. 
Riesenberger,  and  the  third  under  Messrs. 
Kletzsch  and  Jacobus,  two  members  of  '84, 
who  went  over  the  works  the  day  before. 
These  sections  were  quite  easily  handled,  con- 
taining only  ten  or  twelve  students,  and  a  very 
complete  inspection  was  made  by  each. 

These  works  consist  of  a  Bessemer  plant,  two 
large  rolling  mills,  six  blast  furnaces,  and  also 
the  necessary  foundry,  machine  shop,  etc.,  for 
construction  and  repairs.  With  the  network 
of  railroads  surrounding  this  part  of  Bethle- 
hem, these  works  have  ample  facilities  for  the 
transportation  of  fuel  and  ores  from  their  own 
and  other  mines  to  the  works,  and  outlets  for 
the  distribution  of  the  products.  The  con- 
struction of  the  Bethlehem  Iron  Works  was 
commenced,  in  i860,  with  the  erection  of  an 
iron  rail  mill,  a  puddle  mill,  and  one  blast 
furnace.  In  1863  the  second  blast  furnace 
was  built,  and  No.  3  was  added  by  purchase 
from  another  company.  The  Bessemer  works 
and  new  rail  mill  commenced  building  in 
1870,  and  operations  in  the  former  were  begun 
in  1873.  The  spiegeleisen  furnace  was  built 
in  1874,  and  in  the  same  year  the  construc- 
tion of  the  two  large  blast  furnaces,  which  are 
among  the  most  noteworthy  features  of  the 
place,  was  commenced.  These  furnaces, 
known  as  Nos.  5  and  6,  were  put  in  blast  in 
March,  1876,  and  March,  1877,  respectively. 


32 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


The  entire  plant  has  been  erected  from  de- 
signs made  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr. 
John  Fritz,  the  machinery,  engines,  roofs,  etc., 
belonging  to  the  new  portion  of  the  works 
having  been  built,  with  a  few  exceptions,  in 
the  ma,chine  shops  and  foundry  belonging  to 
the  works. 

The  plant  may  be  generally  described  as 
follows  :  All  the  buildings  are  constructed  of 
hard  gray  sandstone.  On  all  the  newer  build- 
ings the  roof  frames  are  of  iron  and  the  cover- 
ings of  slate.  The  original  iron  rail  and 
puddle  mills  are  located  between  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Railroad  and  the  river,  the  puddling 
end  of  the  mill  being  on  the  river  bank.  Next 
below  these  are  situated  the  machine  shop, 
253  feet  in  length  by  64  feet  in  width,  and 
the  foundry,  T07  feet  in  length  by  64  feet  in 
width.  Then  come  five  of  the  blast  furnaces, 
viz.:  No.  I,  the  original,  and  its  companion. 
No.  2,  now  enlarged  ;  the  little  spiegel  fur- 
nace. No.  4,  and  the  new  ones,  Nos.  5  and  6  ; 
No.  3,  the  one  purchased,  being  located  a 
few  hundred  yards  below  these  and  on  the 
other  side  of  the  track.  The  blowing  and 
pumping  engines  and  electric  lighting  plant 
are  in  one  house,  under  one  management,  and 
entirely  removed  from  the  dust  of  the  fur- 
naces— an  important  practical  consideration,  by 
the  interposition  of  the  stock  house,  common 
to  all  furnaces.  Steam  is  brought  to  them 
from  boilers  some  distance  away,  but  the  loss 
is  trifling  in  large  and  well-jacketed  pipes. 

The  steel  mill  is  a  large  and  massive  stone 
structure,  having  numerous  and  uniform  arched 
openings  in  its  side,  and  an  iron  and  slate  roof 
with  a  continuous  lantern.  There  are  two 
wings  on  either  side,  each  in  feet  wide  and 
138  feet  long.  The  total  length  of  the  main 
building  is  931  feet,  and  its  width  is  in  feet. 
In  this  building  there  are  two  pairs  of  7  ton 
Bessemer  converters,  with  their  cupolas,  ca- 
pable of  turning  out  17,000  tons  of  ingots  per 
month.  There  is  a  good  sized  stock  yard 
around  the  cupola  end  of  the  mill.  The 
blowing  and  pumping  engines  are  in  the  wing 
next  the  railroad,  while  the  opposite  wing  is 
just  being  fitted  up  with  new  open  hearth  fur- 
naces. 

In  front  of  the  converters,  and  on  either 
side  of  the  main  building,  are  two  rows  of 
Siemen's  gas  furnaces  for  heating  ingots,  with 
their  charging  and  drawing  apparatus.  In  the 
centre  is  a  32  inch  three  high  blooming  train. 
The  bloom  heating  furnaces  occupy  the  re- 
maining central  part  of  the  main.  Across  the 
main  building,  between  the  other  wings,  there 


is  being  set  up  the  largest  stand  of  rolls  for  a 
blooming  train  in  the  world,  and  is  to  be 
driven  by  a  4,000  horse  power  engine,  having 
an  enormous  fly  wheel  weighing  90  tons. 

A  steam  hammer  for  trimming  blooms,  cut- 
ting them  into  required  lengths,  etc.,  is  placed 
outside  but  a  few  paces  from  this  large  en- 
gine. On  the  other  side  of  the  railroad  tracks 
are  the  boilers  and  producers,  standing  below 
the  level  of  the  tracks,  being  thus  conveni- 
ently situated  for  firing.  The  three  high  24 
inch  rail  and  beam  train  is  120  feet  long,  and 
had  an  engine  at  each  end,  so  that  two  sets  of 
roughers  and  finishers  were  worked  at  the 
same  time  and  at  the  required  speed.  One 
of  these  engines  has  now  been  taken  down, 
and  the  train  considerably  extended  into  one 
of  the  wings.  These  are  then  to  be  run  by 
the  largest  horizontal  engine  ever  constructed, 
the  foundation  for  which  has  been  already 
laid.  This  is  being  built  at  the  Bethlehem 
works,  has  3  high  and  3  low  pressure  cylinders, 
and  is  to  generate  10,000  horse  power.  It  is 
now  in  course  of  construction,  and  will  require 
another  year  for  completion.  The  other  wing 
at  this  end  of  the  building  is  reserved  for  large 
and  small  merchant  and  special  trains. 

The  rails  coming  from  the  train  are  carried 
on  rollers  to  the  saws.  These  can  be  placed 
at  any  distance  from  each  other,  and  being 
driven  by  the  same  shaft,  the  required  accur- 
acy in  the  length  of  the  rails  is  insured.  The 
finishing  end  of  the  building  is  so  long  that  60 
foot  rails  can  be  readily  sawn,  hot  straight- 
ened, cold  straightened,  and  punched,  neither 
operation  interfering  with  the  others.  The 
machine  for  bending  the  rails  in  the  opposite 
direction  to  that  which  they  take  in  cooling, 
attracted  much  attention  of  the  students,  and 
was  much  admired  for  its  simplicity  by  them. 

Furnace  No.  3,  which  is  50  feet  in  height, 
is  known  as  the  "  Northampton  Furnace."  It 
produces  160  tons  per  week. 

No.  4  is  23  feet  high,  and  is  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  spiegeleisen.     So  also  are  No. 

5  and  No.  6,  they  being  70  feet  high,  and  pro- 
ducing each  350  tons  per  week.  The  fur- 
naces are  all  worked  with  taps,  and  Nos.  5  and 

6  are  provided  with  Lurmann's  closed  front. 
The  usual  charge,  when  using  50  per  cent, 
ore,  is  : 

Anthracite 5>2oo  lbs. 

Ore 4,000  " 

Limestone  varying  in  quantity  from  50  to 
60  per  cent,  of  the  charge,  as  circumstances 
require.     The  boiler  and    boiler  houses  are 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


JO 


placed  between  the  furnace  and  the  river.  The 
setting  of  these  is  peculiar,  and  perhaps  the 
only  one  that  provides  completely  for  expan- 
sion in  every  direction  without  subjecting  the 
boiler  to  injurious  strains.  Each  is  suspended 
by  1 6  brackets,  and  these  are  upheld  by  four 
equalizing  beams,  which  rest  on  two  heavy 
girders  extending  across  the  building. 

There  are  two  main  batteries,  each  contain- 
ing 7  boilers.  The  upper  ones  are  70  feet 
long  by  40  inches  in  diameter.  The  lower 
shells  are  30  inches  in  diameter.  The  blow- 
ing engines  are  of  two  types,  compound  and 
single,  and  are  6  in  number.  The  compound 
engine  has  a  30  inch  high  pressure  and  54  inch 
low  pressure  cylinder  by  80  inches  stroke. 
The  air  cylinder  is  80  inches  in  diameter,  and 
the  three  pistons  are  attached  to  the  same 
cross  head.  The  plunger  air  pumps  are  20 
inches  in  diameter  by  36  J^  inches  stroke. 
The  cut  off  is  so  arranged  that  the  steam  ex- 
pands four  times.  These  engines  usually 
make  20  revolutions  per  minute  ;  have  run  with 
24,  and  may  with  safety  run  faster.  The 
usual  blast  pressure  for  anthracite  coal  in  the 
large  furnaces  is  10  lbs.  per  square  inch. 

This  t)rpe  of  engine  was  designed  by  Mr. 
John  Fritz,  and  embraces  some  novelties  of 
arrangement  which  results  fully  justify.  The 
blowing  cylinder  is  placed  at  the  fly  wheel 
end,  a  reversal  of  the  usual  arrangement. 
This  is  done  for  the  purpose  of  placing  the 
steam  cylinders  and  their  valves,  which  most 
need  attention,  where  they  can  be  conveni- 
ently got  at.  The  blowing  cylinder,  which 
requires  least  attention,  occupies  a  less  free 
space  between  the  shaft  cross  head  and  fly 
wheel.  In  the  puddle  mill  there  are  14  double 
puddling  furnaces  and  a  heating  furnace  of 
the  ordinary  type,  and  boilers  are  set  over 
all  of  these.  There  is  also  a  12-inch  train, 
making  this  mill  compact  and  convenient. 

The  double  furnaces  are  now  being  re- 
placed by  improved  ones,  known  there  under 
the  name  of  **  Stubblemeyer's  Monkey." 
These  save  over  33  per  cent,  of  fuel,  and  are 
built  upon  the  principle  of  flame  deflection. 
The  production  of  the  puddle  mill  is  about 
2,500  tons  of  iron  rails  per  year. 

After  going  all  through  the  Bethlehem  Iron 
Works  and  seeing  all  that  was  to  be  seen  in 
so  short  a  visit,  the  class  next  went  to  the 
Lehigh  Zinc  Works,  above  mentioned,  which 
are  located  but  a  short  distance  from  the  iron 
works. 

The  products  turned  out  here  are  metallic 
zinc,  oxide  of  zinc,  and  spiegeleisen. 


The  latter  is  made  from  the  residue  of  the 
ore  after  the  zinc  has  been  removed  by  sub- 
limation. The  oxide  is  made  by  mixing 
finely  crushed  ore,  which  contains  about  15 
per  cent,  of  zinc,  with  equal  portions  of  coal. 
It  is  then  placed  upon  a  bed  of  live  coal  in 
furnaces  which  connect  with  an  iron  pipe 
leading  to  an  immense  chimney.  The  sub- 
stances driven  off  by  the  heat,  and  containing 
large  quantities  of  oxide  of  zinc  in  the  state 
of  very  fine  powder,  are  carried  into  this  chim- 
ney, where  they  are  separated  by  their  weight, 
the  oxide  rising  and  being  carried  further  by 
a  fan,  while  the  impurities  settle  at  the  bot- 
tom. After  going  through  the  fan,  the  oxide 
passes  through  a  large  chamber  with  thin  sides 
so  as  to  be  cooled,  after  which  it  is  distrib- 
uted into  a  series  of  pipes.  These  have  open- 
ings in  their  lower  sides,  about  which  are 
suspended  long  bags.  The  air  and  gas  is  thus 
allowed  to  escape,  while  the  oxide  is  caught. 
After  this  it  is  ground. 

Metallic  zinc  is  obtained  by  heating  the  ore 
in  clay  retorts,  when  it  comes  off  in  a  vapor 
and  is  condensed. 


» ♦  » * 


EXAMINATIONS. 

Occasionally  we  are  pleased  to  observe, 
in  newspapers  from  various  parts  of  the 
country,  a  notice  of  the  adoption  of  a  resolu- 
tion, by  the  Board  of  Education,  providing 
for  the  omission  of  the  examinations  now  held 
semi-yearly  and  otherwise  making  the  pro- 
motion of  the  student  depend  on  his  record 
as  made  during  the  term. 

This  is  a  move  forward  in  the  right  direc- 
tion ;  a  move  long  advocated  by  physi- 
cians and  the  greatest  thinkers,  and  we  think 
the  19th  century  is  doomed  to  witness  the 
day  when  every  high  school  and  college  in  the 
country  will  base  promotion  on  the  steady, 
healthy  everyday  work,  and  not  on  the  un- 
natural hot  house  preparation  that  is  specially 
made  for  the  final  week. 

The  barbarous  practice  of  examinations  is 
synonymous  with  the  old  Indian  custom  of 
running  the  gauntlet  ;  each  professor  taking 
his  whack  at  the  victim  as  he  runs  the  line. 
That  our  present  age,  which  we  consider  civil- 
ized, is  not  above  such  inhumanity,  is  surely 
lamentable.  The  time  has  come  for  a  halt, 
and  it  cannot  be  made  too  soon. 

The  evil  of  the  present  high  pressure  system 
does  not  He  in  the  course  of  study,  the  hours 
of  session,  or  methods  of  teaching.     Nothing 


34 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR, 


is  to  be  complained  of  on  that  score.  The 
student  accepts  those  when  he  becomes  such  ; 
the  damage  follows  after. 

For  a  month  preceding  examination  week, 
he  is  in  a  constant  state  of  high  excitement 
and  perpetual  fever.  The  anxiety  that  he 
will  not  "  pass  "  falls  on  good  and  poor  stu- 
dent alike,  and  no  matter  what  the  average  of 
term  work  has  been,  the  victim  is  in  a  state  of 
nervousness  and  apprehension  that  follows  all 
the  hours  of  waking,  and  rides,  like  a  night- 
mare, across  the  hours  of  sleep.  All  time  is 
given  to  study  and  none  to  exercise  or  relaxa- 
tion. His  capacity  is  strained  to  its  utmost, 
his  nerves  are  screwed  to  their  highest  pitch, 
and  the  damage  done  to  mind  and  health  can 
scarcely  be  overestimated.  The  professor  usual- 
ly does  not  see  the  effects  of  overwork ;  but  go 
to  the  parents  or  those  intimate  with  the 
student,  and  you  will  get  a  deplorable  account 
of  sick  headaches,  nervousness,  and  general  in- 
disposition. Or,  if  the  testimony  of  these  is 
not  sufficient,  consult  some  of  the  oldest  and 
wisest  physicians  of  every  college  district,  and 
you  will  obtain  instances  ad  infinitum  of  the 
evils  of  examination. 

Omit  the  examinations.  Shut  off  some  of 
the  steam  ;  work  the  engine  more  economically, 
and  relieve  the  student  and  the  professor  as 
well.  That  the  steady  work  of  the  term  or 
reviews,  and  not  the  **  cram  "  of  a  few  weeks, 
should  tell,  are  our  earnest  convicti(*ns. 

H.  A.  Westminster. 


-♦-♦- 


THE   REIGNING  CRAZE. 


Did  any  one  say  banjo  ?  We  hope  not  ;  at 
least,  we  hope  for  his  own  sake  that  he  did  not 
say  it  loud  enough  to  be  heard,  for  his  death 
would  be  on  his  own  hands.  It  is  almost 
madness  for  a  lover  of  that  style  of  music  to 
attempt  to  make  a  banjo  ;  some  time  ago  noth- 
ing would  have  been  thought  of  it,  but  now  ! 
the  questions  that  are  asked  are  enough  to 
drive  even  the  strongest  minds  off  their  cen- 
tres. What  kind  of  a  staff  are  you  going  to 
put  on  ?  What  size  rim,  and  where  did  you 
get  it  ?  Did  Hawkridge  make  it  for  you  ?  Going 
to  put  on  raised  frets  ?  Where  did  you  get  your 
brackets  made,  and  how  many  are  you  going 
to  put  on  ?  These  are  a  few  of  the  queries 
put  to  the  brave  young  man  who  starts  to 
make  a  banjo. 

There  was  a  time  when  you  could  scarcely 
go  down  to  the  ferry  without  meeting  some 
enterprising  young  instrument  maker,  walking 


proudly  along  with  a  banjo  rim  in  his  hand 
just  from  New  York,  where  it  had  been 
nickeled.  But  now  everything  is  changed  ; 
you  meet  a  fellow  student  coming  from  the 
ferry  with  a  suspicious  looking  bundle  under 
his  coat  ;  you  sidle  over  to  him  to  pass  the 
compliments  of  the  day,  but  he  seems  to  be  in 
an  awful  hurry — can't  stop  for  anything  ;  you 
begin  to  think  he  is  very  uncivil  ;  but  he  isn't, 
ril  tell  you  what  he  is,  though  ;  he  is  making 
a  banjo,  and  don't  want  any  one  to  know  it. 

We  don't  know  how  long  this  craze  is  going 
to  last,  but  we  saw  a  notice  on  the  bulletin 
board  the  other  day  of  a  banjo  for  sale.  Two 
of  the  sophs,  must  have  gone  into  the  business, 
judging  from  the  number  of  staves  recently 
seen  in  their  possession. 


<^  » » 


THE  STEVENS  HAT. 


The  college  hat  is  supposed  to  be  a  soft  felt 
of  a  bright  red  color,  and  we  think  that  it 
is  about  as  sensible  a  hat  as  can  be  obtained  ; 
yet,  they  are  but  little  worn  ;  why,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  tell.  The  hat  is  a  comfortable  one, 
and  also  inexpensive — just  the  thing  to  wear 
about  in  the  shops  and  foundry.  It  can  be 
sat  upon,  dropped  on  the  dusty  floor,  used  as 
a  football,  and  yet  its  purpose  as  a  hat  will 
not  be  injured  to  any  considerable  extent.  It 
has  but  one  color,  is  not  easily  confused 
with  any  other  college  cap,  and  possesses  a 
kind  of  character  of  its  own.  The  objection 
is  raised  against  it  that  it  is  nothing  but  a  ten- 
nis hat,  and  is  worn  by  many  young  men  who 
are  not  college  men.  It  would  not  be  diffi- 
cult, however,  to  have  some  distinguishing 
mark  added  to  the  simple  red,  which  w^ould 
make  its  identity  certain,  such  as  a  circle  of 
white  or  black  on  the  crown.  Stevens  should 
have  a  hat,  and  until  something  better  is  pro- 
posed, the  red  soft  felt  should  be  worn  by 
all  the  students. 


<  <  » » 


THE  NATURAL  PERVERSITY  OF 
STUDENTS. 

Are  all  students  bad  ?  Yes,  they  are  ;  they 
are  born  that  way — at  least  three-fifths  are, 
%  and  the  others  are  made  bad  by  association 
with  those  who  inherit  the  peculiar  faculty  of 
having  a  little  fun  out  of  everything  that  turns 
up.  A  few,  however,  we  do  not  say  anything 
about,  as  they  are  above  reproach.  The  fol- 
lowing incident,  we  confidently  hope,  will 
prove  beyond  a  question  the  natural  charac- 
teristics of  the  above  mentioned  four-fifths  of 
college  student" 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


35 


A  certain  professor  having  in  the  course  of 
one  of  his  lectures  to  use  a  very  explosive 
compound,  took  care — of  course  unknowingly 
— to  leave  a  large  quantity  of  the  compound 
on  some  filter  papers,  saying,  at  the  same 
time  :  "  If  any  of  the  students  should  happen 
to  carry  any  of  this  compound  away,  be  very 
careful,  as  it  is  frightfully  explosive,  and  above 
all,  do  not  take  any  of  it  into  Prof.  Woods* 
room." 

Unfortunately  for  the  good  effect  of  the  last 
part  of  the  advice,  the  class,  on  leaving  the 
chemistry  room,  went  direct  to  Prof.  Woods* 
room  ;  it  was  not  our  fault,  because  the  roster 
directed  us  that  way,  and  somehow  or  other 
some  of  the  explosive  found  its  way  to  the 
floor  of  the  room.  I  can't  for  the  life  of  me 
think  how  it  got  there,  but  it  was  there,  and 
announced  its  presence  in  a  very  emphatic 
manner  every  time  a  student's  foot  came  in 
contact  with  it.  Of  course  nobody  laughed, 
but  tried  to  look  as  solemn  as  the  occasion 
demanded. 

Every  now  and  then  reports  of  all  degrees 
of  loudness  were  heard  in  the  hall  and  in  our 
recitation  room.  We  are  anxiously  waiting 
for  an  invitation  to  visit  President  Morton  in 
his  office,  although,  of  course,  we  did  not  have 
anything  to  do  with  it. 

Em. 


<  #  »» 


AN  EPISODE. 


It  was  a  cold  and  wintry  night,  and  the 
snow,  falling  thick  and  fast,  was  picked  up 
by  the  wind  before  it  could  touch  the  ground, 
and  whisked  and  twirled  around  the  comers, 
into  cracks  and  across  the  pavements,  until  it 
was  finally  drifted  into  the  gutters  and  heaped 
up  against  the  houses  on  either  side  of  the 
street.  Scarcely  a  sound  could  be  heard,  save 
the  continuous  soft  noise  of  the  falling  snow. 
Once  in  a  while  sleigh  bells  would  ring  out 
upon  the  air,  and  a  sleigh  would  drive  swiftly 
by,  as  if  the  riders  were  afraid  lest  they  should 
be  covered  up  by  the  ever-shifting  drifts.  The 
flickering  street-lamps  and  the  lights  from  the 
windows  of  the  houses  had  but  little  effect  in 
piercing  through  the  whirling  clouds  of  snow, 
so  that  the  darkness  of  night  settled  down 
with  more  than  its  usual  gloom. 

The  town  clock  had  just  struck  ten,  when 
a  street  door  opened  and  a  well-wrapped  form 
stepped  out  into  the  darkness  and  cold.  He 
takes  his  way  up  Hudson  street,  and  by  his 
manly  tread,  battling  his  way  against  the  driv- 


ing storm,  we  know  him  to  be  one  of  our  noble 
Freshmen.  His  course  seems  to  be  directed 
toward  the  college  building.  Can  he  be  going 
there  at  this  time  of  night  ?  No  ;  for  he  passes 
by,  and,  continuing  his  way,  evidently  reaches 
his  destination.  He  pauses  before  a  hand- 
some stone  front  house  ;  he  mounts  the  steps 
and  rings  the  door-bell.  Ah,  boys  !  can  you 
not  tell  by  his  assured  and  yet  hesitating 
movements  that  he  is  going  to  visit  his  best 
girl  ?  Hark !  he  hears  the  footsteps  of  his 
love  coming  to  open  the  door  for  him.  He 
steps  back  to  stamp  some  of  the  snow  from 
his  feet,  but  that  step  was  one  inch  too  far 
back  ;  he  tumbles  down  into  a  drift  at  one 
side  of  the  porch.  Just  then  the  wind  blows 
an  immense  avalanche  of  snow  off  the  roof  of 
the  house  and  completely  buries  him.  The 
door  opens,  and  a  maiden  peers  out  into  the 
darkness.  Alas  !  she  sees  not  the  well-known 
form  of  her  lover.  Can  her  ear  have  deceived 
her?  She  waits  a  few  moments,  listens  in- 
tently, and  then  apparently  convinced,  returns 
into  the  house  and  closes  the  door. 

Meantime  a  struggle  in  the  snow-drift  is 
going  on  ;  the  bank  of  snow  heaves  and  lifts 
itself  as  if  it  were  alive.  At  last  our  friend 
forces  his  way  out  and  rolls  upon  the  pave- 
ment free  from  his  burden  of  snow.  At  this  mo- 
ment a  Hoboken  policeman  comes  along,  and 
seeing  a  young  man  lying  upon  his  back, 
naturally  thinks  that  the  man  in  this  strange 
position  is  drunk,  and,  lifting  him  roughly  by 
the  collar,  exclaims  :  "  Ach,  I  have  ye  now, 
ye  spalpeen.  Come  along  with  ye,  or  it's  me 
that  will  give  ye  a  taste  of  me  club!"  Next 
morning  a  sad  young  man  is  seen  leaving  the 
police  station,  and  is  heard  to  mutter,  as  he 
walks  toward  his  boarding-house,  "  It's  a  cold 
day  when  I  go  to  see  Minnie  again!" 

Albitan. 


Prof.:  "  Well,  you  take  these  rings  and  join 
them  end  to  end."  The  extensibility  of  this 
imaginative  brain  is  due  probably  to  its  great 
ductility. 


» ^  » « 


Prof.:  "Well,  Mr.  Blank,  have  you  finished 
your  problem  ?" 

Mr.  Blank :  "  I  have  finished  it,  sir  ;  but 
am  not  quite  certain  it  is  correct." 

Prof.:  "You  ought  to  know,  since  you  had 
your  book  open,  and  all  the  back  of  the  class 
to  help  you." 


36 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Sbuiiing  Bex. 

Gymnasium,  where  is  it  ? 

"Wait  till  the  clouds  roll  by." 

Preps  !   Stay  on  your  own  side  of  the  fence. 

Our  "  battery  "  for  the  nine  is  doing  good 
work. 

The  Glee  Club  is  in  better  condition  than  it 
has  been  for  years. 

One  of  Hoboken's  lucid  signs  : — "  Boots 
blacked  inside.** 

Some  of  the  Seniors  look  solemncholy — 
skating  is  about  over. 

The  time  is  near  at  hand  when  the  midnight 
oil  will  begin  to  volatilize. 

Lacrosse  has  been  undertaken  with  suffi- 
cient energy  to  assure  success. 

If  Prof.  Wall  is  correct,  surely  we  have  a 
great  "  inspiration  "  among  us. 

Some  of  the  Sophomores  are  working  on 
their  third  drawing  for  the  year. 

Burhom,  '85,  was  seriously  injured  by  the 
exploding  of  a  crucible  in  the  laboratory. 

Dr.  Mary  Walker  rides  a  bicycle  now.  She 
uses  a  64-inch  machine — so  rumor  has  it. 

There  would  be  some  interesting  notes 
from  the  alumni — ^if  we  had  an  alumni  editor. 

It  was  curious  to  see  how  many  athletes  we 
were  going  to  have  after  Prof.  Blaikie's  lec- 
ture. 

Why  don't  the  Freshmen  come  out  with 
high  hats  and  canes — time's  up  —the  "  2 2d  "  is 
past. 

Boynton,  '85,  has  left  college  and  is  taking 
a  special  course  in  chemistry  under  Prof. 
Leeds. 

A  new  cheer  and  a  neat  serviceable  college 
cap  would  be  improvements  for  the  coming 
season. 

Ed.  P.  Thomson  was  the  first  to  respond 
to  the  circulars  issued  by  the  Business  Editor 
asking  for  subscriptions. 

Each  class  should  have  a  separate  room  for 
its  own  use.  The  lower  classes  greatly  feel 
the  need  of  this  change. 

Prof.  Mayer  has  completed  his  very  inter- 
esting lectures  on  magnetism,  and  has  taken 
up  the  subject  of  electricity. 


The  fertile  imagination  of  French  writers  is 
remarkable.  If  any  one  doubts  the  statement, 
let  him  ask  a  member  of  '87. 

Mr.  Beard  is  often  seen  wearing  the  Stevens 
hat.  It  is  hoped  that  many  members  of  the 
Freshman  class  will  follow  his  example. 

Our  columns  ought  to  receive  some  valu- 
able matter  from  Seniors,  whose  time  is  less 
occupied  than  that  of  the  other  classmen. 

One  of  the  Freshies  was  brought  into 
prominence  lately  as  one  of  the  "Babes  in 
the  Woods  "  at  an  entertainment  in  town. 

Personal  ease  in  the  Reception  Room,  when 
the  engine  is  running  in  the  basement,  is  at  as 
great  a  discount  as  a  trip  on  the  James  Rum- 
sey. 

A  Freshman,  returning  late  from  New  York 
one  evening  (church  night),  attracted  consid- 
erable attention  by  his  endeavors  to  walk  up 
a  lamp  post. 

A  student  wants  to  procure  a  comet ;  a 
student  wants  to  sell  a  flute ;  the  orchestra 
wants  a  cometist.  For  information  see  Local 
Editor,  '^(i, 

A  member  of  the  Faculty  was  actually 
heard  to  inquire  the  way  to  Prof.  Wall's 
room.  Here  is  an  opportunity  foe  illustrated 
sign  posts. 

The  young  and  tender  Lehigh  Burr  gives 
much  useful  advice  as  to  the  best  method  for 
running  a  paper.  Experience  is  an  immense 
instructor  ! 

A  subscription  list  has  been  started  for  the 
new  gymnasium..  It  is  an  object  worthy  of 
liberal  attention  by  the  students,  alumni  and 
all  our  friends. 

Some  few  still  appear  to  remain  ignorant  of 
the  purpose  the  coat-room  was  provided  for. 
Mr.  Donaldson  ought  to  have  an  artistic  notice 
put  up  on  the  door. 

Some  of  the  ladies  at  '84's  reception  re- 
marked that  the  Seniors  are  bashful.  '84  feels 
proud  of  her  modesty  ;  but  would  like  to  hear 
their  opinion  of  the  Juniors. 

Mr.  Page,  of  '87,  is  quite  ill  with  the  mea- 
sles, and  his  pleasant  face  is  much  missed  by 
his  fellow  students.  It  is  hoped  that  he  will 
soon  be  back  in  his  old  place. 

The  Senior  Class  have  been  excused  from 
Kinematics,  part  of  Prof.  Thurston's  work, 
designing  for  Prof.  Carr,  and  there  will  be  no 
thesis  work  until  third  term. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


37 


Prof.  Wood  now  lectures  to  the  Freshman 
class  once  a  week  on  the  subject  of  Mathe- 
matics. These  lectures  are  thoroughly  en- 
joyed by  every  member  of  the  class. 

A  youthful  Sophomore,  fearing  his  talents 
would  be  exposed  in  the  columns  of  the  In- 
dicator, threatened  to  "  slug  '*  each  member 
of  the  Board  of  Editors  respect/«//y. 

Mr.  Parsons,  of  '87,  has  had  a  severe  attack 
of  malaria.  We  are  glad  to  state  that  he  has 
returned  to  college,  and,  although  not  yet  look- 
ing quite  well,  is  much  improved  in  health. 

Senator  Riddleburrger,  of  Virginia,  and 
General  King,  of  Louisiana,  were  some  of  the 
distinguished  visitors  attending  the  experi- 
ments in  the  Physical  Laboratory  last  month. 

According  to  one  who  has  passed  in  optics, 
a  foot  of  one  of  the  team  in  the  foot-ball 
photograph  is  out  of  proportion  with  the 
inan's  leg,  because  it  was  "  too  much  fo- 
cussed." 

One  of  "  our  brightest,*'  an  officer  of  the 
S.  I.  T.  Yacht  Club,  is  consoling  himself  over 
the  loss  of  a  race.  His  compass  was  out 
several  degrees,  and  consequently  (so  he  says) 
sailed  too  far. 

Some  bright  mind  suggests  a  remedy  for  the 
habit  of  the  Sophomores  "refreshing"  their 
sluggish  memories  in  calculus  during  recita- 
tion. Bind  the  books  with  sheet  iron  and  mag- 
netize Prof.  Carr. 

The  floor  on  Prof.  Wall's  room  is  noticeably 
tending  to  double  up.  An  accident  insurance 
company  might  do  a  lucrative  business  among 
the  students  who  have  to  risk  their  limbs  in 
this  precarious  place. 

A  Sophomore  struts  about  and  endeavors  to 
inveigle  the  innocent  into  the  belief  that  he 
received  $25.00  for  a  professional  opinion. 
This  is  about  equal  to  the  Junior  who  puts  an 
M.  E.  after  his  signature. 

The  possibilities  of  improving  the  tower  of 
the  Institute  building  are  many.  Let  some 
one  of  the  great  in  '84  propose  that  their  class 
club  together  and  have  it  done,  instead  of 
planting  a  tree  at  graduation. 

The  Preps  have  not  only  usurped  the  entire 
campus,  but  now  enjoy  themselves  in  innocent 
foot-races  up  and  down  the  library.  For 
want  of  a  better  use,  we  suppose  the  library 
will  have  to  put  up  with  this  annoyance. 

Either  footstools  or  floor  straps  might  be 
added,  with  great  propriety,  to  the  equipment 
of  Prof.  Wall's  lecture  room  ;  so  that  those  of 


us  whose  weighty  brains  tend  toward  the 
earth's  centre  while  their  heels  fly  heaven- 
ward could  be  comforted  and  their  near  neigh- 
bors benefited. 

This  year's  influx  of  college  annuals  has  be- 
gun. Those  which  have  happened  this  way  are 
replete  with  interesting  lists  of  their  corpora- 
tions, trustees,  students,  and,  most  prominent 
of  all,  eating  clubs,  with  very  little  reading 
matter  of  interest.  We  hope  our  annuals  this 
year  will  be  of  a  more  entertaining  character. 

Although  we  are  thankful  for  all  subscrip- 
tions, we  do  not  feel  that  we  are  under  any 
obligations  to  the  subscribers,  especially  in 
the  way  of  extra  copies  of  the  Indicator. 
Some  of  our  subscribers  seem  to  think  that 
the  fact  of  their  being  subscribers  entitles 
them  to  an  unlimited  number  of  single  copies. 
We  beg  to  dispel  this  illusion. 

The  students  will  please  recollect  that  the 
"  Sanctum  "  is  a  part  of  Prof.  Carr's  office, 
and  granted  to  us  by  his  kindness.  We  hope 
that  the  unwarranted  intrusion  of  some  of  the 
upper  class  men  into  the  "  Sanctum  "  will  not 
be  repeated,  as  it  seriously  reflects  on  their 
character  to  enter  a  room  belonging  to  a  pro- 
fessor, without  even  the  formality  of  knocking 
at  the  door. 

Modern  art  reached  one  of  its  highest  pin- 
nacles when  that  variegated  notice,  especially 
directed  to  smokers,  was  produced.  There  were 
some  objections  to  the  design,  however,  and  it 
is  undergoing  improvement  under  the  guidance 
of  a  few  aesthetically  inclined  Sophs.  Mean- 
while "  Prof."  Donaldson  goes  about  much 
after  the  fashion  of  a  roaring  lion,  etc.  It  is 
rumored  that  he  paid  the  artist  a  quarter  for 
the  effort — ergo. 

The  results  of  our  requests  for  subscriptions 
from  the  alumni  have  been  encouraging  and 
very  gratifying,  with  the  exception  of  one,  who 
heads  his  letters,  when  he  doesn't  use  the 
backs  of  our  printed  receipts,  as  a  patent 
lawyer.  A  slight  error  in  mailing  him  a  notice 
of  publication,  with  another  alumnus'  name  di- 
rected thereon,  was  too  much  for  one  of  his 
position  in  society.  Probably  he  had  just  lost 
a  case,  and  so  is  somewhat  excusable.  But 
his  sentiments,  which  were  scribbled  on  the 
back  of  our  notice  and  returned  for  our  edifi- 
cation, rather  betokened  one  whose  chief  oc- 
cupation was  the  manipulation  of  tin  locomo- 
tives and  express  wagons  with  pink  strings, 
than  one  who  probably  bears  the  title  of  an 
M.  E. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


'75- 

G.  K.  Dickinson  is  a  practicing  physician 
in  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 

T.  F.  KoEZLY,  for  many  years  with  the 
house  of  Gillis  St  Geoghegan,  manufacturers 
of  steam  heating  and  ventilating  apjiaratus, 
has  recently  accepted  a  position  in  ihe  New 
York  Steam  Company. 

■76. 

Married,  on  Thursday,  February  14,  1884, 
at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents,  by  the 
Rev.  G.  C.  Haughton,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  E. 
C.  Haughton,  William  Diehl,  of  Philadelphia, 
to  Annie,  daughter  of  I.  Menzies  Livingston, 
Esq.,  of  Hoboken,  N.  J. 

G.  C.  Henninc  ha.s  opened  an  office  as  In- 
specting Engineer  at  No.  18  Cedar  street,  New 
York,  and  will  give  special  attention  to  all 
kinds  of  steel  and  iron  constructions. 

William  Kent  was  present  at  the  Cincin- 
nati meeting  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Mining  Engineers,  and  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  discussions. 

'77- 

W.  J.  CoopEG  is  book-keeper  for  the  First 
National  Bank,  Newark,  N.  J. 
•78. 

Paul  Kudlich  is  prosecuting  his  studies 
at  the  Royal  Art  Academy,  Munich,  Germany, 

J.  F.  Kelly  represented  the  interests  of 
the  United  States  Electric  Light  Company  at 
the  recent  tests  at  the  Institute. 

E.  P.  Thompson  is  with  the  Brush-Swan 
Electric  Light  Company,  Englewood,  N.  J. 
'80. 

G,  M,  Bond  lectured  on  the  evening  of 
February  a9(h  before  the  Franklin  Institute, 
Philadelphia,  on  the  subject  of  "Standards  of 
Length  as  Applied  to  Gauge  Dimensions," 
explaining  the  methods  of  work  adopted  by 
the  Pratt  &  Whitney  Co. 

J.  W.  Lieu,  on  January  ist,  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  Chief  Electrician  to  the  Italian 
Edison  Electric  Light  Company,  the  outgrowth 
of  the  experimental  installation  at  Milan, 

DuRAND    Woodman    is    chemist    at    the 
Weston  Factory,  Newark,  N,  J.,  of  the  United 
States  Electric  Light  Company. 
■81. 

H.  S.  Pope  is  travelling  for  the  house  of 
Thomas  J.  Pope  &  Bro.,  dealers  in  metals, 
New  York. 


BKGBflFJEBS. 

Among  our  pile  of  exchanges,  ihe  first  to 
strike  the  eye  of  the  Exchange  Editor  is  a 
pleasant-looking  magazine,  having  on  its  cover 
the  picture  of  a  half-opened  chestnut  burr, 
and  the  name  LthtghBurr.  The  general  ap- 
pearance being  pleasing  and  the  device  pleas- 
ing, the  editor  starts  right  here. 

The  contents  are  found  to  be  of  varied 
flavor.  On  the  second  page  we  find  the  sugar 
of  approbation  in  the  shape  of  a  commenda- 
tory notice  of  our  efforts  to  shake  off  the 
preps.  Scattered  around  liberally  we  find  the 
laughter-inducing  element,  and  clear  over 
near  the  back  is  the  tonic  in  a  criticism  of  the 
weak  points  of  the  first  number  of  the  Indi- 
cator. The  medicine  is  rather  bitter,  but 
we  take  it,  hoping  to  improve. 

The  LafayetU  College  Journal  calls  espe- 
cial attention  to  an  article  contained  in  it 
on  the  question  now  being  much  agitated  in 
colleges,  whether  Greek  shall  be  abandoned  or 
not.  Although  students  of  a  technical  insti- 
tution generally  possess  so  little  classical 
knowledge  that  ihe  subject  possesses  no  great 
charm  for  them,  still  we  are  all  interested  in 
culture  and  interested  in  seeing  that  maintained 
which,  as  the  writer  says,  although  "  not  cap- 
able of  buying  a  loaf  of  bread,  or  building  a 
bridge,  ,  .  .  helps  to  make  a  man."  The 
writer  presents  the  subject  very  well  ;  his 
reasons  advanced  for  the  retention  of  the 
language  as  a  study  being  sensible  and  such 
as  may  be  appreciated  by  all.  It  does  refine 
and  polish,  and  also  cultivate  perseverance 
and  patience.  It  is  evidently  unwise  that 
Greek  "go"  altogether.  But  when,  on  page 
80  of  the  Journal,  we  find  the  statement  that 
in  New  York  City  there  are  three  thousand 
college  graduates  incapable  of  earning  a  living, 
it  certainly  seems  that  there  is  a  happy  mean 
to  be  struck  between  the  making  of  a  "  ma- 
chine "  and  of  a  merely  cultured  man. 

The  Journal  also  contains  a  full  account  of 
the  recent  meeting  of  delegates  at  Lafayette 
on  January  19th  for  the  formation  of  a  base- 
ball league. 

The  University  Magazine,  of  the  University 
of  Virginia,  is  filled  with  a  pleasing  variety  of 
matter.  "A  Minute  in  a  Far-off  Spring," 
which  is  Article  No.  3  of  the  series,  "Under 
the  Arcades,"  is  a  well-written  sketch,  dis- 
playing feeling  and  a  pleasing  style  of  expres- 
sion. The  column  of  "  Dont's,"  suggested  by 
and    modelled  after    the   recently  published 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


39 


book  of  the  same  title,  is  apt,  and  many  of  its 
injunctions  are  as  worthy  of  heed  as  those  of 
the  original. 

The  University  Herald  devotes  considerable 
space  to  the  publication  of  two  or  three 
.essays,  which,  we  should  judge,  have  been 
written  in  competition.  The  "  Locals  **  are 
very  entertaining,  even  for  an  outsider.  We 
read  also  of  the  acceptance,  by  Prof.  Schill,  of 
the  position  of  professor  of  music.  We  con- 
gratulate the  students  of  the  University  on  the 
accession  of  a  musician,  who,  in  so  short  a 
time,  has  won  such  high  praise  as  he  has  re- 
ceived from  the  musical  public. 

The  Oberlin  Revieiv  is  largely  occupied  by 
an  account  of  a  recent  oratorical  contest,  and 
accompanying  it  is  a  rather  novel  article,  con- 
sisting of  the  opinions  of  the  contestants  as  to 
the  effect  of  the  contest  upon  students  and 
institution,  whether  beneficial  or  otherwise. 

The  Adelphiarty  the  publication  of  the  Adel- 
phi  Academy  in  Brooklyn,  is  a  neatly  gotten- 
up  magazine,  the  mechanical  execution  being 
in  every  respect  excellent.  The  February 
number  is  rendered  still  more  attractive  by  a 
pleasing  little  frontispiece,  the  production  of 
a  lady  student  of  their  art  department.  The 
contributions  are  very  readable. 

The  ConcordiensiSy  of  Union  University, 
Schenectady,  is  an  unpretentious  but  finely 
printed  and  arranged  paper.  .  The  quality  and 
quantity  of  the  contents  manifest  a  great  deal 
of  industry  and  talent,  even  for  thirteen  edi- 
tors and  a  business  manager.  Although  sorry 
that  the  students  are  compelled  to  raise  a 
howl,  still  being  compelled,  we  are  glad  to  see 
them  performing  their  duty  in  "  kicking,"  as 
they  do. 

We  are  sorry  to  note  in  any  '85  man  such  a 
strong  desire  to  "  shufflle  off,"  as  is  manifested 
by  the  author  of  "The  Old  Kitchen  Fire." 

The  Atnerican  Machinist  is,  as  usual, 
crowded  with  the  most  useful  information. 
Among  the  articles  we  notice  especially  one 
on  the  construction  and  use  of  the  milling 
machine,  an  article  of  a  series  on  locomotive 
running,  and  a  description  of  the  Prony  brake 
used  by  Messrs.  Mitchell  and  Aldrich  in  ex- 
perimenting on  an  engine  at  the  American  In- 
stitute Fair.  Those  of  our  readers  who  are 
not  in  the  habit  of  reading  this  paper  we  would 
advise  to  do  so.  The  articles  are  of  that 
practical  nature  which  makes  them  of  not  a 
whit  less  importance  to  the  engineer  than  his 
text-book  information. 


The  remarks  just  made  apply  with  equal 
propriety  to  the  Electrician  and  Electrical 
Engineer  diXid  to  the  Electrical  Revie^u,  Herein 
will  be  found  information  fully  sufficient  to 
keep  the  reader  up  to  the  times  and  perfectly 
acquainted  with  all  developments,  practical  and 
theoretical,  in  this  rapidly  growing  branch  of 
science  and  industry. 

We  would  also  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
the  following  additional  e^cchanges  :  The 
Kenyan  Advance^  Tech,  North  Wester n^  Queens 
College  Journal y  and  the  February  numbers  of 
Mechanics, 


<^  » » 


CErppiRss. 


Pater:  "Well,  my  boy,  how  do  you  like 
College  ? "  Alma  Mater  has  turned  out  some 
good  men."  Young  Hopeful :  "  Ya-as,  she's 
just  turned  me  out  !"  He  had  been  expelled. 
— Ex, 

Love  :  Young  Simpson  (to  the  lovely  Feli- 
cia, as  they  stand  on  the  piazza  in  the  moon- 
light) :  "  Miss  Felicia,  this  world  looks  so 
dreary  and  lonely  to  me  I  feel  as  if  no  one 
loves  me."  Felicia  (in  a  sympathetic  tone) : 
"  Oh,  Mr.  Simpson,  God  loves  you  !"  Simp- 
son, after  a  thoughtful  pause,  suggests  that 
they  go  in,  as  it  is  growing  chilly. — Life, 

Prof,  in  Physics  :  "  Mr.  W.,  what,  in  your 
opinion,  is  a  good  example  of  a  non-conduct- 
or ?"  Mr.  W.:  "A  driver  on  a  bobtailed  car." 
(Appreciative  murmurings  of  applause  from 
outer  utterances.) — Poly, 

m 

Greek  Recitation. — Benevolent  Professor 
(prompting) :  "  Now,  then,  Eipas "  Som- 
nolent Soph,  (remembering last  night *s studies): 
"  I  make  it  next."  (He  goes  it  alone  before 
the  faculty.) — Ex. 

First  Freshman  to  second  ditto  :  "  Did  you 
get  her  photo  while  you  were  away  ?"  Second 
Freshman  :  **  Well — ah,  the  fact  is  she  gave 
me  her  negative." — Princetonian. 

"  You  are  as  full  of  airs  as  a  music-box,"  is 
what  a  young  man  said  to  a  girl  who  refused 
to  let  him  see  her  home.  That  may  be," 
she  replied,  "  but  I  don't  go  with  a  crank." — 
Ex, 

He  was  a  facetious  Sophomore :  "  What 
quantities  of  dried  grasses  you  do  keep  here. 
Miss  Smith  ?  Nice  room  for  a  donkey  to  get 
into."  "  Make  yourself  at  home,"  she  said, 
with  sweet  gravity. — Ex, 


40 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


•■I 
1 


Scene. — Class  in  Roman  Law.  Instructor  : 
"  Now,  we  see  that  the  husband  bought  the 
wife  and  the  wife  bought  the  husband."  Witty 
Senior  :  "  Then  they  were  both  sold,  wer'n't 
they  ?"  Instructor  (who  doesn't  see  the  point): 
"  Yes,  they  were  both  sold."  Class  grins  aud- 
ibly and  instructor  tumbles. — Ex, 

Speaking  of  chemical  matters,  we  are  re- 
minded that  a  uniformed  professor  lately  said 
that  matches  were  of  very  recent  date,  upon 
which  a  bright  member  of  the  class  remarked 
that  it  was  an  error,  as  Adam  and  Eve  made 
the  first  match,  which  was  an  explosive  affair, 
raising  Cain. 

We  have  a  faint  suspicion  that  the  above 
joke  is  as  ancient  as  the  match  itself. 

Mr.  M.  to  his  friend  G.:  "  Fifty  years  from 
now  I  think  there  will  be  plenty  of  women 
running  steamboats  and  railroad  trains."  G  : 
"  Never  ;  that  won't  be  fast  enough  for  them 
thenr 

The  students  who  are  taking  French  are 
anxious  to  use  Sarah  Barnum  as  a  text-book. 
— Burr. 

First  Student  :  "  Can  two  directly  opposed 
feelings  exist  at  the  same  time?"  Second 
Student :  "  Yes,  joy  and  sorrow  ;  when  the 
Professor  is  ill  and  cannot  hear  the  recita- 
tion."— Beacon, 

Logical  Sequence. — A  comfortable  reflec- 
tion for  the  indisposed — a  lazy  boy  is  better 
than  nothing.  Nothing  is  better  than  a  studi- 
ous boy.  Therefore  a  lazy  boy  is  better  than 
a  studious  boy. — Ex, 

GOT  LEFT. 

"  Meet  me,"  she  said, 

"  To-morrow  night 
**  At  the  garden  wall 

**  When  the  sun's  gone  down." 

And  here's  to-morrow, 

And  here  am  I, 
And  there's  the  wall, 

And  the  sun's  gone  down. 

— Lampoon, 

Patti's  Diamonds. — Among  Patti's  half- 
million  dollars*  worth  of  diamonds  are  many 
that  came  from  the  crowned  heads,  three 
kings  and  two  queens  being  among  the  do- 
nors. There  is  a  man  in  Chicago  who  used  to 
wear  diamonds  who  is  now  wearing  pawn  jew- 
elry, owing  to  his  having  three  kings  and  two 
queens  mixed  up  in  the  affair.  The  other 
man  held  three  aces  and  a  pair  of  jacks. — 
Peck's  Sun, 

'85  should  remember,  "That  to  be  fore- 
warned is  to  be  forearmed." 


Professor  to  very  noisy  class  :  "  Order,  g^- 
tlemen,  order.  I  am  very  sorry  to  see  so 
much  electricity  in  your  heels,  for  we  know 
positive  electricity  at  one  pole  implies  ntgaim 
at  the  other." 

ODE  TO  SPRING. 

OflT. 

That  buzzest  on  the  wall, 
Take  care  thou  do  not  fall. 
Though  dimb'st  so  high. 

oay. 

Thou  surely  dost  not  know 
The  glee  and  yet  the  woe 
Thou  bringest  to  I. 

You  tee 

Whene'er  I  hear  thy  wing, 
I  always  think  of  Spring 
And  all  that  sort  of  thing  ; 
Of  spring  suits  and  straw  hats; 
Of  tender  moonlight  chats 
Of  pretty  coaxing  girls, 
Banged  hair  and  flowing  curls; 
Of  woods  and  vales  and  rills ; 
'Tis  then  my  spirit  thrills 
With  glee. 

'^Amherst  Studemi, 


THE  COLLEGE  WORLD. 


Columbia. — Columbia  has    resigned  from 
the  Child's  Cup  Association.     Cornell  was 

elected  in  her  place. Astronomical  instni- 

mentSy  worth  $12,000,  have  been  presented  to 

the  college. The  library  is  inspected  by 

two  detectives. 'S6    has  a  class  debt  of 

$600. A  challenge  has  been  sent  to  Har- 
vard for  next  spring's  boat  race. Oxford 

caps  have  almost  entirely  disappeared. 

HARVARD.~The  term-bills  last  year  amount- 
ed to  Si73>ooo- A  committee  from  the 

Faculty  met  a  deputation  of  the  students  to 
discuss  the  professional  aspect  of  athletics. 

Permission   has    been  granted    to    play 

professional    nines    next    summer. The 

number  of  students  is  1,522. 

Princeton. — The  Faculty  prohibit  sparring 
at    the  winter  sports. The     "^ 


thinks  that  the  anti-fraternity  spirit  is  grow- 
ing at  that  institution. The   number  of 

students  is  527. 

Yale. — The  Glee  Club  asked  $1,200  for 
damages  from  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rail- 
road by  reason  of  loss  incurred  in  failure  to 

meet  engagements,  etc. The  Freshman 

nine  has  four  candidates  for  the  position  of 
pitcher,  two  for  catcher,  two  for  each  of  the 
bases,  and  three  for  short  stop. The  foot- 
ball team  has  a  surplus  in  the  treasury  of  $500. 
The  number  of  students  is  1,092. 


ffJK  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technology, 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHAHICAL  ENGINEERIKG, 

FOUNDED   BY  THE  lATE   EDWIN  A.  STEVENS, 

HOBOKEN.  N.  J 


I'tpT.  ■■  KaiWrlMiviiUI    M>< 


» 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 

THE    ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 

— of  Tin: — 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

mvKR  :•  -u.  H  J.. 

OP,  A. 


JuniUH    oiiHAKTivic  NT, 
dENlOlt   DCFARTMENT.       -       • 


»t>0.00    PE"R    *MI1UII( 
9I50.CX)   PBM   AMNUN 


THE 


^Uevefi^  Tndi(iife©R 


VoL  I. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  APRIL,  1884. 


No.  4. 


^he  Slsevei^g  Indies^® p. 

rVBLISHBD  O.V  THR 

Wk  OF   EACH  MONTH,  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 


BY  THE  STUDENTS  OF 


^Venji  lojititatB  of  TeG$DoIogi|. 


,      .  .     C.  W.  WHITINO,  '84. 

.    A.  P.  KLETZSCH,  '84. 
.    JOHN  M.  RUSBY*,  '85. 

ROLLIN   NORRIS,  '85. 
P.  MOWTON,  *8ft.  C.  R.  COLLINS,  '86. 

LADD   PLUMLBY,   '87. 

■  -       ■♦♦  — 

:-#l.60  fm  Yitr,  in  Advance.     Single  Copy,  20  Cents. 

^Ml  QflM  M  Scromd  Cla»»  Mmtter. 


SmkxeripiUms  taken  by  the  business  manager,  who  ivill 
the  paper  to  any  address,  prepaid,  on  receipt  of 


eofies  can  be  obtained  at  Lutfiin's  book  store, 

Tkg  paper  will  be  sent  regularly  to  subscribers  until 
anUrwd  io  be  Sscontinued. 

Smbsenbers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
oMmmma  im  their  address  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 
mgmarfy. 

^^rw/Sw j»rf,  alumm,  undergraduates,  and  friends,  are 
■■■■"{*■'  A»  contribute  literary  artichs,  items,  verses,  dis- 
ffunams  afeurrtnt  topics,  and  personal  notes, 

•f^  if  p^irtiiulaHy  desired  that  Alumni  furftisk  us  -n'it/i 
«^  iiewu  of  interest  concerning  themselves  and  every  one 
has  been  emnected  with  the  Institute. 

Mt  is  ojtpected  that  all  articles  shall  be  written  in  a 
MS  tone. 

^^t  full  name,  as  vkU  as  his  nom  de  pi.L'mk, 

, !S"!?/"*.y  '^'  article,  as  assurance  of  ^ood  faith 

^"^Mat; ;  but  it  will  not  be  published,  unless  desired. 

^ Jv^^l^*"  <S>  net  necessarily  endofse  sentiments  ex- 
ffWtMgmaei^  in  the  editorial  and  exchange  columns. 

m^^^^^r^  "f  *ffvited  to  send  us  books  and  magiiz/nes 
»  HTMi^j^,  contributions,  subset  iptions,  advertisements. 


fdmaotheti 


H.J. 


^  ^ttnunications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
*"'W»  Indicator,  Stei'ens  Institute,  Hoboken, 


_Jz.  ^TJV  ^^**g  to  secure  the  busittess  patronage  of 
y^V'  ^himni,  will  find  it  to  their  advantage  to 
■•  jO€  stir  oioertisin^  mt^t. 


0N  the  7th  of  March  the  Junior  Class  was 
tendered  a  reception  by  Professor  and 
Mrs.  Thurston.  There  were  a  number  of  young 
ladies  present,  as  well  as  the  wives  of  several 
of  the  professors,  and  everyone  appeared  to 
have  a  pleasant  time.  As  '85  has  no  glee  club, 
there  was  no  singing  by  the  class,  but  one  of 
the  ladies  present  kindly  sang  a  number  of 
selections,  which  were  much  enjoyed. 

In  the  Indicator  of  March,  ^84  wants  to 
know  the  opinion  of  the  ladies  in  regard  to 
'85.  In  answer,  we  can  only  repeat  a  remark 
made  by  one  of  them  who  attended  both  re- 
ceptions. The  Senior  reception  being  men- 
tioned, she  exclaimed  :  **  Seniors  !  Why  I 
thought  they  were  Freshmen  and  Sopho- 
mores !  ! " 

We  are  sorry  for  '84,  and  wonder  when  she 
will  lose  her  verdancv. 


'^^tfertising  rates. 


j^ROMPTED  by  a  call  of  the  Athletic  Asso- 
1^  ciation  of  Columbia  College  to  similar 
organizations  of  the  other  colleges  of  the  coun- 
try, eleven  of  the  latter  sent  delegates  to  a 
meeting  which  was  held  Saturday,  March  29, 
at  Hamilton  Hall,  Columbia  College,  for  con- 
sultation and  interchange  of  views  concerning 
the  proposed  athletic  regulations. 

The  meeting  was  opened  by  Mr.  Woodworth. 
of  Columbia,  who  stated  the  object  of  the  call, 
A  lengthy  discussion  then  took  place,  after 
which  a  vote  was  taken  on  each  of  the  eight 
resolutions  restricting  athletics.  This  showed 
great  disapproval,  and  when  Mr.  Sexton,  of 
Harvard,  introduced  a  series  of  resolutions, 
they  were  passed  by  all  except  St.  John  College. 

These  were  as  follows  : 

Whereas,  We  have  listened  to  a  full  discussion  of  the 
athletic  regulations  by  representatives  of  eleven  col- 
leges, 


42 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting  that  the 
recent  action  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the  various 
college  Faculties,  in  drawing  up  a  series  of  resolutions 
regarding  athletics,  was  unnecessary  and  inexpedient. 

Resolved,  That  no  abuses  exist  in  inter- collegiate 
athletics  which  cannot  be  corrected  by  the  students 
themselves,  in  their  various  conventions,  when  con- 
vinced that  such  abuses  exist. 

Resolved,  That  the  students  in  the  various  colleges 
ought  to  have  full  control  of  the  details  of  athletics. 

Resolved,  That  the  Faculties  ought,  in  our  opinion, 
to  interfere  only  negatively,  i.  e.,  to  prevent  neglect  of 
college  duties. 


« ^»  > 


IT  will  be  noticed,  on  perusing  our  paper 
further,  that  with  this  number  there  ap- 
pears a  column  headed,  "Communications," 
which  has  not  appeared  heretofore.  The  idea 
is  an  old  one  and  originated  with  our  first 
number  ;  but,  until  now,  we  have  received  no 
matter  with  which  to  fill  it.  This  time,  how- 
ever, there  have  come  to  us  three  letters  ;  and, 
as  this  is  the  department  of  the  paper  through 
which  discussions  and  debates  may  be  carried 
on  publicly,  and  individual  opinions  be  ex- 
pressed, we  hope  that  hereafter  it  will  be,  as 
it  certainly  ought  to,  a  large  and  interesting 
part  of  our  monthly. 

Two  of  these  letters,  it  will  be  seen,  are  on 
the  same  subject,  and  were  brought  out  by  an 
article  in  our  last  issue,  entitled,  "  Examina- 
tions." The  other  takes  the  Indicator  it- 
self as  the  subject  of  criticism.  We  have  al- 
ready replied  to  this,  to  a  certain  extent,  by 
stating  that  our  want  of  a  column  of  communi- 
cations was  only  due  to  our  having  nothing  to 
put  in  it  ;  but  would  like  to  say  further,  that 
the  writer  must  have  drawn  on  his  imagina- 
tion when  he  supposed  that  any  college  papers 
are  "  read  with  interest  by  thousands  in  no  way 
connected  with  those  colleges." 

'Tis  true  that  a  few  friends  of  a  college  may 
read  its  paper  ;  and  we,  no  doubt,  are  able,  at 
an  institute  like  ours,  to  get  out  one  which 
would  be  of  interest  to  them,  if  we  can  only 
obtain  the  co-operation  of  students  and  pro- 
fessors, as  well  as  alumni,  as  Mr.  Pratt  says. 
This,  however,  we  have  been  unable  to  do  as 
yet,  and  the  work  has  fallen  rather  hard  on 


the  editors,  for  they  can  hardly  be  expected 
to  write  editorials,  poetry,  athletic  articles, 
amusing  stories,  scientific  reviews,  criticisms 
on  our  exchanges,  and  every  other  style,  and 
make  it  good,  besides  looking  after  the  pub- 
lishing of  the  paper.  Naturally,  if  we  have 
more  contributions  there  will  be  displayed 
more  varied  talent. 

Mr.  Pratt  says,  if  all  the  work  in  preparing 
matter  is  left  to  the  editors,  it  will  be  poor. 
We  hope  his  idea  was  the  same  as  expressed 
above,  and  not  that  the  editors  are  incapable  of 
fulfilling  their  positions.  Then  we  would  thank 
him  for  expressing  his  views  publicly. 


-♦-♦- 


rr\OW,  since  the  weather  promises  to  be 
1  ^'^clear  once  in  a  while,  we  hope  that  the 
students  will  realize  what  a  short  time  we  have 
in  which  to  prepare  for  the  spring  games.  The 
weather  has  until  now  been  a  serious  draw- 
back to  any  field  practice,  and  has,  to  a  certain 
extent,  retarded  progress  in  any  of  the  college 
athletics.  A  number  of  the  students  have 
been  fortunate  enough  to  secure  a  riding-hall 
for  the  purpose  of  practicing  base-ball,  and 
have  made  good  use  of  the  very  short  time 
allotted  to  us  for  practice. 

Lacrosse  has  taken  what  seems  to  be  a  good 
start,  although  it  is  noticed  that,  as  a  usual 
thing,  the  same  men  are  taking  up  this  game 
that  play  at  almost  all  the  older  established 
si)orts.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  reverse  will 
soon  be  the  case,  and  men  who  have  not  taken 
a  special  liking  to  any  one  game  as  yet,  but 
who  have  been  content  to  look  on,  will  be  en- 
ticed to  try  this  pleasant  recreation  and  cer- 
tainly beneficial  exerci:-e.  Lawn  tennis  has 
not  taken  a  start  as  yet,  but  a  great  many  of 
our  boys  are  anxiously  waiting  for  the  grounds 
to  become  a  little  drier,  so  that  they  may  open 
the  season  and  get  in  trim  for  the  "  tourna- 
ment," which  is  expected  to  be  held  in  the 
fall.  It  has  been  noticed  that  a  number  of  the 
Sophs  have  been  making  racquets  of  their  own 
peculiar  pattern,  and  from  which  they  expect 
great  results — certainly  the  specimens  that  we 
have  seen  warrant  their  expectations.      The 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


43 


spring  meeting  will  soon  be  in  order,  and  all 

must     prepare    for    some     particular    event. 

We  certainly  must  not  allow  the  affair  to  be  a 

failure  ;  we  ought  to  make  a  fair  showing  at 

the  Intercollegiate  meeting  in  May.     We  must 

have  some  representatives  there  or  lose  our 

place.      So,  seeing  what  you  have  to  do,  you 

know  how  to  prepare  for  it. 

We  would  like  to  see  more  Freshmen  in  the 
field ;  there  is  certainly  some  good  material  in 
'87,  and  it  must  come  out.  A  large  majority 
of  that  class  seem  to  have  no  thought  of  their 
college  other  than  the  fact  that  they  have  to  re- 
cite in  certain  rooms  and  be  here  at  certain  days. 
If  you  are  going  to  belong  to  a  college,  belong 
to  it,  be  a  part  of  it,  and  help  to  bring  it  to  a 
place  of  prominence  among  our  sister  colleges. 
This  you  cannot  do  unless  you  are  in  a  physi- 
cal condition  able  to  stand  some  wear  and 
tear  on  your  entire  system.  If  you  are  going 
to  attain  this  state  of  physical  and  mental  per- 
fection, give  some  of  your  time  to  physical 
culture  here  at  Stevens  among  your  own 
mates.  You  have  to  give  your  mental  atten- 
tion here ;  why  not  give  your  physical  atten- 
tion also,  and  join  hands  to  bring  about  a  good 
object.  We  want  a  gymnasium.  Show  the  fac- 
ulty and  our  outside  friends  that  we  have  the 
nuterial  to  fill  it  to  advantage,  and  thus  prove 
to  them  that  it  is  the  best  present  they  can 
give  the  students  of  Stevens. 


LANDED :    A  LEAP  YEAR  STORY. 


By  a  Minnesinger, 

Authoress  of**  Nrw  and  Old.*' 


PAST. 


Wc  went  a  fishing,  I  thought  that  Mabel 

Was  barely  able  to  catch  a  fly  ; 
She  sat  and  watched  xne,  at  times  commented, 

And  was  contented — and  so  was  I. 

The  lazy  water  was  cool,  and  bubbled, 
Though  little  troubled  our  craft  to  see  ; 

I  gazed  at  Mabel  with  some  attention, 
And,  I  may  mention,  she  looked  at  me. 

Some  trout  1  landed.     She  said,  ''I'm  ready, 
i'ray  lend  me,  Te<ldy,  the  hook  and  line." 

V>  I  rcbaitedf  and  passed  it  over. 
And  tried  to  cover  her  hand  with  mine. 


The  boat  was  drifting,  her  hook  did  wriggle, 
She  gave  a  giggle,  and  lost  her  trout. 

She  pulled  her  line  up,  but  nothing  followed, 
Her  bait  was  swallowed,  the  hook  flew  out. 

And  high  above  her  swayed,  and  sinking. 
Was  soon  a-linking  its  point  to  me  ; 

It  caught  my  coat  sleeve,  I  could  not  pull  it 
From  out  the  wool,  it  would  not  come  free. 

Then  saucy  Mabel  was  uild  with  laughter, 

A  moment  after  she  did  deride. 
"  I've  caught  a  fish  now,  you  can't  deny,  sir. 

It  soon  must  die,  sir,  and  then — be  fried  !" 

I  said  most  slowly,  *' Ves,  you  did  hook  me. 
Though  you  sh.in't  cook  me,  and  will  not  try  ; 

But  you  could  kill  me,  as  you'd  discover. 
Just  'throw  me  over,'  and  then  I'd  die  !" 

Her  face  was  sober.     Another  minute 
A  glance  grew  in  it.  a  sudden  smile 

That  crept  and  broadened  ;  another  giggle, 
"  I'll  let  you  wriggle — a  little  while." 

But  then,  however,  she  thought,  debated  ; 

I  was  elated  ;  at  last  she  spake. 
We  glided  farther,  nor  ever  heeded 

The  time  that  speeded,  or  fish,  or  lake. 

PRESENT. 

Now,  I  tell  Mabel  this  tale  to  tease  her, 
(I  can't  displease  her,  I  .should'nt  dare) 

She  for  defense  though,  this  plea  does  keep  near, 
"  Well,  it  was  Leap  Year,  so  it  was  fair." 


Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

It  is  strange  how  differently  some  things 
are  looked  at  by  different  persons,  and  what 
opposite  conclusions  they  will  draw  from  the 
same  facts.  I  have  never  been  more  forcibly 
struck  by  this  than  upon  reading  a  contribu- 
tion which  appeared  under  the  head  of  "  Ex- 
aminations "  in  the  last  number  of  the  Indi- 
cator. 

The  plan  which  Mr.  H.  A.  Westminster 
advocates  doubtless  does  well  enough  for 
primary  school  children,  but  college  men  are 
supposed  to  be  something  higher.  Children 
require  to  have  their  lessons  heard  daily  to 
keep  them  up  to  their  work  ;  but  when  a  man 
goes  to  college  he  is  old  enough  to  appreciate 
his  advantages,  and  should  require  no  such 
stimulus.  Every  one  knows  how  much  valu- 
able time  is  wasted  in  hearing  lessons,  which 
time  could  be  so  much  more  advantageously 
used  for  lectures. 

I  would  like  to  see  the  petty  system  of 
holding   recitations   and   marking    abolished. 


44 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


and  for  it  substituted,  at  the  end  of  the  course, 
a  rigid  examination,  continued  over  as  long  a 
period  of  time  as  may  be  necessary. 

When  under  examination  a  man  is  required 
to  concentrate  his  knowledge  and  depend 
upon  what  he  knows.  The  ability  to  do  this 
is  just  what  he  needs  to  meet  the  crises  occur- 
ring every  day  in  after  life. 

The  system  I  have  been  advocating  is,  I 
believe,  that  pursued  at  the  University  of 
Virginia,  and  at  the  great  institutions  of  learn- 
ing abroad,  and  destined,  Mr.  Westminster  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding,  to  be  generally 
adopted.  Oliver  Snowden. 


» ♦» » 


Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

As  H.  A.  Westminster  states  in  the  last 
issue  of  the  Indicator,  examinations,  as  con- 
ducted, are  injurious  to  the  student,  and 
might  well  be  abandoned.  But  he  is  partly 
at  fault  in  advocating  that  students  should  be 
graded  entirely  by  their  work  during  the 
term. 

Every  one  with  the  least  experience  will 
admit  that  a  subject  is  seldom  learned  until  it 
is  reviewed.  In  the  pursuance  of  nearly  all  of 
the  studies  in  either  a  collegiate  or  scientific 
course,  with,  perhaps,  the  exception  of  such 
branches  as  literature  or  history,  but  more 
especially  in  mathematics,  the  advance,  par- 
ticularly when  rapidly  made,  is  often  but  half 
learned,  while  probably  more  seldom  under- 
stood. This  is  more  noticeable  in  the  case  of 
dull  students,  who  are  slow  to  receive  an  im- 
pression, but  equally  slow  to  part  with  it, 
while  the  same  is  true  in  many  cases  with 
those  who  learn  much  more  easily,  but  who  can 
form  no  conception  of  the  nature  of  the  sub- 
ject, for  instance,  as  set  forth  in  the  next 
twenty  pages,  and  fail  to  see  in  what  manner 
that  which  they  are  at  present  learning  is  to  be 
of  value  to  them.  In  other  words,  they  do 
not  know  exactly  what  they  are  driving  at, 
and  not  until  they  have  been  to  the  other  end 
can  they  see  light  through,  or  form  a  compre- 
hensive conception  of  the  subject.  It  is  the 
review  which  fills  up  the  gap,  and  tells  how 
much  the  student  has  exerted  himself.  If  he 
has  been  faithful  during  the  advance,  there 
will  be  nothing  entirely  new  to  him  in  the  re- 
view, and  he  will  see  to  what  purpose  the 
various  parts  are  to  be  put  ;  while  he  will  find 
that  much  which  was  originally  difficult  to 
grasp  has  become  quite  familiar  to  him 
through  constant  usage  in  later  parts  of  the 
work.      If   by  this  time  he  has   not   become 


familiar  with  the  subject,  it  must  be  due  to 
some  individual  reason,  and  he  must  suffer 
the  consequences. 

The  writer,  therefore,  attaches  all  im- 
portance to  the  reviews,  and  considers  that 
these  should  be  conducted  in  a  thorough  and 
careful  manner,  and  that  upon  these  should 
the  grading  of  a  student  chiefly  depend. 

Senior. 


« ^  » » 


Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

The  idea  of  founding  a  paper  at  Stevens 
was  a  praiseworthy  one,  and  much  credit  is 
due  those  who  were  willing  to  undertake  the 
difficult  task.  The  Indicator  is  yet  in  its 
infancy  ;  it  will  improve  and  grow  stronger 
with  age,  and  now  is  the  time  to  start 
it  in  the  proper  direction,  for  **  as  the  twig  is 
bent  so  the  tree  inclines.*'  Already  it  has 
been  noticed  by  several  papers,  such  as  the 
Mechanics  and  American  Machinist^  but,  as 
one  of  them  remarked,  it  is  of  interest  princi- 
pally to  the  students  of  Stevens.  It  is  true 
that  the  Indicator  is  intended  to  be  an  ex- 
ponent of  the  students,  and  is  published  for 
their  benefit  or  pleasure.  But  any  college 
paper  that  is  devoid  of  interest  to  persons 
outside  of  the  college  for  which  it  is  printed, 
proves  itself  to  be  too  narrow  and  local. 

The  papers  of  leading  colleges  of  the 
country  are  read  with  interest  by  thousands  in 
no  way  connected  with  those  colleges. 

Now,  the  question  arises,  how  can  the  In- 
dicator attain  that  enviable  position  ?  The 
question  is  easily  answered.  Let  a  portion  of 
the  articles  be  on  subjects  of  general  interest, 
and  not  all  on  little  incidents  of  the  Institute 
and  students.  Now,  it  seems  to  me  that 
Stevens  has  a  much  better  opportunity  for 
printing  a  paper  that  will  soon  be  of  wide 
reputation  than  most  any  other  institution  of 
learning.  In  the  first  place,  Stevens  ranks 
first  in  the  country  in  mechanical  engineering. 
Its  standard  is  high.  Now  there  are  a  num- 
ber of  men  in  the  Institute  who  could  write 
articles,  not  all  necessarily  on  engineering 
topics,  but  good  sound  articles  of  interest  to 
everybody.  There  are  subjects  of  practical 
interest  which  attract  the  attention  of  some  of 
us  every  day.  New  ideas  and  suggestions  are 
constantly  being  made  in  the  lecture-rooms 
and  laboratories  by  both  professors  and  stu- 
dents, and  to  gtve  all  the  benefit  of  these,  or 
at  least  to  call  their  attention  to  them  would 
undoubtedly  be  a  help  to  all  who  read  the 
paper. 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


45 


The  Indicator  evidently  has  not  received 
the  support  of  the  students  that  it  should. 
This,  of  course,  is  in  no  way  the  fault  of  the 
editors  ;  but  it  seems  to  me  that  the  attention 
of  the  students  should  be  called  to  the  fact 
that  if  all  the  work  in  preparing  matter  for 
the  paper  is  left  to  the  editors,  it  will  follow 
as  a  natural  consequence  that  it  will  be  poor. 
To  succeed  it  must  receive  the  co-operation 
of  the  students.  And  if  the  students  would 
take  the  proper  interest,  it  is  quite  possible 
that  the  members  of  the  faculty  would  be 
kind  enough  to  contribute  from  time  to  time, 
and  the  success  of  the  Indicator  would  then 
be  insured. 

And,  Messrs.  Editors,  as  a  constant  re- 
minder of  the  duties  of  all  students  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  the  Indicator,  I  would 
respectfully  suggest  that  the  Indicator  have 
a  special   department,  entitled  "  Communica- 


tions. 


Pratt,  '85. 


-^-^ 


TIME  ROLLS  ON. 


By  Swift. 


In  childhood's  days,  bright  happy  da)s, 
Too  young  to  think  of  evil  ways. 
We  tip  sweet  pleasures  as  they  fly  ; 
But  childhood  fleets  so  quickly  by, 
And  time  rolls  on. 

Youth  follows  childhood's  sunny  morn, 
Of  higher  thoughts  and  feelings  bom. 
Unfurls  the  world  full  to  our  gaze, 
And  bids  us  leap  within  its  maze, 
And  time  rolls  on. 

Now  manhood  follows  on  apace, 
And  in  the  struggle  for  the  r|ice 
We  meet  the  ups  and  downs  of  strife, 
The  victory  or  defeat  of  life. 
And  time  rolls  on. 

And  last  upon  this  earthly  stage, 
Infirm  and  bent,  behold  Old  Age  ! 
With  trembling  steps  he  gains  the  door. 
The  curtain  falls,  life's  dreams  are  o'er. 
But  time  rolls  on. 


*^  » > 


INSPECTION   TOUR  OF  THE  CLASS 

OF    '84. 


On  Tuesday,  March  11,  the  seniors  accumu- 
lated at  the  Pennsylvania  depot,  Jersey  City, 
to  start  on  their  second  inspection  tour.  A 
special  car  was  attached  to  the  8.45  a.  m. 
train  for  their  use,  and  when  assembled  here 
they  numbered  twenty-seven.  Mr.  Riesen- 
berger  was  with  them,  and  two  others  of  the 
class  were  picked  up  on  the  way.  Arriving  at 
Trenton,  the  special  car  was  switched  off,  and 


the  class  made  their  way,  through  not  a  little 
mud,  to  the  works  of  the  Trenton  Iron  Com- 
pany. 

Here  was  seen  the  complete  process  of  the 
manufacture  of  iron  wire,  from  the  rude 
charcoal  blooms  to  the  hard  finished  wire  of 
various  gauges.  The  iron  is  first  rolled  to  bar 
sizes  or  "  billets,"  then  reheated  and  passed 
back  and  forth  between  fast  running  rolls  of 
smaller  and  smaller  size,  until  it  is  reduced  to 
three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  the 
largest  size  they  draw,  or  smaller.  It  is  then 
annealed,  washed  in  dilute  sulphuric  acid  and 
dried  in  powdered  lime,  when  it  is  ready  to 
be  drawn.     This  is  done  by  pointing  an  end, 

f)assing    it    through    a    conical   shaped   hole 
from  the  larger  to  the  smaller  side)  in  a  block 
of  steel,  and  attaching  it  to  a  windlass. 

The  whole  process  is  quite  interesting,  and 
especially  the  rolling  of  the  wire,  when  it 
wiggles  about  on  the  floor  like  a  snake. 

Another  object  of  interest  at  these  works 
was  a  Corliss  engine.  This  was  intended  to 
run  with  a  piston  speed  of  about  350  feet  per 
minute,  and  is  not  a  "  fast  running  "  engine  ; 
but  greater  speed  was  required  to  drive  the 
train  at  its  proper  velocity,  and  this  engine 
was  put  in  by  Mr.  Corliss  rather  reluctantly, 
against  the  advice  of  all  builders  of  fast  run- 
ning engines.  It  has  now  been  running  for 
a  long  enough  time  to  test  its  durability,  at  a 
piston  speed  of  1,100  feet  per  minute,  and 
stands  the  wear  and  tear  admirably. 

Dinner  was  the  next  thing  on  the  pro- 
gramme. This  was  had  at  the  Trenton  House, 
from  where  the  class  proceeded  to  the  Ameri- 
can Saw  Company's  Works.  Here  their 
attention  was  especially  called  to  the  different 
kinds  of  movable  teeth  for  circular  saws,  and 
their  ways  of  fastening. 

The  Glasgow  Pottery  was  the  next  stopping 
place,  and  here  the  boys  were  shown  the 
complete  process  of  making  crockery;  the 
rough  clay  as  it  comes  from  the  earth,  the 
washing  and  separating  of  the  same  from  all 
foreign  substances,  all  the  various  ways  of 
molding  and  turning  it  into  the  required 
shapes,  the  drying  ovens,  the  baking  and 
glazing  furnaces,  and  finally,  the  decorating 
of  the  products,  all  of  which  was  exceedingly 
interesting. 

At  5.25  p.  m.  the  class  were  again  in  their 
car  and  on  their  way  to  Philadelphia,  where 
they  arrived  at  7  p.  m.  A  few  minutes'  walk 
took  them  to  the  Lafayette  Hotel,  and  here 
they  put  up  for  the  rest  of  the  week,  enjoying 
a  hearty  dinner  to  begin  with. 


46 


THE  STEVENS  INDtCATOk. 


Prof.  Denton  arrived  early  Wednesday 
morning,  and,  dividing  the  class  into  two  sec- 
tions, and  giving  one  under  the  guidance  of 
Mr.  Riesenberger,  took  the  other  to  Morris  & 
Tasker's  and  Southwark  Foundry  before  din- 
ner. The  other  section  inspected  the  same 
place,  but  in  a  reverse  order,  so  that  only 
half  of  the  class  was  at  either  place  at  one 
time. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  works  of  W.  Sellers  & 
Co.  and  the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works  were 
visited  in  the  same  manner,  each  party  having 
a  'bus  to  carry  them  from  place  to  place. 

At  Morris  &  Tasker*s  the  students  were 
shown  the  making  of  wrought  iron  steam 
pipes,  the  cutting,  threading  and  testing  of 
them,  and  the  threading  of  nipples,  elbows 
and  tees.  The  welds  in  the  smaller  pipes  are 
butt  welds,  made  by  simple  contact,  the  iron 
being  rolled  up  by  drawing  through  conical 
shaped  holes  of  smaller  and  smaller  sizes.  All 
the  work  is  done  very  rapidly,  the  men  being 
paid  by  the  piece,  and  every  contrivance  used 
to  save  labor. 

At  Southwark  Foundry  the  first  thing  to 
attract  the  students'  attention  was  a  large  pit 
planer,  in  which  the  tool  travels  instead  of  the 
work.  At  these  works  were  seen  in  process  of 
construction  the  Clerk  gas  engine  and  Porter- 
Allen  steam  engine,  and  a  description,  in  book 
form,  of  the  latter,  was  kindly  given  to  each 
student.  In  the  foundiy  was  noticed  a  very 
large  steam  travelling  crane,  which  we  believe 
is  considered  a  failure. 

On  entering  the  works  of  W.  Sellers  &  Co., 
the  first  impression  made  was  that  they 
packed  their  machines  together  like  sardines 
in  a  box.  Their  systematic  tool  room  was 
looked  into  and  admired,  after  which  the  ma- 
chines of  special  interest  were  examined. 
These  were  a  twist-drill  grinding  machine,  a 
horizontal  drill  and  boring  mill,  a  seventy-two 
inch  lathe  for  the  Calumet  and  Hecla  mines, 
and  an  automatic  gear  cutter. 

The  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works,  which 
were  next  visited,  gave  one  an  idea  that  sys- 
tem and  order  was  of  no  importance  in  loco- 
motive construction,  for  there  was  none  appa- 
rent to  a  visitor,  yet  the  students  were  told 
that  they  were  turning  out  ten  locomotives  a 
week,  and  that  their  full  capacity  was  two  a 
day.  However,  when  the  drawing  room,  which 
was  very  kindly  opened  to  inspection,  and  the 
gauge  room  were  seen,  this  idea  vanished.  In 
the  latter  place  are  kept,  in  almost  perfect  con- 
dition, great  numbers  of  gauges  for  all  such 
parts  of  a  locomotive  as  can  be  made  standard 


and  interchangable.  The  works,  taken  as  a 
whole,  seem  like  a  young  world. 

Thursday  morning  the  class  went  to  the 
Midvale  Steel  W^orks,  at  Nicetown.  Here 
was  seen  the  manufacture  of  steel  by  the  open 
hearth  or  Siemens-Martin  process,  with  the 
use  of  gas  fuel.  A  very  interesting  process 
was  that  of  the  making  of  driving  wheel  tires  ; 
the  hammering  oi  the  bloom,  or  ingot,  the 
punching,  rehammering  into  rough  form  and 
final  rolling. 

Returning  from  the  Midvale  Works,  the 
students  stopped  at  the  Harrison  Boiler  Works, 
where  they  saw  the  moulding,  which  is  done 
entirely  with  green  sand,  grinding  and  testing 
of  the  units  of  that  boiler,  as  well  as  a  glass 
model  of  the  Babcock  &  Wilcox  boiler,  show- 
ing, on  a  small  scale,  the  circulation  of  the 
water. 

In  the  afternoon  the  Schleicher,  Schlumm 
&  Co.'s  Gas  Engine  Works  were  visited,  where 
the  Otto  gas  engines  are  built.  Here  one 
would  notice  immediately  the  exceptional 
cleanliness  of  the  interior,  as  also  the  neat, 
fresh  appearance  of  the  exterior  of  the  build- 
ings, and  that  order  and  system  reigned  su- 
preme. The  Otto  gas  engine  is  used  here 
exclusively  for  power. 

In  the  evening  Pi  of.  Denton  returned  to 
Hoboken,  leaving  the  class  in  charge  of  Messrs. 
Carr  and  Riesenberger,  the  former  of  whom 
joined  the  party  at  about  that  time.  The  fol- 
lowing programme  was  then  laid  out  for  the 
two  remaining  days. 

Friday  a.  m. 
J.  Roach  &  Sons Chester. 

Friday  p.  m. 

1.  P.  Morris  &  Co.'s Philadelpha. 

Cramp  &  Son's 

Saturday   a.  m. 
Edgemoor  Iron  Works - Edgemoor. 

•  Saturday  p.  m. 

Pusey  &  Jones Wilmington. 

Harlan  &  Hollingsworth's " 

J.  Morton  Poole 

Owing  to  the  very  disagreeable  and  rainy 
weather  Friday  morning,  and  hopes  of  its 
clearing  later,  the  proposed  afternoon  trip  was 
taken  in  the  morning,  and  vice  versa, 

A  long  and  crowded  street  car  ride  took  the 
boys  to  L  P.  Morris  &  Co.'s.  Here  was  being 
done  considerable  work  for  the  Calumet  and 
Hecla  mines,  among  which  were  a  new  set  of 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


M 


valves  for  a  Lcavitt  pumping  engine,  four  hoist- 
ing drums  each,  20  ft.  4  in.  in  diam.,  by  8  ft. 
3  in.  long,  and  which  will  carry  each  4,000  ft. 
of  1 4  in.  wire  rope,  and  heavy  stamping  ma- 
chinery. Other  things  of  interest  were  marine 
engines  being  built  for  Cramp  &  Sons,  the 
light  house  for  Mosquito  Inlet,  Florida,  and 
one  of  the  first  steam  engines  ever  built.  This 
latter  was  a  grass-hopper  engine,  built  in  1804 
by  Oliver  Evans,  and  is  now  running  very 
smoothly,  needing  little  repairs. 

From  I.  P.  Morris  &  Co.'s  the  boys  went  to 
the  Cramp  ship  yards,  where  four  or  five 
ships  were  on  the  ways  in  process  of  construc- 
tion. The  machine  shop  was  visited,  where 
some  heavy  marine  engines  were  seen  in  all 
stages  of  completion,  and  a  student  was  forced 
to  remark  that  the  place  was  cramped.  The 
mold  loft  was  visited  and  the  method  of  lay- 
ing down  ships  was  explained  by  the  foreman. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  ship  yards  at  Chesler 
were  inspected,  and  here  the  method  of  put- 
ting a  ship  together  was  looked  into,  as  there 
was  one  on  the  ways  very  nearly  ready  to 
launch.  The  monitor,  Puritan,  being  launched 
and  ready  for  her  boilers  and  engines,  was 
also  in  \  ery  good  condition  for  inspection. 

Saturday  morning,  the  class  left  Philadel- 
phia for  Edgemoor  and  Wilmington.  At  the 
former  place  were  visited  the  Edgemoor  Iron 
Works,  of  \V.  Sellers  &  Co.,  bridge  builders. 
A  stry  noticable  feature  of  these  works  was 
the  use  of  hydraulic  pressure  for  forging,  riv- 
eting, etc.,  as  well  as  in  hoisting-cranes.  The 
Galloway  boiler  was  seen  in  various  stages  of 
completion,  this  being  the  only  work  done 
here  except  bridge  building  and  the  like. 

On  arriving  at  Wilmington,  the  first  works 
inspected  were  those  of  Pusey  &  Jones,  which 
were  engaged  in  building  light  draught  steam- 
ers for  the  South  American  Republics,  as  also 
some  general  work,  including  paper  machinery 
and  the  Clerk  gas  engine. 

After  this  the  boys  had  their  dinner.  Yes, 
and  it  was  a  dinner  fit  for  a  king,  so  that  they 
had  to  go  somewhere  else  for  supper,  fearing 
another  such  meal  would  unfit  them  for  or- 
dinary living. 

In  the  afternoon  the  class  went  to  Harlan  & 
Rollings  worth's,  where  there  were  seen  build- 
ing yachts  for  W.  W.  Astor  and  Elbridge 
Gerry.  A  very  noticable  feature  was  the  ar- 
rangement of  offices  and  drawing  rooms.  In 
the  car  shop,  among  many  others,  was  a  car 
for  the  President  of  the  Argentine  Republic, 
probably  the  most  handsome  one  ever  built. 
There  was  also  being  built  a  vessel  for  the 


Cornell  Line,  having  a  screw  propellor,  which 
is  to  run  between  New  York  and  Rondout. 

The  works  of  J.  Morton  Poole  were  the 
last  to  be  visited,  and  here  was  seen  the  manu- 
facture of  paper  and  flour  making  machinery. 

After  supper  there  remained  a  short  time 
before  the  arrival  of  our  train,  and  this  was 
spent  very  pleasantly  by  the  boys  at  the  de- 
pot, singing  and  fooling  as  only  students  know 
how. 

The  singing  attracted  a  very  large  audience, 
and  on  leaving,  the  Stevens  cheer  was  given 
from  the  car. 


A  COLLEGE   PIN. 


P>om  the  nature  of  our  college  and  of  the 
class  of  subjects  taught  here,  the  number  of 
students  we  graduate  is  necessarily  small. 
And,  unlike  the  great  universities,  whose 
alumni  form  prosperous  associations  in  all 
the  cities  of  importance  in  the  country,  for  the 
continuation  of  college  fellowship  and  the  in- 
troduction of  the  older  to  the  more  recent 
graduates,  we  have  no  way  to  become  ac- 
quainted with  those  men  who  graduate  after 
us,  and  so  are  liable  to  break  up  all  of  our  old 
college  associations.  Would  it  not  then  be 
well  for  us  to  adopt  the  custom  prevailing  at 
the  Columbia  School  of  Mines  and  other  sci- 
entific institutions  of  wearing  a  college  pin  or 
emblem,  something  that  would  indicate  at 
once  a  member  of  **  Old  Stevens."  Let  it  be 
something  plain,  but  characteristic  ;  not  too 
expensive,  so  those  of  our  men  least  favored 
by  fortune  may  be  able  to  wear  one.  Let  it 
be  of  mechanical  design,  a  gear  or  a  pulley, 
for  instance,,  and,  like  the  School  of  Mines, 
crossed  hammers  to  her  men.  We  may  have 
ever  with  us  a  remembrance  of  our  college 
days. 


-»-♦♦-•- 


HOW  WE  GET  OUR  MAIL. 


"  Did  anybody  ask  you  to  bring  that  letter 
to  me  ?"  "  No."  "  Well,  why  under  the  sun 
don't  you  let  it  alone  where  it  belongs  ;  here 
I've  been  running  all  over  the  building  look- 
ing for  that  letter,  which  ought  to  have  been 
left  down  stairs  along  with  the  rest  of  the  mail. 
Of  course  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for 
your  kindness  in  looking  after  my  interest,  but 
rd  rather  you  would  let  it  alone  altogether. 
Say,  don't  you  go  away  mad.  Well,  if  you 
,  go  on. 


48 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


"  Now  there  goes  that  fellow  just  about  as 
angry  as  he  can  be,  just  because  I  tell  him 
that  he  ought  to  allow  my  letters  to  remain  in 
the  post  office  where  I  can  always  find  them. 
I  don't  see  what  some  fellows  can  be  thinking 
of,  to  take  all  the  trouble  on  themselves  to 
collect  another  man's  mail  and  then  start  to 
deliver  it  to  him  in  some  distant  part  of  the 
college,  when  in  all  probability  the  owner  is 
just  coming  to  look  and  see  if  he  is  fortunate 
enough  to  get  any  letters.  When  he  gets  in 
the  office  some  one  says  :  *  There  was  a  letter 
here  for  you,  but  so  and  so  has  it.'  Then  you 
start  off  to  find  the  wretch,  only  to  find  that 
you  are  just  missing  each  other — that  you  ar- 
rive in  a  room  just  in  time  to  discover  that  he 
has  gone  out,  he  with  an  act  of  mistaken 
kindness  and  you  with  a  strong  desire  to  ex- 
press your  opinion  of  some  meddlesome  stu- 
dents."    "  Must  I  be  my  enemy's  postman  ?" 


COMMENCEMENT  WEEK. 


The  committee  appointed  by  the  Class  of 
'84  to  arrange  a  programme  for  the  exercises 
of  Commencement  Week,  presented  a  report 
at  a  class  meeting,  Thursday,  March  27.  This 
was  accepted  by  sections,  as  presented,  and  a 
synopsis  is  given  below. 

Sunday,  June  8.— Baccalaureate  Sermon  at 
Trinity  Church,  Hoboken. 

Tuesday,  June  10. — Class  Day  Exercises  at 
the  Institute. 

Wednesday,  June  11. — Class  Dinner. 

The  Class  Day  will  be  devoted  to  the  regu- 
lar Class  Day  Exercises,  the  following  officers 
being  elected  by  the  Class: 

Chairman  and  Toastmaster^  E.  B.  Ren  wick. 

Historian^  F.  Van  Vleck. 

Poet^  E.  H.  Foster. 

Prophet^  WiLLARD  S.  Tuttle. 

The  Commencement  will  be  held  at  the 
First  M.  E.  Church,  Hoboken. 

C.  F.  Parker  was  elected  Salutatorian^  and 
H.  R.  Re  A,  Valedictorian. 


« ^» » 


FACULTY  INDICATORS. 


Look  you  !  Who  is  it  that  is  guilty  of  such 
a  crime  ?  A  scrap  of  paper  found  its  way  in- 
to the  editorial  sanctum,  and  on  it  was  written 
the  following  death  warrant : 

FACULTY    INDICATORS. 

Learning  to  preside  with  more  tone. 


An  insight  into  physics  becoming  mair  and 
mair, 

A  never-resting  thirst  on  for  knowledge. 

A  versed  sign  strongly  posted  on  enduring 
wood. 

Skill  to  make  orderly,  artistic  drawings. 

Taking  the  leads  in  chemistry  and  sanitary 
investigations. 

A  conversance  with  the  recondite  se-cret  of 
language. 

A  wall  filled  with  Belles-lettres. 

Accurate  and  confident  on  mechanical  work. 

Mechanical  drawing  illustrated  by  a  trans- 
lated gi/lnt  mountaineer. 

The  ocean  traversed  with  the  triumphal  car 
of  Stevens. 

Following  the  electric  currents  under  the 
wing  of  the  llama-geyer. 


« #  » » 


WILL  THE  FUTURE  SEE  LADIES  IN 

STEVENS  ? 


Not  long  ago,  while  spending  the  evening 
at  the  house  of  a  friend,  a  young  lady  asked 
me  if  Stevens  was  likely  to  follow  the  lead  of 
other  colleges  and  admit  ladies.  At  first  the 
question  startled  me,  but  I  soon  ceased  to 
trouble  myself  about  it,  as  a  question  too  ab- 
struse for  a  Freshman,  and  open  to  too  much 
prejudice  for  a  Senior. 

About  two  weeks  ago  I  had  returned  from 
the  college,  and  after  cramming  tasks  for  the 
next  day,  retired  to  rest.  I  was  much  wearied 
in  mind  and  body,  and  not  on  very  good  terms 
with  myself,  for  I  had  flunked  again  in  math.; 
and  so  for  a  time  could  not  obtain  the  needed 
repose. 

At  last  I  fell  into  a  deep  sleep  ;  a  sound  of 
hammers,  the  rasping  of  files,  the  roar  of 
steam  awoke  me,  and  I  found  myself  in  what 
seemed  to  be  a  vast  building  with  vaulted 
dome — this  I  judged  from  the  sound  of  echoes 
— for  it  was  dark,  dark  into  very  blackness. 
But  how  was  this  ">  I  felt  old,  my  days  in 
college  seemed  ages  in  the  past,  and  when  out 
of  the  darkness  came  a  sighing  sound  of  words, 
and  I  at  last  distinguished,  "  Future  days  at 
Stevens,"  the  words  at  first  conveyed  no 
sense  to  me,  but  after  a  time  early  recollec- 
tions began  to  flood  my  mind,  and  as  old 
things  grew  familiar  again  the  black  darkness 
began  to  lift,  and  soon  I  could  see  all  about 
me.  I  was  in  a  great  workshop;  far  into  the  dis- 
tance extended  the  rows  of  workers.  But  wait. 
Who  are  these  at  the  great  lathes,  at  the 
vise  benches  and  the  planing  machines  ?     Am 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


49 


(t 


(i 


I  deceived,  or  are  they  ladies  ?   They  must  be, 
for  no  man  at  Stevens  ever  wore  curls,  and  the 
costumes,  too,  are  more  tasty  than  of  yore. 
Yes,"  the  ghostly  whisper  answers  in  my  ear, 
they  are  ladies."    A  fair  form  passes  near 
me,  and  one  of  the  workers  at  the  bench  ad- 
dresses  her  as  Professor,  and  I  see  from  a 
badge  displayed  on  her  neck  that  she  is  an 
M.  E.     But  where  are  the  men — where  are 
those  overalls,  those  natty  caps,  those  flannel 
shirts — are  they  gone  ?     I  wander  to  and  fro 
in  the  hope  of  meeting  a  male  student.     The 
Freshman  class  is  coming  out  of  a  lecture.     I 
get  into  a  corner  of  the  hall  and  watch  them. 
They  are  all  ladies,  every  one  of  them.     They 
make  a  pretty  sight,  I  must  admit,  and  they 
certainly  do  not  jostle  and  push  one  another 
as  the  former  Freshman  were  wont  to  do.  The 
halls   are   filled   with   jaunty   costumes,    and 
among  a  crowd  of  others,  a  bloomer  dress, 
beautiful  to  behold  ;  a  dress  of  bronze  hue, 
coming  to  below  the  knees,  and  stockings  of 
black  ;  a  cap  of  dull  red  completes^  this  cos- 
tume, and  as  the  wearer  turns  away,  I  notice 
the  word  Indicator  on  the  band  of  the  little 
cap.     Then,  these  are  the  present  students  of 
Stevens,  and  this  crowd  of  charming  girls  in 
gowns  of  such  delightful  shades  of  colors,  will 
soon  be  M.  E*.s.    My  head  reels  and  my  brain 
grows  dizzy,  but  I   determine   to  make  one 
more  effort  to  obtain  sight  of  a  man  in  Stevens. 
I  ask  the  way  to  the  President's  office  of  a 
little  girl,  who  is  dressed  like  an  ancient  page. 
Arriving  at  the  office,  which  is  at  the  end  of  a 
lofty  marble  wainscotted  hall,  I  ring  a  bell  by 
pulling  a  silken  cord.     I  am  admitted  and  find 
myself  standing  at  the  threshold  of  a  beautiful 
room  ;  hangings  of  mixed  silk  with  rugs,  which 
must  have  surely  been  made  in  the  land  of  the 
white  elephant,  with  rare  pictures  on  the  walls 
of  oak,  give  an  air  of  culture  and  refinement 
to  the  room  which  could  not  have  been  pro- 
duced by  man  alone.     As  I  make  these  obser- 
vations, a  lady  rises  with   much  dignity  and 
comes  toward  me.     Then  in  a  low  and  sympa- 
thetic voice,  asks  me  "who -I  wish  to  see?" 
I  answer,  "The  President  of  Stevens  College, 
should  he  be  at  liberty  to  see  me."     For  a  mo- 
ment the  silence  is  only  broken  by  the  distant 
throb    of    the    engine,    and    then  the    lady, 
making  an  inclination  of  the  head,  informs  me 
with  ^  slightly  annoyed  appearance  that  the 
President  is  a  lady  and  that  she  stands  before 
me  at  my  service.     I  murmur  some  excuse 
for  my  visit  and  retire,  pass  with  a  sorrowful 
heart  along   the   wide    halls   and   down   the 
marble  steps.     As  I  leave  the  gate  of  the  In- 


stitute, I  turn  a  longing  glance  backward  and 
see  a  game  of  foot-ball  on  the  green.  They 
form  more  quickly,  and  I  am  at  first  tempted 
to  believe  that  they  must  be  the  male  students 
of  Stevens  ;  but  a  girlish  burst  of  sweet  laugh- 
ter convinces  me,  and  I  turn  away,  my  mind 
filled  with  the  sights  that  I  have  just  seen.  I 
walk  a  few  blocks,  when  meeting  nobody  but 
lady  students  in  every  variety  of  pretty  cos- 
tumes, I  begin  to  feel  faint.  My  head  grows 
dizzy  and  I  stumble,  fall,  and  everything 
grows  dark  around  me.  While  darkness  is 
closmg  in  upon  me,  the  weird  whisper  is  again 
on  the  air.  Although  almost  unconscious,  I 
am  able  to  distinguish  the  words,  "Reform,  ye 
students  of  Stevens,  reform; cease  your  throw- 
ings  of  chalk,  your  flunks,  your  carelessness 
in  shop  work,  or  your  days  are  numbered,  and 
the  Stevens  of  the  present  shall  pass  away  and 
be  no  more." 

BOECUM. 


-^-4- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT. 


It  was  a  regular  winter's  day,  although  a 
very  pleasant  one  ;  the  air  being  bright  and 
clear,  bringing  the  rosy  glow  of  health  to  the 
cheeks  of  the  preps  as  they  played  the  several 
boisterous  and  outdoor  games  known  only  to 
prepdom.  All  were  not  playing  in  the  games; 
some  of  the  older  and  larger  ones  were  amus- 
ing themselves  with  snowballing  the  Stevens' 
students  as  they  went  to  and  from  the  college 
building  ;  only  those  who  have  to  run  the 
gauntlet  of  about  thirty  preps,  throwing  snow- 
balls with  might  and  main,  can  tell  what  fun 
it  is. 

As  we  looked  out  of  our  window  we  used  to 
see  a  large  lot  of  ground  which  went  under 
the  familiar  name  of  "  Campus,"  and  every 
fine  afternoon  might  be  seen  a  number  of 
preps  enjoying  themselves  —  yes,  enjoying 
themselves,  even  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
Stevens  men,  to  whom  we  thought  the  first 
preference  should  be  given  ;  however,  the 
preps  always  took  possession  of  the  ground, 
and  often  of  the  football,  which,  of  course, 
belonged  to  Stevens  ;  there  used  to  be  a  small 
frame  building  right  alongside  of  the  high 
school,  formerly  an  observatory  ;  this  and  a 
pretty  cottage  occupying  the  N.  E.  corner  of  the 
block,  together  with  the  Institute,  were  all  the 
buildings  on  the  block.  Now  all  is  changed  ; 
as  we  look  out  of  our  window  we  see  a  hand- 
some building  about  one  hundred  feet  long 
and  by  about  fifty  wide  ;  this  building  is  re- 


5<^ 


THE  S  TE  VEMS  iMDtCA  TOR. 


ally  a  great  improvement  to  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  the  block  ;  it  looks  as  though  the 
students  and  their  friends  had  found  out  that 
they  really  needed  something,  and  had  gone 
to  work  with  an  earnest  will  and  built  it. 

From  the  great  improvement  in  the  physi- 
cal appearance  and  carriage  of  my  student 
friends,  I  really  think  the  new  building  must 
be  a  gymnasium,  and  certainly  if  the  changed 
appearance  is  one  of  the  effects  of  the  gym- 
nasium, I  wonder  why  it  was  not  thought  of 
before.  The  students  seem  to  appreciate  it 
very  much,  for  I  notice  a  constant  stream  of 
them  coming  and  going  every  afternoon.  From 
my  open  window  (for  it  is  now  Indian  sum- 
mer) I  can  see  quick  agile  forms  jumping  and 
moving  past  the  gymnasium  windows  like  a 
panorama,  every  man  doing  something ;  but 
what  is  that  crowd  collecting  in  one  end  of 
the  spacious  hall  for?  Hark!  just  keep  still  a 
moment!  What  is  that  shout  ?  Listen  !  Hurrah! 
Hurrah!     Hurrah!     S-t-e-v-e-n-s.     Wlakie  ! 

Em. 


-♦-♦■ 


A  NIGHT'S  EXPERIENCE. 


You  ask  for  one  of  my  experiences  in  my 
profession  as  a  physician.  Well,  Til  tell  you 
my  latest.  I  was  called  at  an  early  hour  one 
morning  last  week  in  a  great  hurry.  The 
messenger  said  I  must  come  immediately,  as 
they  had  delayed  sending  for  a  physician  un- 
til the  last  moment,  as  is  usual,  and  now  feared 
that  they  had  delayed  too  long.  Of  course  I 
hurried  ;  and  when  we  arrived  at  the  house  I 
found  a  young  man  apparently  out  of  his 
mind  ;  he  seemed  to  want  to  get  out  of  his 
bed  and  go  somewhere,  as  though  he  had  but 
little  time  to  get  to  his  destination.  His  room 
mate  had  done  his  best  to  pacify  him,  but  ap- 
parently to  no  purpose.  **  I  must  go,"  he 
said  ;  "  I  have  but  a  few  minutes  left,  and  to 
be  marked  late  is  equivalent  to  a  failure  in  his 
department.  Oh  !  how  can  I  ever  remember  all 
this  ?  Say,  Tom,  what  kind  of  shoes  did 
Burns  wear  ?  I  think  the  book  says,  don't  it  ? 
It  speaks  of  his  shirt  and  collar  anyhow,  I  am 
sure.  Come,  be  quick,  tell  me  did  he  have 
high  or  low  shoes  ?  Hurry  up  or  I  shall  for- 
get. Oh,  my  head  !  I  wish  some  of  these 
men  had  died  before  they  were  bom.  Oh,  no! 
I  didn't  mean  that.  See,  here  they  come,  all 
inimitable,  all  kings,  everyone  a  despot  come 
here  to  mock  me.  Are  there  no  second  rate 
fiends  among  them  ?  Yes,  there  is  one,  but 
what  is  all  that  commotion  ?  They  are  all  try- 


ing to  kill  that  one  poor  unfortunate  fiend,  .so 
that  they  may  reign  supreme,  and  have  no 
fiends  inferior  to  themselves  in  their  kingdom. 
See  !  they  are  coming  this  way,  but  what  for  ? 
Surely  they  can  have  no  business  with  us,  but 
they  are  coming  nearer  ;  will  no  one  help  me  ? 
What  have  I  done  to  merit  this  punishment  ? 
They  have  been  beating  me  on  the  head  for 
the  past  hour,  each  one  taking  his  whack  in 
turn,  until  my  head  aches  terribly.  These  in- 
imitable fiends  are  coming  nearer  !  I  feel 
their  hot  breath  scorching  me  with  their 
passion.  Help  !  help  !"  Here  my  patient 
awoke,  for  he  had  simply  been  dreaming  of 
his  lesson  in  literature. 

Em. 


*^»-» 


CRAMBO   VERSES. 


A  few  years  ago  a  party  of  friends  managed 
to  get  a  good  deal  of  amusement  out  of  an  ex- 
ercise they  called  "crambo  verses."  Each  one 
had  assigned  to  him  some  subject  on  which  to 
compose  a  poem,  in  the  course  of  which  he 
must  rhyme  some  difficult  word,  which  was 
also  assigned.  The  word  was  generally  so 
chosen  that  it  was  difficult  to  establish  any  re- 
lation between  it  and  the  subject  of  the  verses. 
At  the  next  meeting  the  verses  were  read  and 
discussed.  The  result  was  generally  a  very 
pleasant  evenings  entertainment. 

The  following  is  a  specimen.  The  word  to  be 
rhymed  was  "  synchronism,"  and  the  subject 

•'IS   LIFE   WORTH    LIVING?'* 

You  ask  :  is  it  worth  while  to  live? 

Well,  that  depends  on  whether  you 
Are  cheerful  or  inclined  to  grieve, 

And  whether  things  look  roseate  or  blue. 

Sunshine  or  clouds,  and  rain  or  drouth 
Make  little  odds  ;   nor  age  of  moon  ; 

Nor  if  the  Fates  at  birth  put  in  your  mouth 
A  wooden  ladle  or  a  silver  spoon. 

Let  me  a  secret  to  the  world  impart ; 

Devote  yourself  to  optimism. 
And  then  establish  with  some  other  heart 

An  ardent  case  of  perfect  synchronism. 


«  ^  »  » 


ri^BrGfl5P0R  CflRQ. 

We  would  like  to  know  for  what  purpose 
the  new  style  of — well,  the  label  on  the  box 
says  crayon,  was  introduced  into  the  mathe- 
matical room  ?  If  it  was  to  test  the  amount 
of  wear  and  tear  that  a  piece  of  diabolically 
compressed  calcium  carbonate,  with  an  enor- 
mous overcharge  of  pulverized  carbon,  and 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


5» 


tempered  so  that  it  is  warped  into  a  helicoid, 
would  stand,  it  has  been  a  success,  for  it  has 
been  voted  unanimously  that  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  detract  from  the  original  piece  in 
hand  even  the  slightest  amount  of  its  com- 
ponent parts,  much  less  enough  to  make  a 
mark  on  a  plaster  wall  of  an  equal  degree  of 
hardness. 

9 

If  it  was  to  show  the  high  moral  status  of 
the  Sophomore  class,  in  regard  to  profanity,  it 
has  dismally  failed  in  its  search,  for,  at  any 
time  during  which  the  above  mentioned,  very 
much  abused  class  had  possession  of  the  room, 
any  man,  who  was  not  hopelessly  deaf,  might 
have  heard  innumerable  quotations,  which  his 
instinct  would  teach  him  were  not  from  the 
Bible  or  a  hymn  book.  The  best  crayons  that 
we  ever  used  in  this  place  came  from  the  room 
in  which  languages  are  taught.  If  it  is  not 
asking  too  much,  it  would  certainly  be  a  great 
boon  to  many  of  us  to  make  a  change  in  this 
particular  direction.  Em. 


4  ^  »   » 


SIPUFFI^G  B6X. 

Alden.    Why  is  it  thusly? 

Wanted. — An  ode  on  Spring — see  fighting 
editor. 

For  High  Tragedy — Method  of  Limits  and 
such  like,  see  '85. 

College    reopens   Monday,  April  21.     Stu- 
dents, take  notice. 

Our  next  class  of  M.  E.'s  will  graduate  in 
the  M.  E.  Church. 


^  "Bone,"     "bust,"   "  bilge  "  —  "  boot-lick," 
"gouge,"  graduate. 

Senior  talent  ought  to  find  its  way  into  the 
Indicator  ;  but  it  don't. 

How  did  you  get  through,  eh  ?  Oh,  excuse 
me,  too  bad.     I*m  sorry  for  you. 

'86,  brace  up — fen  throwing  chalk,  fen  "col- 
lectin*  in  groups,"  fen  everything. 

Junior  Ball — Where  ? 
Entertainment — When  "> 
Gymnasium  ? — Both. 

Mysterious  disappearance  —  a  member  of 
'86  left  suddenly — no  clue  save  the  mournful 
tale  of  a  lonely  maiden,  she  got  left. 

A  professor,  previous  to  examination  week, 
stated  to  the  class  :  "  Gentlemen,  the  next 
recitation  will  be  an  examination." 


The  class  of  '86  testified  their  approbation 
of  the  faculty's  decision  in  the  case  of  one  of 
their  number  by  a  soul-stirring  cheer. 

The  diligent  student  works  hard  and  long 
Before  he  concludes  that 

Rankine  is  wrong. 

Stevens  does  take  the  cake  for  starting  new 
schemes  and  ideas — a  freshman  has  now  un- 
dertaken the  organization  of  a  drum-*V^r/j^." 

Prof.  Wood  delivered  the  address  at  the 
Commencement  exercises  of  the  Hoboken 
High  School  on  Wednesday  evening,  March 
26. 

The  Preps,  have  had  a  raise — they  rusticate 
now  in  the  drawing  rooms— the  comers  of  the 
cases  in  the  library  having  become  slippery  by 
too  much  usage. 

An  alumnus  writes  encouragingly  to  us, 
brightening  our  shattered  hopes  with  the 
cheering  news  "that  there  is  talent  in  the 
Board."     Hoorah  ! 

Spring  sports  and  spring  generally  come  at 
the  same  time;  if  Stevens  doesn't  do  something 
shortly  we  will  have  to  have  the  sports  without 
the  spring  accompaniment. 

A  student  has  Nos.  2,  3,  7  and  9  of  the 
Eccentric^  which  he  will  sell.  Information 
concerning  this  and  like  notices  may  be  ob- 
tained of  C.  R.  Collins,  'Zd. 

In  connection  with  the  late  dynamite  con- 
spiracies, we  might  mention,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  authorities,  that  a  Sophomore  is  going 
about  with  a  razor  in  his  boot. 

The  "  bearded  man "  from  '87,  when  not 
hungry,  eats  for  his  breakfast  two  bowls  of 
oatmeal,  some  meat,  two  eggs,  fifteen  griddle- 
cakes,  and  drinks  coffee  to  fill  up  on. 

Trenton  Porcelain  Works — Senior — trip- 
ping upstairs — purpose  unknown — after  class 
have  left — familiarly  to  his  departing  class- 
mates—a Tra,  la,  lu.  Quick  response  from 
over  head,  "I  see  you." — Exit  Senior  (six  steps 
at  a  time.) 

Freshmen  will  please  understand  that  it  is 
the  proper  thing  to  remove  their  hats  when  in 
the  drawing  room,  as  well  as  when  at  a  recitation 
or  lecture.  Some  of  them  have  actually  been 
noticed  talking  to  the  professor  with  their 
hats  on. 

One  of  Hoboken's  "Finest " — on  the  night 
of  the  candle  factory  fire  —  raising  his  hel- 
met far  enough  above  his  eyes  to  see,  soli- 


L 


52 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


loquized  thusly  :  "  Sure,  thar  must  be  some 
comboostable  material  over  there  or  else  it 
couldn't  burn." 

Something  to  take  the  place  of  embroidered 
hat  bands,  tennis  caps,  etc.,  is  a  neat  order  of 
hand  bag  for  books.  Get  your  best  girl  to 
make  you  one.  Mr.  Kletzsch  is  having  one 
made — the  design  and  general  style  can  be 
noted  after  "  she  '*  has  finished  it. 

Some  of  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Hoboken 
displayed  the  national  flags  of  Germany  and 
United  States  on  the  Kaiser's  birthday — the 
American  flag  in  one  instance  was  hoisted  up- 
side down — probably  done  so  in  deference  to 
Bismark  and  the  pigmeat  question. 

A  Sophomore  when  asked  by  a  Professor 
when  he  could  best  spare  time  for  some  private 
work,  carelessly  suggested  "anytime,"  and  yet 
we  complain  of  over-work.  Consistency  — 
where,  oh,  where  ;  but  never  mind,  we  do  have 
hard  work  and  plenty  of  it,  notwithstanding. 

The  class  of  '85  have  presented  to  the 
library  a  copy  of  "  Fresenius'  Quantitative 
Analysis" — this  will  be  a  valuable  addition, 
but  it  will  occasion  some  inconvenience,  as 
the  next  "  Catalogue "  of  the  library  is  in 
{grGat)  presSj  but  a  little  delay  won't  matter. 

Owing  to  failure  in  getting  railroad  passes 
soon  enough,  the  second  trip  of  the  Senior 
class,  which  was  to  commence  Wednesday, 
March  5,  and  take  in  Trenton,  Philadelphia, 
Chester  and  Wilmington,  as  stated  in  the 
February  Indicator,  was  postponed  from 
that  date  to  Tuesday,  March  11. 

The  "  Stevens  Lacrosse  Team,"  though  doing 
remarkably  well  as  beginners,  have  not  gained 
sufficient  skill  to  engage  in  match  games, — as 
yet.  The  other  afternoon's  work  of  the  Team 
vs.  Neighboring  windows,  was  a  complete 
walk-over  for  the  latter,  although  they  were 
badly  broken  up  by  the  operation. 

It  is  said  that  brass  is  one  of  the  necessaries 
in  the  make  up  of  a  successful  editor.  The 
Indicator  Board  will  surely  then  always  be 
a  success,  it  takes  about  a  pound  and  a  half 
of  brass  to  reach  the  editorial  sanctum,  in  the 
shape  of  keys  whose  designs  would  compare 
well  with  the  keys  of  some  ancient  county  jail. 

Some  one  says,  the  study  of  the  German 
language  is  like  unto  the  majestic  flow  of  a 
great  river — beautiful,  melodious  and  power- 
ful.  We  object  to  the  beauty  and  melody,  but 


as  to  the  power  of  the  German  lingo,  we 
agree — for  whether  you  jump  into  the  river 
or  attempt  to  study  Deutsch,  the  end  is  in- 
evitable. 

Fearing  the  surplus  in  the  Editorial  Treas- 
ury will  be  small,  and  in  view  of  the  Annual 
"  Toot "  of  the  Board,  which  will  begin  shortly 
after  Commencement,  contributions  can  be 
handed  to  the  business  editor  who  also  occu- 
pies the  post  of  fighting  editor.  Those  con- 
tributing may  enjoy  the  privilege  of  having 
their  names  printed — if  so  desired. 

The  chalk  in  Prof.  Wood's  room  is  fast 
ruining  the  students.  Three  quarters  of  the 
hour  is  taken  up  in  wishing  that  either  the 
chalk  or  yourself  were  somewhere  where  black- 
boards are  not  used,  and  then  the  remaining 
quarter  is  too  short  notice  for  your  neighbor 
to  study  your  problem — so,  you  flunk — it  is 
demoralizing — do  let  us  have  some  good  chalk. 

Professor  and  Mrs.  Leed's  reception  to 
the  Sophomore  class,  on  March  12,  was  an 
occasion  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  the  class. 
They  continued  their  revelries  after  the  recep- 
tion by  escorting  some  of  their  number  to  the 
ferry ;  returning,  they  encouraged  undue 
familiarity  with  the  Hoboken  "peeler,"  and 
came  near  being  called  to  attend  another  sort 
of  reception. 

Advices  from  trustworthy  sources  state  the 
favorable  progress  of  negotiations  between  the 
U.  S.  Government  and  the  H.  L.  &  I.  Co., 
for  the  purchase  of  two  of  the  company's 
waterproof  fleet,  for  war  purposes.  It  is  sup- 
posed they  are  to  be  loaned  to  the  English, 
to  further  British  interest  among  the  followers 
of  the  False  Prophet.  The  two  boats  which 
are  to  be  sold,  known  to  us  as  the  "  James 
Rumsey "  and  "  Weehawken,"  will,  in  addi- 
tion to  an  extra  coat  of  paint,  for  protection 
against  the  "  slings  and  arrows  "  of  the  bar- 
barians, be  christened  anew  as  the  "  Speed- 
well"  and  "Thunderer,"  respectively — their 
mission  is  to  float  (if  able)  about  Egypt,  and 
astonish  the  natives  into  submission. 

On  March  10  our  Glee  Club  showed  what 
progress  they  have  been  making  by  giving  a 
public  rehearsal  in  Prof.  Wall's  room.  It 
might  be  said  for  the  enlightenment  of  some 
of  our  Alumni,  that  this  room  has  been  some- 
what enlarged  since  they  used  to  occupy  it. 
yet  it  was  almost  completely  filled  with  stu- 
dents and  professors,  so  great  was  the  interest 
taken  in  the  singers,  and  all  present  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  music  heartily.      The  Glee  Club 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


S3 


must  indeed  be  commended  for  their  success, 
and,  above  all,  our  praise  and  thanks  are  due 
to  Brainard,  '84,  their  leader,  who  has  pushed 
this  matter  ahead,  even  from  his  Freshman 
year.  Besides  training  the  boys  in  their  sev- 
eral parts,  he  sings  either  tenor  part,  as  is 
necessary,  and  also  yodels.  This  he  does  very 
well,  and  the  two  pieces  in  which  he  favored 
us  were  both  encored.  The  other  members 
also  take  their  parts  well.     They  are  : 

First  Tenors. \  S'^i^f*'  '\ 

\  McElroy,  87 

Second  Tenors \  w^^^j^^^^',3 

(  Morton,  86 

First  Basses \  Jho^as,  '84 

\  Bu  shorn,    85 

Second  Basses i  ?>r"  t^^^*  \ 

(  McLean,    85 

The  programme  consisted  of  a  dozen  well 
chosen  pieces. 

If  there  is  any  student  who  would  like  to 
join  our  Glee  Club,  he  would  do  well  to  notify 
Brainard,  '84,  of  the  fact,  for  the  latter  is  look- 
ing for  more  singers. 

•'76. 

William  Diehl  is  Demonstrator  with  Den- 
tal Clinic  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

'77. 

Franklin  Van  Winkle  has  patented  a 
new  form  of  transmitting  dynamometer,  which 
will  be  manufactured  by  the  Edson  Recording 
Gauge  Co.,  Liberty  street.  New  York,  with 
which  he  is  connected. 

'78. 

0.  C.  Gsantner,  Cadet  Engineer,  U.  S.  N., 
is  now  on  a  two  years'  cruise  on  the  U.  S.  S. 
"  Alliance  '*  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron. 

Edward  P.  Thompson,  of  Elizabeth,  N.  J., 
has,  in  connection  with  a  Mr.  Stanly,  invented 
an  incandescent  electric  light  of  improved 
form,  which  will  be  manufactured  by  the  Union 
Switch  &  Signal  Co.,  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  The 
principal  advantage  claimed  is  simplicity  and 
cheapness  of  manufacture,  and  one  of  the  chief 
peculiarities  is  using  animal  instead  of  vege- 
table fiber  to  obtain  the  carbon. 

John  Stephens,  with  the  Oregon  Railway 
and  Navigation  Co.,  called  at  the  Institute 
during  a  brief  visit  home. 


•81. 

M.  J.  Martinez  is  with  the  Babcock 
&  Wilcox  Co.,  31  Cortland  street,  New  York. 

Fred.  Rosenberg  is  Assistant  Supervisor 
of  Permanent  Way  on  the  Pennsylvania  R.  R., 
with  headcjuarters  at  Gallitzin,  Pa. 

F.  H.  Williams  is  vice-president  to  Wil- 
liams, White  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  ma- 
chinery, Moline,  111. 

•83. 

J.  E.  Sague  is  with  E.  D.  Leavitt,  Jr.,  of 
Cambridgeport,  Mass. 

H.  A.  HiCKOK  is  with  the  Wallis  Iron 
Works,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 

E.  DuQUE  Estrada  is  with  the  Engineer 
Corps,  of  the  Juragua  Mining  Co.,  Santiago, 
Cuba. 

M.  McNaughton  is  assistant  to  A.  C.  Hum- 
phreys, '81,  Engineer  of  the  Pintsch  Lighting 
Co.,  New  York. 

E.  N.  Wright  can  be  addressed,  care  von 
der  Becke  &  Marsily,  Antwerp,  Belgium. 

J.  B.  Adger  is  manager  and  treasurer  of 
the  Charleston  Iron  Works,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

M.  Brooks  is  very  ill  with  typhoid-fever  at 
his  home  in  Boston. 

L.  C.  Dawes  is  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the 
Iron  Age.,  New  York. 

F.  K.  Irwin  is  with  the  American  Ship 
Building  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

H.  M.  Plaisted  is  connected  with  the  Web- 
ster Milling  Machinery  Co.,  Detroit,  Mich., 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  erection  of  a  mill 
at  Amherstsburg,  Ontario,  Canada.  The  last 
address  will  be  good  until  May  15. 

H.  P.  Ropes  is  at  the  Northern  Pacific  R. 
R.  Shops,  Brainard,  Minn. 

J.  E.  Steward  is  connected  with  the  shops 
of  the  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  Pittsburgh  Di- 
vision of  Pennsylvania  R.  R.,  Logansport, 
Ind. 

Fred.  Taylor  is  chemist  to  the  Midvale 
Steel  Works,  Nicetown,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

L.  S.  Randolph  is  Engineer  of  Tests  to  the 
New  York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western  R.  R., 
Susquehanna,  Pa. 


54 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


exaMi^sBS. 


The  Exchange  Editor  has  the  pleasure  of 
making  the  acquaintance  of  many  new  journals, 
and  prominent  among  them  in  fancy  dress  is 
the  Polytechnic.  The  frontispiece,  with  its  array 
of  instruments  and  apparatus,  strikes  joy  to  the 
heart  of  the  editor  ;  it  looks  homelike. 

The  paper  will  rank  with  the  very  best  of 
our  exchanges.  None  have  we  seen  contain- 
ing so  much  interesting  matter  and  so  much 
common  sense.  From  one  cover  to  another 
there  is  scarcely  anything  which  will  not  in- 
terest the  general  reader.  The  sentiments  ex- 
pressed in  the  article  on  Sunday  amusements 
we  heartily  endorse.  It  might  be  a  very  de- 
sirable state  of  affairs  when  a  workingman 
would  come  home  after  a  week's  work  and  sit 
down  and  read  the  catechism  all  day  Sun- 
day ;  but  unfortunately  we  have  to  take  hu- 
man nature  as  it  is,  and  the  man  who  labors 
all  the  week  is  going  to  have  some  recreation  ; 
and,  as  the  Polytechnic  says,  if  it  cannot  be  in- 
nocent enjoyment,  such  as  is  afforded  by  our 
reading-rooms,  art  galleries  and  museums,  it 
will,  in  too  many  cases,  be  the  gin  mill.  Ar- 
ticle number  two  of  "  Yarns  by  the  Sporting 
Editor,'*  is  a  very  interesting  story,  and  is  very 
well  written,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  ex- 
pressions which  have  a  rather  stiff,  stereotyped 
form.  The  poem  on  Wendell  Phillips  is  a 
well  finished  and  a  feeling  tribute.  It  seems 
rather  hard  that  anyone,  after  having  been 
helped  over  the  examination  chasm  by  the 
crib  plank,  should  pull  it  from  under  the  feet 
of  the  luckless  ones  coming  after,  as  is  done 
by  the  author  of  "  Cribs,"  an  expose  of  the 
various  dodges  resorted  to  to  get  through  ex- 
aminations. We  are  afraid  that  the  author  will 
not  win  the  warm  approbation  of  his  fellow 
students,  although  he  may  earn  the  gratitude 
of  the  professors.  If  the  " /*i?/y  "  exchanges 
with  its  sister  institution,  the  Adelphi  Acad- 
emy, we  would  recommend  to  them  in  the  last 
month's  journal  of  the  latter  institution  an  ar- 
ticle on  adjectives.  It  is  rather  hard  on  the 
hoary,  venerable  old  Coliseum  to  inflict  on  it 
the  airy  adjective  "elegant." 

The  Bowdoin  Orient  is  largely  devoted  to 
matters  of  local  interest,  but  contains  some 
articles  for  the  general  reader,  among  which 
is  a  very  sensible  paper  on  the  political  duties 
of  educated  men.  To  every  thinking  person 
it  is  evident  that  the  neglect  with  which  poli- 
tical (|uestions  are  treated  by  our  more  intel- 
ligent people  cannot  be  without  an  evil  effect. 


As  the  Orient  reminds  the  reader,  political  af- 
fairs, if  neglected  by  those  who  are  competent 
and  upright,  will  be  diligently  looked  after  by 
those  who  are  ignorant  and  evil-dispositioned, 
and  it  is  the  place  of  the  voter  to  realize  this 
and  look  out  for  his  own  interests.  He  must 
abide  by  laws,  and  is  worse  than  a  fool  if  he 
does  not  look  after  their  making.  The  ex- 
panse of  prose  in  the  magazine  is  broken  by  a 
pleasing  little  poem,  '*  At  Eventide."  The  re- 
maining matter  is  well  gotten  up,  and  the 
magazine  generally  is  a  success. 

We  envy  the  students  of  the  Massachusetts 
Institute  of  Technology  their  good  fortune,  of 
which  we  are  informed  in  the  first  editorial  of 
the  Tech,^  that  of  receiving  instruction  in  Poli- 
tical Economy.  To  our  mind  no  branch  of 
instruction  is  of  more  importance  than  this, 
and,  as  is  presented  by  the  Tech.y  when  political 
questions  of  such  weight  are  to  be  decided, 
such  instruction  is  doubly  interesting  and  of 
the  greatest  value.  The  present  number  of 
the  magazine  is  by  no  means  surfeited  with 
long  articles,  nor  are  those  contained  of  the 
most  interesting  nature,  but  still  there  is  con- 
siderable good  matter.  One  very  good  feature 
is  a  statement  of  promintnt  articles  in  leading 
journals  and  magazines  of  the  day,  giving  the 
reader  a  fair  idea  of  the  leading  literature 
from  which  any  of  especial  interest  may  be 
selected. 

The  single  story  in  the  College  Argus  looks 
rather  lonely  sandwiched  in  between  a  formid- 
able array  of  editorials  on  one  hand  and  miscel- 
laneous articles  on  the  other,  protected  only 
by  the  heralding  poem  of  two  verses  and  the 
appendage,  "  A  Would-be  College  Tough." 
We  admire  the  distribution  of  matter,  how- 
ever, the  story  with  its  weighty  subject  being 
arranged  as  a  climax  ;  the  reader  is  lifted 
gently  out  of  the  editorials  by  the  poem,  and 
as  gently  lowered  by  the  "  Tough  "  into  the 
miscellany.  Spruce  up  next  time,  Argus, 
Take  a  dose  of  licorice  water  and  see  if  you 
cannot  get  a  little  more  filling  in  the  sand- 
wich. A  very  good  thing  is  the  selection  of 
poems  from  their  exchanges.  Only  oh  seeing 
them  all  together  can  one  realize  what  a  pro- 
digious amount  of  talent  is  wasting  itself, 
"  not  on  the  desert  air,"  but  on  the  college 
journal. 

The  Chronicle^  of  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, appears  in  a  dress  which  is  original,  and 
in  general  very  pleasing.  The  only  point  to 
be  criticised  is  the  coloring,  the  combination 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


55 


appearing  rather  weak.  Might  not  that  straw 
color  be  changed  for  some  deeper  shaHe  or 
some  other  color  ?  Wich  regard  to  contents, 
these  are  voluminous  and  of  very  fair  quality. 
We  like  the  tone  of  the  editorial  on  base-ball, 
although  sorry  that  any  such  opinion  must  be 
expressed  of  the  amateur  associations  of  that 
part  of  the  country.  We  admire  the  good 
grace  with  which  the  writer  accepts  the  posi- 
tion of  the  students  in  athletic  matters  and  the 
disposition  manifested  to  aid  in  promoting 
home  excellence,  and  hope  that  the  students 
may  soon  be  able  to  place  themselves  in  the 
very  foremost  rank.  The  "  Locals  "  are  very 
full — all  departments  of  the  university  being 
well  represented. 

In  the  University  Magazini  there  is  a  quan- 
tity of  edicorial  and  miscellaneous  matter,  but 
not  much  general  reading.  The  chief  feature 
in  this  line  is  a  rather  indigestible  story  of  a 
murderer  being  turned  aside  from  his  bloody 
purpose  by  the  sight  of  the  badge  of  the  col- 
lege fraternity  to  which  he  belongs,  on  his  in- 
tended victim's  vest ;  the  moral  evidently  is  to 
join  some  college  society.  This  impressive 
little  anecdote  nearly  had  its  effect  on  the  ex- 
change editor,  who,  although  only  a  college 
editor,  clings  to  life,  and  he  almost  resolved  to 
seek  admission  to  some  society.  On  second 
thought,  however,  it  occurred  to  him  that  al- 
though joining  would  render  him  a  little  more 
safe  from  being  murdered  by  his  own  society, 
still  in  the  eyes  of  rival  ones  his  scalp  would 
be  of  infinitely  increased  value,  and  this  con- 
sideration altered  his  determination.  The  re- 
maining contents  are  fair,  although  the  inser- 
tion of  a  little  more  general  matter,  jokes,  clip- 
pings, etc.,  would  be  a  decided  improvement. 

The  University  Courier^  of  Kansas  Univer- 
sity, favorably  impresses  one  upon  a  hasty 
glance,  and  the  good  impression  is  not  lost  on 
a  closer  examination  of  the  contents.  The 
March  number  opens  with  two  excellent  ar- 
ticles, good  in  thought  and  expression,  the  first 
under  the  heading,  "  Our  National  Paradox — 
Legalized  Lawlessness,"  and  the  second  on 
"Constructive  Genius."  The  former  article 
is  a  presentation  and  consideration  of  the  dan- 
gers to  our  government  from  an  excess  of  lib- 
erty, constituting,  in  the  language  of  the 
writer,  "legalized  lawlessness."  The  remedy 
proposed  by  the  writer  for  the  danger  which 
is  incurred  in  giving  to  ignorant  persons  the 
right  to  vote,  is  to  make  education  the  neces- 
sary qualification.  This  would  be  seemingly 
an  excellent  thing,  but  there  is  unfortunately 


no  likelihood  of  its  becoming  a  law,  and  in 
view  of  this  unlikelihood,  smce  every  man 
must  have  a  vote,  the  best  thing  to  do  is  to 
enforce  the  law  for  the  compulsory  education 
of  children,  to  make  men  competent  to  exer- 
cise their  right. 

Our  scientific  and  engineering  exchanges 
given  below  are,  as  usual,  full  of  valuable 
matter.  Owing  to  lack  of  time,  we  are  unable 
to  review  them  as  they  should  be,  but  in  our 
next  issue  and  thereafter  their  leading  articles 
will  be  announced,  and,  as  far  as  practicable, 
reviewed. 

We  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  follow- 
ing journals  :  Concordiensis^  Amherst  Student^ 
Adelphian^  University  Magazine^  Oberlin  Re- 
view^ De  Painv  Monthly^  North  Western ^  Ma- 
disonensis  Queens  College  fournal ;  and  of  sci- 
entific journals  :  Electrical  Jfeviav,  Mechanics 
and  American  Machinist, 


GBIPPrF^GS. 

A  paper  published  in  Amherst  College  has 
the  following  incident :  "  He  was  a  senior, 
and  as  he  fetched  up  at  the  bottom  of  those 
slippery  steps,  he  ejaculated  :  **  Hell  (just 
then  a  professor  came  gliding  around  the  cor- 
ner) is  paved  with  good  resolutions."  The 
professor  smiled  blandly,  went  to  his  room, 
and  gave  that  student  ten. — Ex. 

Snodd's  coffee  pot  boiled  over  and  burned 
his  hand  the  other  day,  and  now  he  is  getting 
himself  generally  disliked  by  telling  people  he 
was  hurt  by  the  eruption  of  Java. — Lampoon, 

Stable  keeper — "  By  the  way,  shall  I  put  in 
an  extra  buffalo  ?"  English  blood — **  Couldn't 
you  let  me  'ave  an  'orse,  you  know.  Er — er 
— rather  not  drive  a  buffalo  first  time,  you 
know." — Ex. 

The  latest  slander  on  the  dude  is,  that  one 
bumped  his  head  against  a  cobweb  stretched 
across  the  street,  and  had  to  be  carried  home 
with  a  cracked  skull. —  The  Hoosier. 

When  the  enterprising  butcher's  assistant 
**  set  up  on  his  own  hook,"  did  he  find  a 
comfortable  seat  l—PucJk, 

**  Boil  down  this  stuff  about  forests,"  said 
the  managing  editor,  handing  a  bundle  of 
manuscript  to  a  reporter.  A  few  seconds  later 
the  editor  received  the  following :  "  The 
way  to  preserve  our  forests — don't  cut  them 
down.  — Ex, 


I* 


56 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


A  masquerade 
A  sophomore, 

A  dizzy  female  **  dancer  ;" 
His  heart  is  struck. 
She  hits  the  cord, 

Throughout  the  eve  he  haunts  her. 

*Tis  two  o'clock, 
All  masks  are  raised, 

She  draws  hers  off  with  vigor  ; 
He's  paralyzed, 
Dumbfounded,  dazed, 

When  he  beholds  a — nigger. 


— Ex, 


Prevailing  colors — Green  (before  examina- 
tions) and  blue  (after). —  The  Adelphian. 

Oscar  Wilde  asserts  that  his  poetry  will  be 
read  when  Shakespeare  is  forgotten.  Pos- 
sibly, but  not  before, — Philadelphia  Chronicle, 

A  boy,  a  mrl, 
A  wavy  curl 

Blown  out  by  the  wanton  wind  ; 
A  waist,  an  arm. 
Sure  what's  the  harm 

If  arm  about  the  waist  were  twined  ? 
A  blush,  a  kiss. 
One  more  I  wish. 

The  father  toward  them  gently  stole — 
A  scream,  a  shout, 
A  foot  let  out, 

The  impress  left  of  his  boot  sole. 

— Kenyan  Advance, 


IFRB  601lliESB  W0RllE). 


Amherst. — Seventy  members  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Legislature  made  their  annual  visit 

to   Amherst    recently. Spelling  reform   is 

needed  at  Amherst ;  at  a  recent  lecture  a  stu- 
dent was  directed  by  the  writing  on  his  ticket 

to  the  "  Galerry." The  Faculty  of  Amherst 

has  declined  to  take  any  action  whatever  in 
reference  to  the  "  Regulations  for  Inter-Col- 
legiate   Athletic    Sports." Amherst    has 

raised  $120  for  the  workman  who  was  recently 
severely  injured  by  falling  from  a  scaffold 
while  working  on  the  new  college  gymnasium. 

Columbia. — Harvard  has  accepted  the  chal- 
lenge for  an  eight-oared  race. Pneumatic 

rowing-machines    have    been   placed   in    the 

gymnasium. An  effort   by   the   Columbia 

freshmen  to  fine  absentees  from  class-meetings, 

has  proved   unsuccessful. The  Columbiad 

has   made   its   appearance. A  banjo   club 

has  been  formed  at  Columbia. The  class 


8^35- 15- The  Law  School  contains  twenty- 
one  graduates  of  Princeton,  twenty-two  of 
Harvard,  twenty-five  of  Yale  and  forty-nine 

of  Columbia. A  new   sidereal  clock  hat 

just  been  mounted  in  the  observatory. 
Columbia  is  next  to  the  University  of  Teu9 
in  wealth.  Her  endowment  now  amounts  to 
$5,000,000.  She  was  organized  in  1856,  and 
the  original  endowment  raised  by  lottery.  It 
is  expected  that  she  will  have  2,000  studenH 
next  fall. 

Harvard. — Harvard  proposes  changing  its 

four  years'  course  to  three. The  President's 

salary  is  to  be  increased  by  the  interest  on 

$60,000,  raised  for  that  purpose. Harvaid 

received  $173,000  last  year  from  term  dues 

alone. The  vote  of  the   Faculty  on  the 

athletic  resolutions  was  twenty- three  to  five  in 
favor  of  them.  The  students  are  nearly  unani- 
mous against  this  action  of  the  Faculty.  A 
petition  has  been  circulated  and  extensively 
signed,  and  other  measures  have  been  taken 
to  induce  the  Faculty  to  rescind  their  action 
in  the  matter. 

Yale. — Knee  breeches  will  be  worn  at  the 
senior  promenade. Yale  and  Princeton 


about  the  same  in  reference  to  the  entrance 

requirements. Yale  is  to  have  an  illustrated 

paper. Prof.  Wheeler  recently  stated  at  a 

college  dinner  that,  twenty-five  years  ago,  the 
average  Yale  student  was  a  long-haired  indi- 
vidual, wrapped  in  a  blanket  shawl. 

General. — At  a  meeting  of  the  Society  of 
Arts  of  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Tech- 
nology, March  13,  Mr.  Delany,  of  New  York, 
exhibited  in  operation  his  new  system  of  syn- 
chronous multiplex  telegraphy. The  Uni- 
versity of   Pennsylvania   has   1,044  students. 

The  Lehigh  University  is  to  have  a  glee 

club. A   base  ball  nine  has  been  formed 

by  the  young  lady  students  at  Hallowell  Class- 
ical Seminary,  Maine. Lehigh  has  applied 

for  admission  to  the   Inter- Collegiate   Lawn 

Tennis  Association. Oxford  University  has 

decided  to  grant  to  women  the  same  examina- 
tion for  admission  as  is  accorded  to  men. 

A  number  of  Dartmouth  Juniors  have  been 
suspended   for   dishonesty    in    examinations. 

William  and  Mary  C'ollege,  of  Virginia, 

has  been  closed.  This  college  was  chartered 
in  1693,  and  is  but  a  few  years  younger  than 
Harvard. The  United  States  has  190  col- 
lege papers. Miss  Alice  Freeman,  President 


of  '86  at  Columbia  is  in  debt  to  the  extent  of  at  Wellesley,  is  a  Doctor  of  Philosophy. 


THE    ST  J 


niCA  TOR. 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technology, 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

POUNDED   B-y   THE   LATE   EDWIN   A.  STEVENS, 

»T — 

HO  BO  KEN,  N.  J. 


HENHY  r.TOKTON   VV-  D  , 


<•  B»yiw»rlm  ^aA  111. 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 


ACADEMIC   DEPA.RTMENT 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

mVKR  STHBET.  bet.  Sth  ami  Stk.  ROBOKEN.S.J.. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER   17.  1884. 

nod  iSLli  of  S^yijm.>nr 


Sxamjoacloaa  Jot  Afimi 

INSfRUenOH  GIVEN  IN  THS  ;, 
HAND  AKL 

JUNIOR   DEPARTMENT, 
SENIOR   DEPARTMENT, 


'/ODERN  LANGUAGES.  I"  P'if^- 
DRAWlNi;. 

-  SeO.OO  PER    ANNUM. 

-  SIEO.OO   PER   ANNUM. 


ri-tan  Inolotld  aU    C-hH  ■kiiUxb. 


Fcr  >::Ataiofuiea  «pidy  U  Ut«  LlBnirUii  ot  SUWbs  lavUtoW. 


THE 


jgflie 


ve^^ 


Mdi(ial@R 


VoL  I. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  MAY,  1884. 


No.  5. 


rVBUUfBD  ON  THK 

'  mm  OF  EACN  MONTH,  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 

BY  THE  STUDENTS  OF 

^Vbd^  In^titate  of  Tec{noIogi|. 


3B(ftor0. 

.       .  .     C.  W.  WHITINO,  '84. 

.    A.  P.  KLETZSCH.  '84. 

EDm»,    ....    JOHN  M.  RUSBY,  '85. 

1.0CNI  3B(ft0t8. 
ROLLIN    NORRI8,  *85. 

P.  MOiRrroN,  •m.  c.  r.  collxns,  '86. 

LADD   PLUMLBY,   '87. 


-»••>■ 


:— St-IO  p&r  Ymt,  in  AdvMoa.     Sinole  Co|>y,  20  Cents. 

••  Ami  (yet  m  Setm^  CIsm  Skater. 


SmkxripHoHJ  taken  by  the  business  manager^  who  tviii 
~  ike  paper  to  any  address ,  prepaid^  on  receipt  of 


copies  earn  be  obtaitted  at  LuthifCs  l*ook  store^ 
MhMkem^  N.J. 

T3lr  paper  will  be  sent  regularly  to  subscribers  until 
^  §a  Ar  disevntinmed. 


will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
im  ikeir  address  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 


t- 


i 


.PwwJksMort,  ahtmni,  undergraduates,  and  friends,  are 
'wUtei  l»  enUribute  literary  articles,  items,  verses,  dis- 
wMams  afemmnt  topics^  and  personal  notes, 

itia  pasrHcukady  desired  that  Alumni  furnish  us  itn'th 
f  iiimi  9>f  interest  concerning  themselves  and  every  one 
Mm  connected  with  the  Institute, 

ii  is  §xpecttd  thai  all  articles  shall  be  ivritfen  in  a 
MM  tone, 

wriiei^s  full  name,  as  well  as  his  nom  de  plumk, 
t  mecompamy  the  article^  as  assurance  of  j*ood  faitli 
txHMHty ;  but  ii  will  not  be  published,  unless  desired. 

do  not  necessarily  endorse  sentiments  ex- 
w  the  tutorial  and  exchange  columns. 

.  AMiAiij  e»i  invited  to  send  us  books  and  magazines 
^  maHte  or  revicm, 

X^mmfet^taniribuiioHs,  subscriptions,  advertisements, 
^^^^^sjmrcemmumeations  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
^TlB  Stbvini  Indicator.  Stez'ens  Institute,  Hoboken, 

^tf/OTJWiKyAiiy  to  secure  the  business  patronage  of 
7?y_**"  ■^■*»  will  find  it  to  their  advantage  to 
^^^  f*^  ^doerHsing  rates. 


WE  must  again  call  to  the  students'  atten- 
tion that  the  time  for  preparing  for  the 
inter-collegiate  games  is  very  short,  and  that 
we  must  be  represented  in  this  year's  games  or 
lose  our  place  in  the  association.  Brace  up  ! 
We  cannot  afford  to  rest  on  the  laurels  which 
the  foot  ball  team  won  for  Stevens  last  fall, 
but  must  keep  at  it,  and  not  fall  behind  in 
base  ball,  the  recognized  spring  game.  There 
is  one  thing  certain,  and  that  is,  the  team 
fnust  play  together  as  a  team,  and  not  split  up, 
as  the  foot  ball  team  was  often  compelled  to 
do,  for  want  of  enough  men  to  make  an  op- 
posing side.  Let  the  whole  college  play 
against  the  picked  nine  and  compel  them  to 
work  individually,  each  for  his  place  on  the 
team. 

It  ought  to  be  understood  that  the  nine  is 
subject  to  change  in  case  any  man  commences 
to  lag  behind  or  a  better  one  comes  to  the 
front,  thus  giving  all  a  chance  to  get  a  place 
on  the  team. 

In  regard  to  the  proposed  spring  games,  we 
must  push  forward  and  get  the  thing  in  proper 
shape  very  soon,  or  we  will  get  left,  by  reason 
of  not  having  contestants  in  trim  for  the  meet- 
ing of  May  24,  at  which  it  is  to  be  hoped 
Stevens  will  come  to  the  front  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  surprise  even  ourselves.  We  cannot 
impress  too  strongly  on  the  minds  of  the  stu- 
dents the  importance  of  having  representatives 
at  this  meeting. 

It  has  been  decided  by  those  in  charge  to 
hold  our  own  spring  games  on  the  17th  of 
May,  and  as  it  is  from  this  meeting  that  we 
expect  the  best  men  to  come  to  the  front,  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  all  who  can  will  take  advan- 
tage of  this  opportunity  to  enter  for  the  game 
at  which  they  think  they  have  the  best  chance 
or  are  best  fitted  foe,  whether  it  be  running. 


58 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


jumping  or  anything  else.  We  have  spoken 
to  a  number,  and  have  tried  to  persuade  the 
doubtful  ones  to  enter  for  some  of  the  events, 
but  with  small  success,  the  universal  excuse 
being  "  I  have  not  time."  We  fail  to  see  how 
a  moderate  degree  of  exercise  can  be  instru- 
mental in  lowering  any  man's  standard  in  his 
college  work.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that 
some  exercise  is  absolutely  necessary  to  keep 
the  body  in  a  condition  able  to  stand  success- 
fully the  mental  strain  which  is  put  upon  us 
here  at  Stevens ;  and  if,  instead  of  scattering 
his  efforts  at  muscular  development,  the  student 
will  only  combine  them  and  direct  his  atten- 
tion to  a  very  few  things,  he  will  not  spend  any 
more  of  his  time  than  he  used  to  do  before, 
and  soon  will  become  proficient  in  the  few 
games  to  which  he  has  given  his  attention,  and 
able,  no  doubt,  to  assist  in  holding  up  the 
record  of  Stevens  in  the  field  when  she  has 
occasion  to  meet  other  colleges  in  friendly 
athletic  encounters. 


» ♦»* 


WE  would  like  to  see  more  interest  taken  in 
the  Indicator  by  the  Seniors.  It  is  sur- 
prising to  us  that  men  who  have  had  such  ex- 
perience as  they  are  supposed  to  have  about 
college  affairs  should  be  so  reticent  and  bash- 
ful about  putting  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel 
and  helping  to  push  forward  what  is  univers- 
ally acknowledged  to  be  a  good  thing.  When 
the  above  mentioned  class  have  graduated  and 
taken  the  various  positions  in  life  which 
Dame  Fortune  has  assigned  to  them,  they  will 
be  held  accountable  for  all  statements  which 
appear  in  print  over  their  names.  Why  not 
school  yourselves  now  in  the  art  of  being  able 
to  write  a  clear  and  comprehensive  account 
of  an  experiment  or  occurrence  at  a  time 
when  you  will  not  be  held  to  such  a  strict  ac- 
count for  any  mistake  you  may  make  in  your 
statements  ?  The  Seniors,  in  their  varied  ex- 
perience, must  certainly  know  of  some  inci- 
dents which  would  be  likely  to  interest  their 
fellow  students.  Why  not  give  us  the  benefit 
of  your  experience?  You  are  reaping  the 
benefit  of  other  men's  experience  all  the  time. 


and  the  least  you  can  do  is  to  lessen  the  debt 
— even  if  it  be  only  by  a  small  amount — which 
you  owe  to  those  who  have  gone  before  you, 
by  doing  what  you  can  to  lighten  the  labors  of 
those  who  have  to  follow  in  your  wake.  The 
most  of  the  work  contributed  to  the  Indicator 
has  been  given  by  the  lower  classes,  the  upper 
classes  contributing  almost  nothing,  except, 
indeed,  considerable  amounts  of  advice  of 
what  ought  to  be  done.  The  general  excuse 
is,  "  I  have  not  time."  Well,  if  the  Seniors 
have  not  time  to  do  a  little  work  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  college  and  themselves,  please  inform 
us  what  we  are  to  expect  of  the  Sophs  and 
Freshmen  ?  And  yet  almost  all  the  work  out- 
side of  the  Board  is  done  by  these  very  same 
Sophs  and  Freshmen.  Poor  excuse.  Seniors  ; 
you  will  have  to  try  something  else,  or  rather 
reform  altogether  and  help  to  make  the  col- 
lege publication  as  interesting  as  possible. 
We  are  unwilling  to  believe  that  it  is  not  in 
you. 


TT7HE  students  of  the  institute  may  consider 
1  *  themselves  fortunate  and  well  favored  in 
having  a  Faculty  whose  rulings  are  character- 
ized by  justness  and  an  evident  desire  to  make 
institute  life  as  agreeable  as  is  consistent  with 
earnest  work  and  the  amount  of  study  which 
the  catalogue  calls  for. 

One  of  the  chief  features  is  the  apparent 
plan  to  lend  aid  to  a  student  so  long  as  he 
gives  evidence  of  a  desire  to  improve  ;  but 
immediate  withdrawal  of  favor  and  quick  dis- 
missal, when  in  their  minds  a  student  has  a 
great  liking  for  the  pleasures  of  life  with  too 
little  regard  for  the  duties.  And  we  still  note 
with  pleasure  the  more  than  friendly  inter- 
course which  exists  between  the  members  of 
the  Faculty  and  the  students  ;  but  there  is 
one  rule,  established  a  year  ago,  that  seems 
not  only  unnecessary,  but  severely  unjust  to 
the  student,  let  him  be  good  or  bad,  and 
which  causes  considerable  trouble.  We  have 
reference  to  the  rule  prohibiting  a  student 
from  attending  shop  or  experimental  work  in 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


59 


the  preliminary  terms,  if  conditioned  in  any 
study  at  the  June  examinations. 

A  moment's  consideration  will  not  fail  to 
show  the  infinite  amount  of  harm  and  the 
least  possible  good  that  can  come  from  such  a 
course.  One  of  our  professors  has  on  several 
occasions  asked  students  if  they  feel  that  they 
will  ever  amount  to  anything  sufficient  to  re- 
flect credit  on  the  institute,  and  the  catalogue 
impresses  one  with  the  idea  that  a  graduate 
from  Stevens  must  necessarily  be  a  man  of 
some  worth.  Now,  if  this  is  all  to  be,  how  is 
it  to  be  accomplished  ?  Is  it  by  the  student's 
effort  alone,  or  is  the  Faculty  responsible  for 
the  results  of  the  four  years'  training  ?  Each 
depends  on  the  other,  and  so  by  the  encour- 
agement of  the  one  and  the  earnestness  of  the 
other,  the  course  is  completed  with  satisfaction 
to  both.  Now,  such  has  always  been  the  case 
until  lately,  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that 
when  a  student  is  prohibited  from  attending  the 
Preliminary  Term,  when  it  is  known  it  is  his  in- 
tention to  continue  in  the  college,  a  vast  deal  of 
harm  is  done  for  which  there  seems  no  excuse. 

The  time  for  examinations  for  entrance  and 
the  making  up  of  conditions  is  in  the  latter 
part  of  September,  after  the  Preliminary  Term 
is  over,  and  a  student,  no  matter  how  much 
he  may  desire  to  work,  has  to  remain  idle 
until  then  before  he  again  becomes  a  student 
of  the  institute.  Our  Institute  prides  itself 
on  its  course  of  practical  work,  and  offers 
this  as  a  recommendation  for  its  graduates  as 
having  the  advantage  over  graduates  from 
other  engineering  schools,  and  why,  then, 
should  a  rule  be  made  to  prevent  a  student 
from  enjoying  this  privilege  ? 

It  appears  to  our  mind  that  this  rule  has 
been  made  heedlessly,  without  considering  the 
irrecoverable  loss  which  both  student  and 
institute  suffer.  The  matter  could  be  best  rem- 
edied by  abolishing  this  regulation  entirely,  or 
by  giving  opportunity  for  the  passing  of  condi- 
tions previous  to  the  Preliminary  Terms.  We 
think  this  subject  of  sufficient  importance  to 
merit  its  consideration  by  the  Faculty,  and  we 
recommend  that  some  change  be  made. 


THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  GOOD  READING. 


In  this  course  of  ours,  at  Stevens,  which  is 
so  strictly  utilitarian,  we  are  too  apt  to  neglect 
that  part  of  a  broad  education  without  which 
we  would  not  be  fitted  to  take  the  position  in 
social  life  in  which  our  ability  as  engineers 
should  some  day  place  us. 

The  part  of  education  here  referred  to  is 
that  acquired,  and  only  acquired,  by  a  famili- 
arity with  the  leading  poets,  essayists  and  his- 
torians. 

"Here,"  as  Bacon  says,  "are  the  finest 
minds  giving  us  the  best  wisdom  of  present 
and  all  past  ages ;  here  are  intellects  gifted 
far  beyond  ours,  ready  to  give  us  the  results 
of  life-times  of  patient  thought ;  imaginations 
open  to  the  beauty  of  the  universe,  far  beyond 
what  is  given  us  to  behold  ;  characters  whom 
we  can  only  vainly  hope  to  imitate,  but  whom 
it  is  one  of  our  highest  privileges  of  life  to 
know." 

Mathematics,  Physics  and  Chemistry  all 
educate  the  mind,  and  fit  us  for  the  battles  of 
life,  but  they  do  not  afford  the  culture,  nor 
mould  the  disposition  and  character,  as  do  the 
classics,  and  in  following  these  too  closely,  we 
are  apt  to  become  too  practical  and  material, 
and  forget  that  there  are  things  even  more 
profound  and  grander  than  these.  This  prob- 
ably accounts  for  the  fact  that  so  many  scien- 
tists are  materialists. 

The  heart,  "  the  seat  of  affections  and  sen- 
sibilities," needs  education  and  culture  as  well 
as  the  mind.  The  growing  tendency  of  our 
age  is  toward  things  strictly  practical  ;  and 
while  this  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant directions  of  growth  of  the  human 
mind,  it  is  among  the  possibilities  that  it  may 
be  carried  too  far  and  at  the  expense  of  other 
essential  branches  of  learning. 

But  a  study  of  the  classics,  besides  afford- 
ing culture,  has  an  eminently  practical  value. 
It  enables  us  to  express  our  ideas  clearly  and 
concisely.  Too  often  do  we  meet  with  per- 
sons liberally  educated,  from  a  practical  point 
of  view,  but  who,  having  so  neglected  the 
classics,  are  scarcely  able  to  frame  a  sentence 
or  express  a  thought  without  hesitation  or  re- 
petition. 

In  a  course  like  ours,  where  there  is  so  much 
learned  in  so  short  a  time,  there  is  Httle  or  no 
opportunity  to  pursue  a  regular  course  of 
reading  outside  of  the  prescribed  studies;  but 
there  are  times  with  us  all,  as  vacations,  for 
instance,  when   studies  are  laid    aside    and. 


6o 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


wishing  a  relaxation  from  regular  duties,  we 
take  up  some  lighter  reading. 

These  are  the  golden  opportunities  to  com- 
bine pleasure  with  something  that  will  be  of 
lasting  benefit. 

C.  A.  P. 


OUR  BODIES. 


Mr.  William  Blaikie,  in  a  recent  article  on 
"  Our  Bodies,"  deplores  the  lack  of  thorough 
physical  training  throughout  the  schools  and 
colleges  of  our  country.  The  general  athletics, 
and  the  sports  which  occupy  so  many  of  the 
students  of  the  colleges,  are  engaged  in  by 
those  who  least  need  them.  The  amount  of 
strength  required  to  compete  in  any  of  the 
ordinary  sports  is  far  above  that  possessed  by 
the  average  young  man.  In  reply  to  the  state- 
ment that  some  may  benefit  by  manual  labor, 
he  says  :  **  Not  one  in  fifty  of  our  school  boys 
and  girls  does  a  day's  manual  labor  in  the 
whole  year  round  ;  indeed,  the  majority  of 
them  never  did  one  in  their  lives.  They  grow, 
but  they  do  not  develop.  It  has  been  argued 
that  the  system  of  athletics  generally  pursued 
makes  those  who  practice  it  essentially  prize 
fighters,  champion  oarsmer,  *  wasting  their 
time  and  devoting  all  their  thoughts  to  some 
feat  of  athletic  prowess.'  "  In  rebuttal  of  this 
statement,  Mr.  Blaikie  instances  President 
Eliot  and  Professor  Agassiz,  of  Harvard,  and 
Dr.  McCosh  and  Mr.  Gladstone.  "  Yet  the 
former  two  did  excellent  work  in  their  univer- 
sity boat.  Princeton's  famous  president,  if 
our  information  is  correct,  rowed  in  the  Dub- 
lin university  crew,  and  the  British  prime  min- 
ister can  now,  at  seventy-three,  probably  cut 
down  more  trees  in  a  day  than  any  merchant, 
banker,  or  professional  man  of  his  age  in  the 
City  of  New  York,  and  yet  finds  time  to  grapple 
with  the  most  intricate  and  difficult  problems 
of  a  territory  twice  as  vast  as  the  whole  United 
States." 

Continuing  the  argument,  the  writer  says  : 
"  The  results  of  this  utter  neglect  of  any  sound 
system  of  physical  education  stand  out  in  al- 
most every  city  home  in  America.  Not  one 
boy  in  five  is  well  built,  or,  unless  he  is  fat, 
measures  within  an  inch,  often  three  inches, 
as  much  about  the  chest  or  thigh  or  upper 
arm,  or  weighs  within  ten  pounds  as  much,  as 
a  well  proportioned,  vigorous,  properly  devel- 
oped boy  of  his  age  should  do. 

"  Scarcely  one  girl  in  three  ventures  to  wear 
a   jersey,  mainly  because  she  knows  too  well 


that  this  tell-tale  jacket  only  becomes  a  good 
figure.  Yet  the  difference  in  girth  between 
the  developed  arm  which  graces  a  jersey  and 
the  undeveloped  one  which  does  not,  in  a  girl 
of  the  same  height  and  age,  is  seldom  more 
than  two  inches,  and  often,  even,  than  one, 
while  the  well  set  chest  butgirths  the  indiffer- 
ent one  by  seldom  over  three  inches.  Among 
girls,  running  is  a  lost  art.  Yet  it  is  doubtful 
if  an  exercise  was  ever  devised  which  does 
more  to  beget  grace  and  ease  of  movement. 

**  Most  girls  have  weak  arms.  If  they 
doubt  it,  let  them  try  with  one  hand  to  push 
up  once  high  over  their  head  a  dumb-bell 
weighing  a  quarter  or  even  a  fifth  of  their 
own  weight.  Or  with  both  hands  catching 
hold  of  a  bar  or  the  rung  of  a  ladder,  as  high 
up  as  they  can  reach,  let  them  see  if  they  can 
pull  slowly  up  till  the  chin  touches  the  hands. 
Yet  a  moderately  strong  man  at  dumb-bells 
will  push  up  one  weighing  over  half  his  own 
weight,  and  some  men  have  managed  to  put  up 
more  than  their  own  weight ;  and  as  to  pulling 
up,  a  girl  with  developed  arms  can  do  it  five 
or  six  times  with  comparative  ease,  and  a  boy 
with  thoroughly  good  arms  two  or  three  times 
as  many.  Both  the  forearms  and  the  upper 
arms  of  most  girls  are  not  so  large  by  an  inch 
as  those  of  well  built  girls  of  their  height  and 
age.  Yet  in  any  well  regulated  gymnasium 
we  find  youths  adding  in  one  year  an  inch,  and 
even  two  inches,  to  the  girth  of  each  upper 
arm,  and  half  as  much  to  that  of  each  forearm, 
while  a  gain  of  from  three  to  five  inches  about 
the  chest  is  nothing  rare,  and  all  this  simply 
by  less  than  an  hour's  daily  work,  yet  which, 
besides  expanding  the  lungs,  called  the  vari- 
ous muscles  of  the  arms,  shoulders,  chest,  and 
all  the  greater  parts  of  the  body  into  vigorous 
play." 

Professor  Farrow,  at  West  Pomt ;  Professor 
Andrews,  of  the  Gymnasium  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  at  Brooklyn  ;  Dr. 
Sargent,  of  Hemenway  Gymnasium  at  Har- 
vard University,  and  Archibald  Maclaren,  of 
the  Gymnasium  at  Oxford  University  in  Eng- 
land, all  find  no  difficulty  in  adding  in  one 
year  from  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  one-half  to 
the  fore  and  upper  arms,  and.  three  inches  to 
the  girth  of  chest,  of  pupils  under  their  charge. 


A  DREAM. 


Speaking  of  dreams,  I  had  the  worst  one 
last  night  I  ever  had.  You  know  that  lead- 
colored  house  back  of  the  High  School  ?   Well, 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


6i 


it  was  all  about  that.  I  had  been  trying  to 
find  out  what  it  contained,  but  could  not  ; 
and  I  dreamt  that  I  was  sitting  at  the  end  of 
one  of  the  tables  in  the  library,  reading  over 
the  library  catalogue,  when  two  men,  dressed 
in  white,  came  up  to  me  and  requested  that  I 
step  around  the  comer  of  the  college  a  mo- 
ment.* Jiist  as  we  arrived  at  the  little  lead- 
colored  house,  they  both  laid  hold  of  me  and 
forced  me  in  through  the  door.  Well,  to  say 
I  was  surprised  at  what  I  saw,  don't  express 
it  at  all ;  I  was  simply  dumbfounded. 

There  were  workmen  all  over  the  place, 
which  had  all  at  once  grown  to  thousands  of 
times  its  size,  as  viewed  from  the  uninitiated 
outside.  In  one  corner  was  a  man  making  an 
analysis  of  the  moon  ;  and  thinking  that  he 
would  be  an  interesting  subject  to  question,  I 
commenced.  What  was  he  doing  ?  Well,  he 
had  been  instructed  by  the  king  to  see  what 
the  moon  needed  to  make  it  warm,  and  after 
he  had  found  out,  he  was  to  send  to  the  sup- 
ply office  for  the  necessary  material ;  he  said 
he  expected  to  have  it  all  done  in  a  few  thou- 
sand years.  I  asked  him  if  he  did  not  think 
it  a  long  while.  "Oh,  no,"  said  he,  "my 
friend  over  there  has  been  working  on  a  plan 
for  the  equal  distribution  of  wealth  and  health 
for  a  much  longer  time  than  that,  and  he  does 
not  expiect  to  get  done  for  quite  some  time." 
In  another  part  of  the  room  was  a  pretty 
little  engine  with  no  visible  means  of  power. 
Thinking  this  might  be  something  new,  I  went 
over  to  the  man  who  had  it  in  charge  and  in- 
quired what  it  was.  "That,"  said  he,  "is  a 
I>erpetual  motion  machine  ;  why,  it's  as  old  as 
the  hills" — noticing  my  surprise — "we  have 
had  that  thing  in  here  for  a  long  time.  We 
used  to  have  a  ball  that  rolled  up  hill,  but 
it  got  away  one  day  and  we  have  not  seen  it 
since.     Funny  ;  don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

With  this  remark  he  went  back  to  his  work 
of  pumping  sunlight  into  a  new  kind  of  motor. 
In  a  more  remote  part  of  the  room  was  a  man 
trying  to  pick  up  threads  and  pins  from  the 
carpeted  floor ;  what  was  he  doing  ?  Well, 
he  was  straightening  things  up  a  bit.  There 
had  been  a  dressmaker  here  for  a  few  hun- 
dred years,  preparing  dresses  for  Venus'  re- 
ception, and  he  had  been  picking  up  scraps 
and  pins  ever  since  ;  he  thought  he  might  get 
through  in  time  to  be  on  hand  when  the  new 
cupola  was  to  be  dedicated.  Further  down 
the  room  was  a  railing,  enclosing  about  a 
dozen  men  who  appeared  to  have  nothing  in 
particular  to  do  ;  but,  on  inquiry,  I  found  that 
they  were  a  supply  of  referees  for  the  various 


college  games,  men  with  whom  no  fault  could 
be  found  by  either  side,  and  they  were  here  to 
lend  their  moral  influence.  So  far,  this  was 
the  only  factor  in  this  truly  wonderful  build- 
ing that  seemed  familiar.  There  were  so 
many  wonderful  articles  in  the  place  that  it 
was  impossible  to  see  them  in  one  visit. 
However,  I  went  down  the  stairs  into  what 
seemed  to  be  the  forge  shops,  and,  seeing 
sortie  men  at  work  on  a  long  piece  of  steel, 
miles  in  length,  I  asked  the  man  in  charge 
what  it  was  for.  "Humph,"  said  he,  "young 
man,  do  you  suppose  the  axis  of  this  earth  is 
going  to  last  forever;  you  don't  know,  eh? 
Well,  I'll  tell  you  ;  it  is  not,  and  this  piece  of 
steel  is  to  take  the  place  of  the  present  axis, 
which  has  been  in  use  for  some  time  ;  you 
think  it  is  a  little  short,  do  you  ? "  This  I 
could  not  tell,  as  I  was  unable  to  see  the  other 
end,  but  presumed  so.  "Well,  you  are  right; 
it  is  a  great  deal  too  short ;  but  after  we 
magnetize  it,  it  will  be  long  enough,  I  warrant 
you.  We  are  going  to  make  it  hollow,  so  that 
we  can  establish  an  express  line  inside,  to 
supply  food,  etc.,  to  arctic  explorers,  when 
they  get  to  the  North  Pole."  "  Will  they  ever 
get  there  ? "  I  asked.  "Oh,  yes  ;  we  are  mak- 
ing a  new  machine  for  thawing  ice  especially 
for  that  purpose  ;  it  will  be  done  in  a  few 
centuries.  Besides,  you  see  that  machine  over 
in  the  corner  ?  Well,  that  is  a  new  magnetic 
motor.  It  has  a  magnet  in  the  centre,  and 
when  we  start  it,  it  will  go  straight  up  to  the 
North  Pole."  Just  at  this  moment  one  of  the 
workmen  hit  me  on  the  head  with  a  piece  of  hot 
steel,  and  I  awoke  and  found  myself  all  in  a  heap 
on  the  floor,  having  rolled  out  of  bed,  striking 
my  head  on  the  corner  of  my  trunk.         Em. 


«^  » » 


MY  EXPERIENCE. 


I  suppose  you  have  all  been  up  to  the  roller 
skating  rink.  I  was  up  there  the  other  night. 
My  girl  asked  me  to  take  her  with  me,  but  I 
thought  I  wouldn't,  as  I  remembered  the  disas- 
trous experience  I  had  the  last  time  I  took  her 
there.  That  was  when  the  American  Institute 
Fair  was  being  held.  Of  course,  as  soon  as 
we  got  inside  the  door  I  made  a  bee-line  for 
the  machinery,  and  when  we  got  there,  tried  to 
explain  to  her  something  about  an  engine.  I 
shall  never  attempt  such  a  thing  again,  and  I 
advise  you  not  to  do  it,  even  once. 

"  You  see,"  said  I,  "  this  machine " 

"  What  machine  ?"  she  interrupted;  "where's 
the  machine  ?" 


i 


62 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


"  Why,  here,"  I  replied. 

"  But  you  can't  sew  with  that,  can  you  ?'*  she 
asked. 

"  Sew  with  it  ?"  I  said  ;  "  sew  with  that 
thing  ?  Why,  that's  a  fifty  horse  power  steam 
engine." 

But  I  thought  that  machines  were  to  sew 
with  ?"  she  answered. 

"Well,  that's  a  different  kind  of  machine; 
there's  more  than  one  kind.  Rankine  defines 
a  machine  as  something  made  to  produce  mo- 
tion against  resistance." 

"  Why,  how  funny." 

"  What's  funny  ?" 

*'  Why,  the  resistance." 

"  Well,  I  don't  see  anything  particularly 
funny  about  the  resistance.  What's  funny 
about  it  ?" 

"  Oh,  no,  no;  I  didn't  mean  the  resistance; 
I  meant  Rankine." 

"  Oh,  yes!  Rankine  is  funny — very  funny. 
He  is  about  the  most  amusing  author  I  have 
ever  read.  Why,  our  class  used  to  read  his 
books  all  the  time.  In  fact,  they  got  so  inter- 
ested in  his  witty  remarks  that  they  used  to 
miss  all  their  other  lessons." 

"I  should  like  to  read  his  works  ever  so 
much.     What  makes  that  engine  go  .>" 

"  Steam." 

"Why,  isn't  that  queer!  Would  a  tea  kettle 
run  if  it  was  put  on  wheels  ?" 

"  Well,  I  don't  know.  I've  heard  of  tea 
'  drawing,'  but  I  don't  know  how  much  it  could 
get  away  with." 

These  questions  were  kept  up  until  we 
reached  the  ore  crusher,  and  she  said  that  was 
a  "  horrid  thing,"  and  then  dragged  me  around 
for  two  mortal  hours  to  look  at  the  false  hair 
exhibit. 

But  when  I  concluded  not  to  take  her  to  the 
roller  skating  rink  it  was  not  because  I  was 
afraid  she  would  take  me  around  to  look  at 
false  hair.  All  there  was  there  was  in  use,  and 
one  girl  will  never  tell  you  to  look  at  another's 
false  hair.  She  is  afraid  you  will  admire  it. 
My  sole  reason  for  not  taking  her  was  that  I 
hadn't  yet  learned  to  skate,  and  I  didn't  want 
to  make  a  fool  of  myself  before  her.  So  J 
went  alone,  and  as  soon  as  I  got  there  I  checked 
my  overcoat  and  hired  a  pair  of  skates.  Then 
I  gave  a  small  boy  ten  cents  to  put  them  on. 
As  soon  as  the  aforesaid  small  boy  had  disap- 
peared the  left  one  dropped  off.  I  had  to  give 
another  boy  ten  cents  to  put  it  on  again.  He 
hadn't  been  gone  more  than  five  seconds  when 
the  right  one  dropped  off.  It  cost  me  just 
sixty  cents  to  have  those  skates  put  on  so  they 


would  stay  "put."  Then  I  stood  up  and 
looked  about  me.  I  was  on  a  platform,  and 
the  floor  upon  which  every  one  was  skating 
was  about  two  feet  below  me.  As  there  were 
signs  up  all  over  saying  that  no  skating  was 
allowed  on  the  platform,  I  concluded  I  had 
better  try  to  get  down  on  the  floor.  I  was 
about  to  strike  out  when  I  observed  to  my 
horror  that  the  skates  were  going  in  an  oppo- 
site direction.  As  I  didn't  know  how  to  stop 
I  had  to  go  with  them.  They  landed  me  at  the 
candy  counter,  and  so  I  had  to  buy  some 
candy,  just  to  look  as  if  I  had  come  there  on 
purpose,  you  know.  As  I  was  getting  some 
money  out  of  my  pocket  to  pay  for  it,  the  in- 
fernal skates  commenced  to  go  backwards.  I 
think  they  would  have  taken  me  outside  in  the 
street  that  time  if  the  girl  at  the  candy  counter 
hadn't  screamed,  and  a  policeman  collared  me 
and  dragged  me  back,  saying  that  "  I  oughter 
be  ashamed  to  try  to  run  off  like  that  without 
paying." 

This  didn't  improve  my  temper  to  any  great 
extent,  and  so  when  an  attendant  came  up  to 
me  and  informed  me  that  no  skating  was 
allowed  on  the  platform,  I  replied  rather  an- 
grily, "You  infernal  idiot!  don't  you  see  I've 
been  trying  to  get  down  there  for  the  last  fif- 
teen min — "  Just  then  my  feet  slipped  from 
under  me  and  I  sat  down.  The  attendant  was 
very  kind.  He  lifted  me  up  and  helped  me 
to  get  down  on  the  floor  where  the  others  were 
skating. 

But  when  I  got  there  it  was  a  glori- 
ous thing  to  glide  around  the  building  with 
the  other  skaters.  It  was  a  glorious  thing 
when  the  girl  in  front  of  me  fell  down  and  I 
tripped  over  her,  and  the  fellow  right  behind 
me  tripped  over  me,  and  fell  on  my  new  silk 
hat.  It  was  a  glorious  thing  for  me  to  have 
to  get  up  and  apologize  to  that  girl  for  having 
tripped  me  up.  It  was  a  glorious  thing  for 
me  to  straighten  out  that  silk  hat  and  reflect 
that  it  had  only  been  worn  once.  In  fact,  it 
was  all  so  glorious  that  I  took  off  my  skates 
and  started  for  home.  When  I  went  to  get 
my  overcoat  I  found  that  there  were  two 
places,  side  by  side,  where  coats  were  checked, 
and  I  didn't  remember  which  one  I  had  left 
mine  in.  However,  I  went  confidently  to  the 
one  nearest  me,  and  handed  in  my  check. 
The  man  eyed  me  suspiciously  for  a  moment 
and  then  said  : 

"  Where  did  you  get  this  check  ?" 

"  I  thought  I  got  it  here,"  I  replied. 

"  Well,  I  think  you  found  it,  or  else  you're 
a  pickpocket  and  stole  it,"  he  said. 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


63 


That  made  me  a  little  madder  than  I  was 
before,  and  so  I  said  : 

"  Give  me  that  check  back,  do  you  hear  ? 
Come  out  here  and  Til  break  your  neck.  It's 
a  wonder  you  get  anybody  to  come  up  here  if 
you  insult  them  like  that.'.' 

He  gave  me  the  check  and  I  went  to  the 
next  place  and  got  my  coat,  and  as  I  put  it  on 
and  walked  homeward  I  realized  what  a  bless- 
ing roller  skating  indeed  is. 

Bessie  Turner. 


*  #  »■» 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  PROPHETS. 


I  found  the  Chief  Signal  Officer  in  his 
laboratory,  exhausted  by  the  hard  work  of 
the  day.  His  majestic  person  was  somewhat 
placidly  disposed  in  a  great  easy  chair.  His 
feet  rested  on  top  of  a  barrel,  which  was  cov- 
ered with  a  copy  of  Hay  den's  expensive  Atlas 
of  Colorado.  In  the  lap  of  the  Chief  Signal 
Officer  was  curled  a  big  black  cat,  which 
purred  as  he  listlessly  stroked  its  back,  and 
showed  its  teeth  when  he  happened  to  stroke 
the  fur  the  wrong  way.  On  the  Chief  Signal 
Officer's  left  shoulder  was  perched  a  Plymouth 
Rock  rooster.  Several  hens  of  various  breeds 
were  scratching  the  floor  under  the  table,  in 
the  futile  endeavor  to  extract  nutriment  from 
an  oil  cloth  carpet.  The  Chief  Signal  Officer 
motioned  me  to' a  chair,  and  hurled  a  volume 
of  his  annual  report  for  1882  at  a  noisy  duck 
which  was  screaming  in  one  comer  of  the 


room. 


General,"  I  began,  "  is  it  true — " 

He  interrupted  me  with  a  peremptory  ges- 
ture.    "  Hush,"  he  said. 

I  became  silent.  Through  the  closed 
window  the  stentorian  voice  of  an  able-bodied 
donkey  was  distinctly  audible.  The  donkey 
brayed  four  times,  each  time  louder  than 
before.  The  Chief  Signal  Officer  tumbled 
the  cat  out  of  his  lap,  made  a  few  hurried 
notes  in  a  memorandum  book,  and  then 
turned  to  me  again. 

"  General,"  said  I,  "  will  you  permit  me  to 
ask  if  the  statement  that  you  have — " 

Just  then  the  rooster  on  the  left  shoulder  of 
the  Chief  Signal  Officer  began  to  flap  his 
wings  and  crow.  The  Chief  Signal  Officer 
touched  a  hand  bell. 

"  Send  Dun  woody  here  at  once,"  he  said  to 
the  child  of  Africa  who  answered  the  sum- 
mons. "  Now,  sir,  I  am  at  your  service,"  he 
remarked  to  me. 


"General,"  I  began  once  more,  **it  is  cur- 
rently reported  that  you  have — " 

I  paused,  for  the  hair  on  the  top  of  my  head 
was  at  this  instant  firmly  clutched  from  above, 
and  held  in  a  tenacious  and  constantly  tight- 
ening grip.     I  started  up  in  amazement. 

"Sit  still!  sit  still!"  shouted  the  Chief 
Signal  Officer.  "  It  is  only  one  of  my  bats — 
the  lower  Mississippi  Valley  bat,  I  think. 
Don't  move  a  muscle  till  we  see  what  the 
lower  Mississippi  Valley  bat  is  going  to 
do." 

I  sat  patiently  in  the  interests  of  science 
for  at  least  five  minutes.  Then  the  unpleasant 
bird,  beast  or  reptile  slowly  relaxed  his  hold 
upon  my  hair  and  flew  away  with  a  dismal 
whirr.  The  Chief  Signal  Officer  rang  his 
bell  again,  scrawled  a  few  words  on  a  tele- 
graph blank  and  handed  it  to  the  messenger. 
Well,  sir,  now  what  can  I  do  for  you  ?" 

"  General,"  I  said,  "  you  can  tell  me,  if 
you  please,  whether  the  public  may  credit  the 
report  that  you  have — " 

"  Ah  !  here  is  Dunwoody  at  last,"  exclaimed 
the  Chief  Signal  Officer,  the  anxious  expres- 
sion of  his  countenance  giving  place  to  a  look 
of  relief.  "  Dunwoody,  the  black  cat  has 
mewed  thrice  in  three  minutes." 

"  You  don't  say  so,  sir,"  remarked  the  new- 
comer, respectfully. 

"Copernicus  is  crowing  rather  hoarsely 
this  evening." 

Dunwoody  cast  a  critical  glance  at  the 
Plymouth  Rock  rooster.  "  That  is  a  bad 
prognostic,"  he  observed.  "And  I  think,  all 
things  considered,  we  had  better  weigh  How- 
gate." 

Dunwoody  immediately  approached  the  bar- 
rel on  which  the  Chief  Signal  Officer's  feet  had 
been  resting,  and  removed  the  cover.  Both 
the  lieutenant  and  the  chief  peered  in  long 
and  intently.  Then  Dunwoody  took  from  a 
hook  on  the  wall  a  small  landing-net,  with 
which  he  proceeded  to  drag  the  contents  of 
the  barrel. 

After  several  ineffectual  efforts  he  scooped 
o^it  a  small  but  healthy  codfish,  dripping  with 
brine,  and  floundering  helplessly  as  Dunwoody 
laid  it  on  the  platform  of  a  small  pair  of 
scales. 

"  Sixteen  and  three-quarters,"  he  said. 

"Do  you  mind  telling  me,"  I  asked,  "why 
you  call  that  fish  Howgate  ?  " 

"  Because  we  keep  him  out  of  sight,"  said 
the  Chief  Signal  Officer  hastily,  without  look- 
ing up  from  his  memorandum  book.  "  Let's 
see !     The   noon   entry   is  fifteen-half ;    two 


64 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


o'clock,  fifteen-quarter.  Dunwoody,  that  d — d 
cod  has  gained  a  pound  and  a  half  since 
two  o'clock.'* 

"  My  gracious  ! "  said  Dunwoody. 

The  greatest  alarm  was  now  visible  upon  the 
Chief  Signal  Officer's  face.  It  was  evident 
that  the  portent  was  extraordinary.  Returned 
to  me,  as  if  for  sympathy. 

"  What  does  it  indicate  ? "  I  ventured  to  in- 
quire. 

"  Indicate,  man  ? "  he  shouted.  "  It  in- 
dicates that  a  devil  of  a  gale  is  brewing 
somewhere.  It  is  an  ascertained  fact  that  a 
codfish  takes  in  ballast  before  a  storm.  But  a 
pound  and  half  in  four  hours  !  The  records 
of  the  office  show  nothing  like  it.  Why,  the 
fish  gained  less  than  six  ounces  in  the  seven 
hours  preceding  the  great  tornado  of  Septem- 
ber !  Send  out  a  general  alarm,  Dunwoody, 
without  an  instant's  delay.  Order  up  the 
cautionary  signals  all  along  the  Atlantic  coast. 
Warn  the  observers  at  the  lake  ports  !  Pre- 
dict areas  of  unprecedentedly  low  pressure  on 
the  southeast  Rocky  Mountain  slope,  in  the 
Upper  Lake  region,  in  the  Florida  Peninsula, 
and  the  St.  Lawrence  Valley  I      Predict  'em 

everywhere  !     D it,  predict  anything  you 

please,  Dunwoody !     You  can't  draw  it 

too  strong  !  A  pound  and  a  half  in  four 
hours  ! " 

Dunwoody  rushed  off  as  though  a  cow- 
catcher was  at  his  heels,  and  the  Chief  Signal 
Officer  began  to  write  message  after  message 
like  one  whose  life  depended  upon  his  celer- 
ity. The  lively  tick  of  telegraph  instruments 
sounded  in  the  next  room.  People  hurried  to 
and  fro  in  the  corridors.  There  was  every  in- 
dication of  sudden  and  remarkable  activity 
throughout  the  headquarters  of  the  weather 
bureau.  At  last  the  Chief  Signal  officer  arose 
and  drew  a  long  breath. 

"  Phew  ! "  he  said.  "  Everything  has  been 
done  that  can  be  done.  All  we  can  do  now 
is  to  catch  on  to  something  by  our  eye-teeth 
and  wait  till  the  racket's  over."  Then  he  per- 
ceived me  again.  "  Hallo  !  "  he  said,  rather 
curtly.  "  You  here  still  ?  Well,  what  can^I 
do  for  you  now  ?  " 

"  General,"  said  I,  "  I  called  to  learn 
whether  it  is  true  that  the  Signal  Office  has 
just  procured  a  new  Bulgarian  bullfrog,  who 
tells  you  by  the  way  he  jumps  which  way  the 
wind  is  going  to  blow  ? " 

"Certainly,  it  is  true,"  replied  the  Chief 
Signal  Officer  ;  "  and  he  affords  some  of  our 
most  valuable  prognostics.  He  is  a  great  ac- 
cession to  the  service.     You  can  see  him  if 


you  like ;  he  ought  to  be  somewhere  about 
the  floor." 

We  searched  the  floor,  but  found  no  bullfrog. 
The  Chief  Signal  Officer  once  more  rang  his 
bell. 

**  George,"  said  he,  "  we  can't  find  Sir  Isaac 
Newton.     Where  is  Sir  Isaac  Newton  ?" 

The  darkey  grinned. 

"  De  bullfrog,  Gen'l  ?"  said  he.  "  De  bull- 
frog  'peared  too  lazy  to  prognostercate  dis 
afternoon,  and  I  done  put  him  in  de  barrel  to 
soak  'long  wid  de  fish." 

With  a  remark  indicating  a  limited  area  of 
uncommonly  high  pressure,  the  Chief  Signal 
Officer  kicked  over  the  barrel.  A  gallon  or 
or  two  of  brine  rushed  out,  and  on  the  tail  of 
the  flood  the  codfish  came  sprawling,  but  there 
was  no  Bulgarian  bullfrog  there. 

Our  minds  grasped  the  situation  simultane- 
ously. We  exchanged  a  look  of  intelligence. 
The  Chief  Signal  Officer  sank  back  in  his  arm- 
chair, and  his  face  was  very  white. 

"  O,  Lord  !"  he  faintly  groaned,  "  Howgate 
has  swallowed  Sir  Isaac  Newton  !" 

That  is  why  the  terrible  cataclysm  recently 
predicted  by  the  Signal  Service  Office  did  not 
come  to  time.  The  prognostication  was  based 
on  misleading*  data.  The  codfish  gained  a 
pound  and  one-half  in  four  hours,  because  he 
swallowed  the  bullfrog.  But  what  a  tornado 
it  would  have  been  ! — Ex. 


THE    LEGEND    OF    SNAKE    HILL. 


Snake  Hill,  which  rises  abruptly  out  of  the 
meadows  of  the  Hackensack,  accompanied  by 
a  smaller  one  some  few  hundred  yards  distant, 
has  often  been  noticed  on  account  of  the  re- 
markable position  it  occupies  in  the  swampy 
land  surrounding.  With  much  truth  we  may 
compare  it  to  a  solitary  island  in  an  ocean  of 
marshes. 

One  bright  day  during  that  loveliest  season 
of  the  year  so  appropriately  called  Indian 
summer,  I  was  strolling  over  the  wooded  por- 
tion of  this  hill,  almost  imagining  myself  in 
some  yet  unexplored  region,  and  barely  real- 
izing the  fact  that  the  great  city  was  so  near. 
Standing  on  a  rocky  cliff  on  the  southern  side 
of  the  hill  and  looking  over  the  meadows,  I 
was  wondering  whether  there  were  any  old 
Indian  legends  connected  with  the  hill,  when 
I  perceived  an  old  man  to  my  right  hand  side 
gathering  a  bundle  of  the  fragrant  herb 
known  as  pennyroyal.  On  speaking  with  him 
I  learned  that  he  was  one  of  the  oldest  inmates 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


65 


ot  the  poorhouse  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill, 
and  in  further  conversation  I  elicited  the  fol- 
lowing legend,  which  I  am  confident  has  never 
before  been  seen  in  print : 

Among  the  first  white  settlers  along  the 
shores  of  the  Hudson  was  one  Jacob  Klauser, 
a  well  built  and  substantial  looking  man  of 
some  forty  years  of  age.  He  was  very  deter- 
mined, and,  having  once  made  up  his  mind, 
nothing  short  of  a  miracle  could  induce  him 
to  change  it ;  besides,  he  was  inclined  to 
be  overbearing  toward  his  neighbors,  and 
especially  toward  the  friendly  Indians,  whom 
he  treated  almost  insultingly.  Ind,eed,  the 
only  good  point  about  him  was  that  he  had  a 
beautiful  daughter,  a  most  charming  maiden, 
whose  lot  it  seemed  to  be  to  make  all  happy 
with  whom  she  came  in  contact.  So  kind  and 
civil  was  she  to  the  Indians  that  they  named 
her  Tawaso,  the  gentle  Tawaso. 

Kahanota  was  a  chief  of  no  small  note  in 
that  region  ;  his  name  was  ever  linked  with 
noble  and  courageous  deeds,  and  he  was  never 
known  to  act  unmanly  toward  either  friend 
or  foe.  It  was  his  fortune  (or  misfortune)  to 
fall  deeply  in  love  with  Klauser's  daughter, 
and  she,  being  aware  of  the  fact,  was  not  un- 
willing that  he  should  continue  his  attentions. 

After  several  months  had  passed,  during 
which  he  had  often  seen  her  and  made  known 
his  love,  Kahanota  called  at  Klauser's  cabin, 
bearing  as  a  present  a  deer  and  an  eagle, 
which  he  had  shot.  Making  known  his  inten- 
tions, and  declaring  his  loyalty,  he  asked  the 
hand  of  the  fair  Tawaso. 

Klauser,  in  a  towering  passion,  at  even  the 
thought  of  such  a  thing,  rudely  repulsed  him, 
and  commanded  him  never  again  to  enter  his 
door.  Kahanota  retired,  but  planned  an 
elopement  with  the  girl,  and  one  night  bore 
her  safely  to  his  wigwam,  situated  on  the  hill, 
whose  Indian  name  was  Wakonak,  known  now 
to  us  as  Snake  Hill. 

After  the  discovery  of  the  deed,  Klauser 
learned  the  place  of  Kahanota's  retreat,  and 
instantly  repaired  thither.  It  was  no  easy  task, 
however,  to  reach  Wakonak,  for  the  swamps 
which  now  appear  to  us  so  bare  were  then  a 
forest  of  trees  and  tangled  underwood. 

However,  after  much  delay,  he  arrived  at 
the  hill,  and  running  up  to  the  summit  found 
it  deserted  ;  Kahanota  and  his  companions 
had  fled.  Klauser  then  rushed  down  the  side 
of  the  hill  to  the  river  bank,  just  in  time  to 
see  a  company  of  canoes  in  the  middle  of  the 
river,  headed  up  stream.  At  first,  frantic  with 
rage,  he  knew  not  what  to  do,  but  then,  mas- 


tering himself,  he  thought  of  a  plot.  Taking 
advantage  of  Kahanota's  strict  sense  of  honor 
and  truth,  he  made  signals  of  peace  to  him, 
asking  him  to  return  and  he  would  make  a 
treaty,  forgiving  all. 

Kahanota's  companions  begged  him  not 
to  return,  assuring  him  that  the  white 
man  would  prove  false  ;  but  the  chief  bade 
them  be  silent.  **What,  will  a  man  lie  to 
Kahanota  ?"  said  he.  They  pulled  ashore, 
therefore,  and  leading  the  girl,  Kahanota  ad- 
vanced toward  Klauser,  who  received  them 
with  every  manifestation  of  friendliness. 

"Come  up  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  where 
the  sun  may  witness  our  treaty  of  peace, 
brother,"  said  he,  and  the  trusting  Indian  as- 
cended with  him  to  the  top  of  the  cliff,  ac- 
companied by  Tawaso,  who  kept  her  hand  in 
his. 

There,  surrounded  by  Kahanota's  family, 
the  two  swore  eternal  peace  and  friendship. 
After  some  further  talk,  Klauser,  watching  his 
opportunity,  rushed  at  Kahanota  and  pushed 
him  over  the  precipice.  There  was  a  shout, 
and  several  of  the  younger  Indians  stepped 
forward  to  serve  the  treacherous  white  man 
the  same  way,  but  the  older  ones  in  the  com- 
pany restrained  them,  and  addressing  Klauser 
in  tones  of  the  deepest  contempt,  Kahanota's 
brother  said : 

"  The  pale  face  is  too  base  a  dog  to  deserve 
death  at  the  hands  of  even  his  enemies  ;  let 
him  return  with  his  daughter  to  his  place. 
We  will  travel  up  the  river  and  seek  a  new 
home.  But  look  you  here,  pale  face,'*  he  con- 
tinued, "  this  hill,  Wakonak,  shall  your  people 
inhabit,  indeed,  but  all  who  do  so  shall  be  of 
your  poor  ones,  your  wicked,  or  your  de- 
mented !" 

With  these  words  the  Indians  departed,  and 
Klauser  returned  home  with  his  daughter. 
The  poor  girl,  however,  lost  her  reason  and 
died  of  a  broken  heart.  Klauser  soon  after- 
ward left  the  place  and  was  seen  no 
more. 

With  these  words  the  story  closed  : 

"  We  are  standing  on  that  very  cliff  now," 
said  the  old  man,  "  and  you  noticed,  did  you 
not,  the  poorhouse,  the  reform  school,  and 
the  lunatic  asylum  on  the  other  side  of  the 
hills  ?" 

The  old  man  then  left  me,  and  I  stood  for 
some  time  looking  over  the  brink  of  the  preci- 
pice and  running  over  again  in  my  mind  the 
legend  of  Wakonak. 

Albitan. 


66 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


WORTH  A  LICKING. 


Some  years  ago,  in  Georgia,  that  band  of 
Christians  known  as  Ascension ists  were  having 
a  grand  revival.  One  day  when  the  meeting 
was  in  full  force  a  storm  came  up,  and  a 
young  gentleman  who  was  out  hunting  with  his 
servant  took  refuge  in  the  church  vestibule. 
Being  curious  to  see  the  service,  the  two  hun- 
ters crept  up  into  the  gallery,  and  there  hid  in 
a  place  where  they  could  observe  without 
being  observed. 

"  Come,  Lord,  come  ;  our  robes  are  ready. 
Come,  Lord,  come,**  cried  the  preacher,  while 
all  present  gave  a  loud  "  Amen." 

'*  Marse  Gabe,'*  whispered  CufFy,  lifting  his 
hunting  horn  to  his  mouth,  "  let  me  gib  dem 
jist  one  toot." 

"Put  that  horn  down,  or  1*11  break  your 
head,**  replied  the  master,  in  a  whisper. 

The  horn  dropped  by  Cuffy*s  side,  and 
again  the  minister  cried  : 

"  Come,  Lord,  come  ;  we  are  all  ready  for 
Thy  coming.     Come,  Lord,  come." 

*  Do,  massa,  Gabe — do  jist  lemme  gib  *em 
jist  one  little  toot,**  pleaded  Cuffy,  wetting  his 
lips  and  raising  the  horn. 

"If  you  don't  drop  that  horn,  Cuffy,  1*11 
whip  you  with  an  inch  of  your  life,**  whispered 
the  exasperated  master. 

"  Blow,  Gabriel,  blow  ;  we  are  ready  for 
His  coming.  Blow,  Gabriel,  blow,*'  pleaded 
the  minister. 

Cuffy  could  no  longer  resist  the  temptation, 
and  sent  a  wild  peal  ringing  from  end  to  end 
of  the  church  ;  but  long  before  its  last  echo 
died  away  his  master  and  himself  were  the  only 
occupants  of  the  building. 

"Ts  ready  fur  de  licking,  Massa  Gabe,*' 
said  Cuffy,  showing  every  tooth  in  his  head, 
"  for  I  *clare  to  gracious  it's  worf  two  lickings 
to  see  de  way  common  farm  cattle  kin  git  ober 
de  ground  wid  skeared  *  Scensionists*  behind 
dem." 


<^»» 


We  do  not  desire  to  raise  any  false  hopes  in 
the  minds  of  our  fellow  students,  but  it  does 
look  very  much  like  business  when  we  hear 
of  measurements  being  taken,  from  which  es- 
timates have  been  made  for  a  new  gymnasium. 
Our  source  of  information  tells  us  that  some 
attention  has  been  paid  to  the  suggestion  of 
one  of  the  students,  "  that  a  stock  company  be 


formed  and  a  gymnasium  be  built,  and  charge 
the  students  desiring  to  attend,  so  much,  suf- 
ficient to  pay  the  company  for  its  invest- 
ment.** 

There  is  no  reason  why  this  suggestion 
should  not  be  acted  upon.  We  certainly 
ought  to  have  friends  enough  by  this  time  to 
advance  to  us  the  money  for  such  a  project.  It 
is  worthy  of  their  notice,  and  at  any  rate  we 
do  not  see  how  they  will  be  the  losers  by  their 
kindness,  especially  as  the  affair  can  be  made 
self  supporting. 

The  proposed  building,  as  estimated  for,  will 
be  seventy-five  feet  long  and  forty-eight  feet 
wide,  and  will  be  built  at  the  end  of  the  old 
gymnasium,  or,  as  it  is  now  called,  the  shop  ; 
in  fact,  it  will  be  an  extension  to  the  shop  and 
put  up  in  very  much  the  same  style,  strong 
and  substantial,  with  all  modern  improvements, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  sufficently  near  the 
boiler  to  allow  of  its  being  heated  during  the 
months  when  it  will  it  be  most  patronized. 


*  ^  » » 


A  LESSON. 


CHAP.  I. 


There  was  an  inveterate  smoker, 

Who  played  a  queer  game  called  draw  poker ; 

He  said  that  his  girl 

Was  a  regular  pearl, 
And  he  loved  her  so  hard  he  could  choke  her. 

CHAP.  II. 

Now  his  eirl  knew  quite  well  how  to  box, 
And  could  strike  out  quite  like  a  young  ox  ; 

So  she  hit  him  a  whack 

In  the  small  of  his  back. 
Which  made  him  think  of  a  land-ilide  of  rocks. 

CONCLUSION. 

This  young  man  is  no  longer  a  smoker, 
He  has  also  quit  being  a  joker, 

For  he  thinks  the  above 

Not  conducive  to  love, 
And  has  become  quite  an  urgent  teetot'ler. 


E.  H. 


« ♦  » » 


The  election  of  editors  for  the  Indicator 
Board  will  be  held  before  vacation.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  the  Constitution 
of  the  Indicator  :  "  At  the  end  of  each  schol- 
astic year  the  three  then  lowest  classes  will 
elect,  each  of  them,  two  editors  from  among 
their  number,  to  be  subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  outgoing  board  ;  and  at  the  beginning  of 
the  ensuing  year  the  then  Freshman  Class  will 
elect  one  editor  from  among  their  number.'* 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


67 


THE  RHYME  OF  THE  HERCULES  CLUB. 

Being  a    ballad  of  to-day ,   designed   to  illustrate  the 

principle  of  reaction^  and  to  set  forth  how 

ikere  may  be  too  much  of  an 

excellent  thing. 

There  was  once  a  young  man  of  the  medium  size, 
Who,  by  keeping  a  ledger,  himself  kept  likewise. 
In  the  matter  of  lunch  he'd  a  leaning  to  pies, 
And  his  chronic  dv>pepsia  will  hence  not  surprise; 
And  his  friends  often  told  him.  with  tears  in  tneir  eyes, 
Which  they  did  not  disguise,  that  a  person  who  tries 
To  live  without  exercise  generally  dies. 
And  declared  for  the  sake  of  his  family  ties, 
He  should  enter  the  Hercules  Club. 

Tom  Box  and  Dick  Dumbbell  would  suasively  say. 
If  they  met  him  by  chance  in  the  roar  of  Broadway, 
"  It's  bad  for  a  fellow,  all  work  and  no  play; 
Come,  let  us  propose  3rou  !  You'll  find  it  will  pay 
To  belong  to  the  Hercules  Club  !" 

And  he  yielded  at  last,  and  they  put  up  his  name, 
Which  was  found  without  blame;  and  they  put  down 

the  same 
In  a  roll-book  tremendous;  and  straight  he  became 
A  Samson,  regarding  his  tame  past  with  shaYne; 
Called  for  "Beef,  lean  and  rare!"  and  cut  ofif  all  his 

hair, 
Had  his  shoulders  constructed  abnormally  square, 
And  walked  out  with  an  air  that  made  people  declare, 
••  He  belongs  to  ihe  Hercules  Club!" 

And  he  often  remarked,  in  original  way  : 
"  It's  bad  for  a  fellow,  all  work  and  no  play; 
Without  recreation,  sir,  life  doesn't  pay  ! 
And  I  for  my  part  am  most  happy  to  say 
I  belong  to  the  Hercules  Club.** 

And  frequently,  during  a  very  hot  ** spell," 
In  thick  woolen  garments  clad  closely  and  well, 
"  Reducing  " — for  he  was  resolved  to  excel, — 
He  rowed  in  the  sun  at  full  speed,  in  a  shell 
That  belonged  to  the  Hercules  Club. 

And  for  weeks,  while  the  dew  on  the  racing-track  lay, 
He  ran  before  breakfast  a  half  mile  a  day, 
Improving  his  style  and  increasing  his  "  stay  ;" 
And  was  first  at  the  finish,  and  fainted  away, 
At  the  games  of  the  Hercules  Club. 

Six  nights  in  succession  he  sat  up  to  pore 
'*  The  Laws  of  Athletics  "  devotedly  o'er 
(Which  number  ten  thousand  and  seventy-four). 
With  a  view  to  proposing  a  very  few  more 
In  a  speech  to  the  Hercules  Club. 

And  his  coat  upon  festal  occasions  was  gay 
With  medals  on  medals,  marked  "  H.  A.  A.  A.," 
With  a  motto  in  Greek  (which,  my  lore  to  display, 
Means  **  Pleasure  is  business  "),  a  splendid  array 
Of  the  spoils  of  the  Hercules  Club. 

But  acquJiintances  not  of  the  muscular  kind 
Began  to  observe  that  his  brow  was  deep-lined. 
Too  brilliant  his  eye,  and  to  wander  inclined; 
He  appeared,  in  a  word  (early  English),  *  *  forepined  ;" 
And  one  morning  his  ledger  and  desk  he  resigned, 
Kxplaining,  *'  I  can't  have  my  health  undermined 
By  this  *  demnition  grind  ;'  and  I'm  getting  behind 
In  my  duties  as  captain  "  (an  office  defined, 
P^  hundred  and  two,  in  the  by-laws  that  bind 
With  red  tape  the  great  Hercules  Club). 


And  he  further  remarked,  in  most  serious  way  : 
"  Give  it  up,  did  you  say  ?  'Twill  be  frigid,  that  day  ! 
Why,  without  relaxation,  sir,  life  wouldn't  pay! 
And  I,  for  my  part,  will  remain  till  I'm  gray 
On  the  roll  of  the  Hercules  Club." 

You  perceive,  gentle  reader,  the  rub. 
Is  it  nobler  to  suffer  those  arrows  and  slings 
Lack  of  exercise  brings — or  take  clubs,  and  let  things 
Unconnected  with  matters  athletic  take  wings; 
Till  all  interests  beside,  like  the  Arabs,  shall  glide 
Yxorti  the  landscape  of  life,  once  a  plain  free  and  wide. 
But  now  fenced  for  the  ** Games"  which  we  lightly  be- 
gan, 
Grown  our  serious  aims  and  the  chief  end  of  man  ? 
There's  an  aureate  mean  these  two  courses  between. 
But  I  humbly  submit  that  it  seldom  is  seen. 
With  all  proper  respect  for  that  organization 
Of  benevolent  purpose  and  high  reputation. 

The  excellent  Hercules  Club! 

— Helen  Gray  Cone. 


PACKING. 


Professor  {Hearing  a  recitation  in  Physics): 
"  Mr.  Blank,  whose  goniometer  is  this  ? " 
Mr.  Blank  :   "Yours,  sir;  1  guess." 

Student  {Explaining  a  problem  in  Analytical 
Mechanics) :  "  I  have  taken  the  origin  of 
moments  at  both  ends." 

Professor  ( Trying  in  vain  to  suppress  a 
smile)  :  "  That  is  all  right,  sir.  One  of  these 
young  men  smiled  at  me,  I  don't  know  what 
about,  and  I  am  very  sympathetic,  and  had  to 
smile  too." 


<  #  » » 


s^nyFFr^s  Bex. 


Multum  in  parvoy  properly  translated,  means 
Third  Term  in  Stevens. 

The  catalogue  of  the  Institute  for  this  year 
will  be  out  in  about  a  week. 

"  Turn  the  twig  and  the  branch  will  be 
straight,"  says  a  Hoboken  divine. 

A   letter  was  sent  to  a  gentleman  at  the 

institute  addressed  to  Rev.  M. ,  Stevens 

Theological  Institute. 

Two  preps,  one  six  feet,  the  other  five  feet 
ten  inches  high,  passed  themselves  off  as  chil- 
dren at  the  lacrosse  tournament. 

The  German  band  is  assuming  immense 
proportions,  both  as  to  tone  and  size,  in  this 
city  of  beer  and  elopements. 


68 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


It  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  students  will 
take  more  or  less  interest  in  the  Electrical 
Exhibition  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia  next 
fall. 

The  suggestion  of  the  Eccentric^  for  the 
two  lower  classes  to  straighten  the  fence 
about  the  Athletic  Association  grounds,  is  a 
good  one. 

The  Eccentric  has  arrived,  and  received  a 
very  flattering  reception.  The  next  question 
which  agitates  the  student  mind  is  when  will 
the  Bolt  be  out  ? 

Our  coat  room  correspondent  sends  word 
that  much  wealth  changes  hands  in  said  room 
from  the  Freshmen's  over  delight  in  the  art  of 
pitching  pennies. 

The  idea  of  a  college  pin,  published  in  the 
last  number  of  the  Indicator,  was  a  good 
one,  and  we  are  surprised  that  no  one  has 
taken  any  interest  in  it. 

The  two  senior  members  of  the  Editorial 
Board  are  absent  on  thesis  work  ;  if  the 
Indicator  degenerates  at  all,  our  readers 
will  kindly  lay  it  to  this  cause. 

That  blooded  put-down-two-and-carry-one 
horse,  which  is  being  utilized  for  motive  power 
at  the  grounds,  is  familiarly  known  to  lovers 
of  the  Turf  as  "  St.  George." 

Some  of  the  classes  which  are  kept  by  the 
professors  over  the  hour,  experience  consider- 
able difficulty  in  attending  the  next  recitation 
in  time  to  prevent  being  marked  late. 

The  Sophomores  are  anxious  to  give  expres- 
sion to  their  ideas  on  Messrs.  Shaw  &  Tuck- 
erman  in  some  befitting  manner.  A  plan  is 
brewing  for  some  kind  of  a  celebration. 

If  ever  you  see  in  S.  I.  T., 

A  man  with  a  broken  jaw. 
You  may  bet  your  shekels  five  to  three 

It  was  cracked  while  "  boning  "  Shaw. 

Mr. — well,  we  won't  mention  his  name — was 
much  lacerated  lately,  as  the  result  of  a  rash 
attempt  to  keep  himself  "  heads  up  "  with  the 
large  wheel  of  his  bicycle  in  the  street,  and  the 
small  one  groping  about  for  a  resting-place. 

A  Freshie  receives  mail  matter  with  a  C.  E. 
tacked  on  to  his  name.  Be  wary,  my  boy,  or 
you  may  fall  into  the  evil  practices  that  some 
of  your  predecessors  have  been  overwhelmed 
in,  and  they — but  at  any  rate  don't  become  too 
much  titled. 


The  clock  of  the  German  church  was 
stopped  quite  frequently  by  the  storms  of 
sleet  this  winter,  and  has  since  been  trying  to 
catch  up.  This  fact,  probably,  will  explain 
some  of  the  late  marks  opposite  certain  Sopho- 
more's names. 

We  may  congratulate  ourselves  that  our  an- 
nuals take  the  form  of  something  readable,  and 
not  as  most  other  publications  from  else-, 
where,  whose  chief  aim  seems  to  be  to  fill 
page  after  page  with  little  of  interest,  except^- 
ing  printers'  ink. 

Mr.  Randolph,  '86,  has  been  obliged  to  leave 
college  on  account  of  his  eyes.  They  have 
troubled  him  considerably  since  his  illness, 
and  his  physician  has  recommended  rest.  He 
will  not  return  until  next  fall,  when  we  hope 
to  see  him  with  us  again.  • 

A  certain  student  tells  us  (and  he  had  entire 
control  of  all  his  senses  at  the  time)  that  he 
dressed  himself,  enjoyed  a  good  breakfast,  and 
got  to  college — three  blocks  from  the  house — 
inside  of  nineteen  minutes.  Now,  why  shouldn't 
he  enter  for  the  spring  games  ? 

The  Preps  have  a  very  good  nine,  and  ex- 
pect to  capture  all  the  glories  this  season.  The 
battery  will  be  Ducommun,  pitcher,  and  Ald- 
ridge,  catcher;  Whigham,  Harvey,  L.  Mowry 
and  Paltberg  comprise  the  infield,  and  Phelps, 
Isaacs  and  W.  Mowry  the  outfield.  Quite  a 
number  of  games  have  been  arranged. 

One  of  the  Sophomores,  feeling  that  his  class 
was  not  properly  sustaining  their  reputation  as 
a  class,  invested  in  a  "  tile."  As  soon  as  he 
becomes  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  laws 
of  equilibrium,  and  can  safely  venture  out 
without  fear  of  it  toppling  off,  he  will  exhibit 
and  stir  his  classmates  to  a  proper  sense  of 
their  duty. 

Prof.  Kroeh  is  kindly  devoting  considerable 
extra  time  each  week  to  those  students  in  *86 
who  were  unfortunate  in  German  last  year. 
The  members  of  the  class  who  are  enjoying 
this  privilege  greatly  appreciate  the  effort 
made  in  their  behalf,  and  are  now  unanimous 
in  the  opinion  "  that  the  German  tongue  is 
worth  mastering." 

The  need  of  suitable  accommodations  for  the 
visitors  at  the  lacrosse  tournament  was  sadly 
felt.  But  there  are  hopes  of  a  grand  stand, 
for  we  noted  with  delight  that  one  of  the  en- 
tertainment committee,  from  whose  efforts  the 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


69 


money  is  to  come  for  the  erection  of  a  grand 
stand,  actually  blushed  (with  shame)  when  the 
subject  was  mentioned. 

It  is  with  regret  that  we  note  the  departure 
of  Mr.  Bush  for  the  West.  He  has  gone 
away  on  business,  and  at  present  he  tells  us 
it  is  probable  he  will  not  be  here  for  com- 
mencement. Those  of  us  who  have  known 
Mr.  Bush  intimately  will  greatly  miss  him, 
especially  as  the  time  draws  near  for  the  gen- 
eral jollification  at  the  end  of  the  term. 

The  general  good  feeling  which  exists  be- 
tween the  townspeople  and  the  students  is  a 
fact  worthy  of  notice.  In  former  years  students 
were  regarded  as  too  uncivilized  machines  to 
tolerate.  The  Hoboken  paper  makes  note  of 
all  that  is  interesting  about  the  Institute*  and 
thus  helps  to  increase  the  already  pleasant  re- 
lations between  the  Instituter  and  Hobokenite, 

The  entertainment  begins  to  promise  some- 
thing real.  The  date  will  be  about  May  20. 
The  committee  propose  having  a  minstrel  en- 
tertainment, the  various  parts  to  be  taken  by 
the  students.  The  glee  club  will  occupy  a 
prominent  part,  supported  by  the  Valencia  or- 
chestra of  Hoboken.  The  prospects  are  prom- 
ising, and  we  hope  the  students  will  join  in 
the  endeavor  to  make  it  a  success. 

One  of  the  mayors  of  Hoboken,  who  held 
the  command  of  a  company  of  militia  some 
years  back,  was  captivating  the  hearts  of  his 
fellow  citizens  by  the  soldierly  bearing  of  him- 
self and  his  company,  when  a  street  car  ap- 
peared and  threatened  to  mar  the  symmetry 
of  his  command ;  but  he  was  equal  to  the 
occasion,  and  promptly  ordered  :  **  Company, 
split  in  the  middle  and  let  the  car  pass." 

Does  the  amount  of  mathematics  we  have 
each  day  interfere  with  the  proper  preparation 
for  the  other  departments  ?  Why,  no  indeed  ! 
A  student,  after  spending  several  hours  hard 
work  on  calculus  and  descriptive,  has  time 
sufficient  for  the  other  studies  of  the  day  to 
tell  his  fellow  students  next  morning  that 
Alexander  Hamilton,  the  writer  and  statesman, 
"died  while  on  a  summer  excursion  in  the 
country." 

A  fact  has  come  to  light  that  one  who  is 
given  to  star  gazing  and  navigating  on  moon- 
light nights,  has  rigged  up  a  powerful  tele- 
scope in  his  window,  which  has  a  swing  of 
sufficient   extent    to  grasp  all  opportunities 


which  may  offer  themselves  in  the  neighbor- 
ing windows.  The  experiment  is  a  success,  if 
we  are  to  judge  from  the  amount  of  handker- 
chief shaking  and  the  frequency  of  evening 
voyages,  which  have  long  since  ceased  to  be 
limited  to  moonlight  nights. 

The  French  cannon,  which  was  dug  up  in 
the  Elysian  fields  about  a  month  ago,  has  lost 
its  revolutionary  glory,  as  it  has  been  identified 
by  some  of  the  old  residents  of  Hoboken  as 
the  property  of  a  French  aeronaut,  who  made 
balloon  ascensions  from  the  spot  now  occupied 
by  River  Terrace.  This  was  about  forty 
years  ago,  and  the  supposition  is  that  the  gun 
was  buried  at  the  time  of  the  Turn  riots.  The 
Hoboken  Advertiser  had  quite  an  interesting 
article  concerning  the  history  of  the  piece. 

The  playing  of  the  base  ball  team  with  the 
picked  nine  in  Brooklyn  was  a  surprise  to 
every  one.  The  pitcher's  work  was  very  effect- 
ive; the  catcher  supported  him  well,  making 
some  brilliant  throws  to  second  base.  The 
fielding  ranged  from  poor  to  all  that  could  be 
desired.  The  game  was  enlivened  by  a  little 
foot  ball  practice  on  the  part  of  one  of  the 
substitutes,  who  figured  to  advantage  in  last 
fairs  eleven;  his  method  of  putting  men  out 
should  not  be  practiced  to  any  great  extent, 
unless  some  of  the  opposing  nine  are  playing 
too  well.  But  five  innings  were  played,  the 
score  being  6  to  2  in  favor  of  Stevens. 

A — h  !  says  the  college  student,  when 
"  Prof."  Donaldson  superintended  the  re- 
moval of  the  winter  doors  to  the  Institute, 
"  the  foot  races  and  the  festive  gambols  of  the 
Prep,  the  tramping  of  his  feet  and  those  wild 
rantings  of  his  will  soon  be  things  of  the 
past.  Our  halls  will  miss  those  banana  peels 
and  discarded  burnt  crusts  of  ham  sandwiches, 
for  the  merry-making  and  the  lunch  counter 
of  the  Prep  will,  until  the  time  for  the  falling 
of  the  leaves,  be  upon  the  Campus."  And  he 
is  content,  and  goeth  away  wondering  if  the 
base  ball  team  can  practise  in  the  drawing- 
room,  for  Prepdom  has  settled  on  the  Campus. 

Thusly  does  one  of  the  sufferers  picture  the 
daily  scene  in  Prof.  Thurston's  room.  Mr.  B. 
having  finished  a  recitation  sits  down.  Stu- 
dents abandon  their  free  and  easy  postures  and 
sit  straight  in  their  chairs,  and  anxiously  watch 
the  professor's  hand  as  he  slowly  and  critically 
travels  down  the  list.  A  sickly,  deathlike 
stillness  prevails;  nobody  breathes,  and  one 
can  tell  by  the  spare-me-but-take-my-neighbor 


L 


•JO 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


expression  upon  each  countenance  that  no  one 
has  studied  the  lesson.  Slowly  but  surely  the 
pencil  moves  on — it  stops — it  moves  on,  and 
stops  again.  "Mr.  M."  Mr.  M.  rises,  and  a 
long  drawn  sigh  of  relief,  sounding  like  the 
murmuring  of  the  gentle  night  wind,  goes  up 
from  the  assembled  M.  E's,  and  all  is  serene 
once  more. 


» ^  » » 


Arthur  B.  Henderson  is  now  employed 
in  the  Delamater  Iron  Works,  N.  J. 

F.  K.  Irwin  is  at  present  employed  in  the 
Wisconsin  Central  R.  R.  Co.,  Stevens  Point, 
Wis. 

Frank  Magee  is  in  New  York,  with  the 
Commercial  Telegraph  Co. 


^  » > 


JF§B  CeilUBSB  WeRllB. 


Columbia. — The  college  will  be  represented 
in  the  intercollegiate  tennis  tournament,  to  be 

held  in  Hartford  this  month. Tuition  prices 

will  be  raised  from  $ioo  to  $150  per  year.- 


Fifteen  men  are  in  training  for  a  Freshman 
race,  to  be  held  at  Hartford  during  the  com- 
ing summer. Every  copy  of  the  Columbiad 

has  been  sold. The  Freshmen  fared  badly 

in   the   last  examination. Dr.  Bilhngs,  of 

Philadelphia,  is  to  lecture  on  **  Sanitary  Engi- 
neering **  in  the  School  of  Mines. 

Harvard. — Only  one  Professor  receives  a 

salary  of  $5,000  per  year. The  average 

standing  of  the  forty-eight  girls  in  the  Harvard 
annex  is  higher  than  that  of  the  men  in  the 
University. Several  valuable  autograph  let- 
ters of  Christopher  Columbus  have  recently 

been  presented  to  the  Harvard  library. The 

editors  of  the  Lampoon  have  notified  their 
subscribers  that  unless  unpaid  dues  are  paid 
immediately  the  paper  will  suspend  publication. 

Out  of  eighteen  Harvard  graduates  since 

1 88 1,  who  now  occupy  prominent  positions  on 
various  newspapers,  thirteen  were  formerly  on 
the  staff  of  one  of  the  college  publications. 

Princeton. — One  man  will  be  entered  for 
each   event  in  the  collegiate  games  in  May. 

A  shorthand  writing  class  has  been  formed. 

A  club  has  been  formed  known  as  the 

Princeton  College  Sparring  Association.  The 
Faculty  have  given  the  club  use  of  a  North 

College  room. There  is  to  be  a  six-oared 

and  a  four-oared  crew;  quite  a  number  of  men 


are  practicing  daily  on  the  canal. The  Eu- 
ropean lacrosse  team  played  a  game  with  the 
Princeton  team  at  Princeton,  during  the  latter 

part  of   April. The  second  of  a  scries  of 

papers  on  pedagogics  has  been  delivered. 

Yale. — The    University    crew's    coxswain 

weighs  but  sixty-four  pounds. Mrs.  Law- 

rence,of  Chicago,  mother  of  the  late  T.  G.  Law- 
rence, class  of  '84,  has  given  the  college  fifty 

thousand  dollars  for  a  dormitory. The 

usual  number  of  Seniors  are  delaying  the  picture 
committee  in  the  vain  hope  that  their  mous- 
taches will  "brace  up." The  fleet  of  the 

Yacht  Club  has  a  schooner,  a  steam  launch, 

six   cabin   sloops   and    an    open    sloop. 

Twenty-five  thousand  dollars  has  been  raised 

for  a  new  building  for  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

There  are   113   men    in   '84. The    Nine 

visited  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  during  the 
spring  vacation  and  played  two  games  at  each 
place. Two  hundred  students  of  Prince- 
ton took  part  in  the  last  city  elections,  sup- 
porting and  electing  the  Democratic  candi- 
date.  The  treasurer  of  the  Foot  Ball  Asso- 
ciation shows  in  his  accounts  a  total  ex]>en- 
diture  of  $1,912.04.  The  association  has  been 
self-supporting,  having  collected  no  subscrip- 
tions, and  finished  the  season  with  a  balance 
of  $2.26  in  the  treasury. 

Elsewhere. — A  disturbance  between  the 
^* miners"  and  "chemists,"  in  the  labor- 
atory of  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology,  has  resulted  in  the  suspension 
of  several  students. The  mechanical  labor- 
atory of  the  University  of  Michigan  has 
had  a  new  upright  drill  added  to  their 
machines.  A  charge  is  made  that  the  "  Sophs" 
in  the  above  college    spell    base  ball   baze 

bawl  on  their  bulletin  board. It  is  stated 

that  during  the  past  term  the  Lafayette  Col- 
lege men  did  more  reading  than  usual  dur- 
ing the  second  term. Lehigh  has  applied 

for  admission  to  the  intercollegiate  tennis  as- 
sociation.  The    Dartmouth    faculty    have 

refused  permission  to  the  students  to  "  black 
up  "  for  minstrel  performances. The  stu- 
dents of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  will 
attempt  to  raise  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
for  a  gymnasium. Over  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  have  been  given  the  University  of 

Vermont  for  a  new  gymnasium. The  annual 

**  trip  "  at  Lafayette  was  a  complete  success, 
although  marred  slightly  by  unpleasant  weath- 
er.  The  Cornell  gymnasium  is  constantly 

filled  with  students  all  the  afternoon  imtil  dark. 
The  University  of  Michigan  has  thirteen 


_-  .1 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


71 


secret  societies. The  New  York  Evening 

Post  now  has  a  regular  correspondent  at  Yale, 
Princeton,  Lafayette,  Williams,  Amherst,  Cor- 
nell and  Harvard. Nine  American  colleges 

have  adopted  Oxford  hats. 

It  was  decided,  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the 
college  and  amateur  lacrosse  teams,  to  send  a 

national  team  to  England  and  Ireland. 

Wendell  Phillips  is  said  to  have  been  the  best 
scholar  and  athlete  in  his  class. 


■♦♦♦- 


ex6M]^6es, 


The  Electrical  Review  of  April  3  opens 
with  a  description  of  an  international  ex- 
hibition of  electrical  appliances  and  machinery, 
to  be  held  at  Philadelphia  the  coming  autumn, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Franklin  Institute. 
This  project,  which  is  already  under  way,  has 
received  especial  notice  from  our  government, 
and  will  probably  be,  in  extent  and  importance 
of  both  home  and  foreign  participation,  one  of 
the  most  notable  expositions  in  this  line  here- 
tofore held.  The  Review  also,  in  an  article  on 
electric  railways,  makes  an  energetic  attempt 
to  stir  up  the  American  public  to  a  realization 
of  our  tardiness  in  making  advancement  in 
this  line,  asserting  that,  while  England  has  a 
number  of  electrical  railways  in  use  and  in 
progress  of  construction,  we  Americans,  who 
are  generally  the  pioneers  and  do  the  com- 
mercial experimenting  for  the  world,  are, 
under  the  able  leadership  of  interested 
corporations,  pottering  with  wire  rope 
schemes. 

Considerable  space  is  devoted  to  a  consid- 
eration of  the  struggle  now  going  on  between 
the  citizens  and  officers  of   Boston  over  the 
proposed  reduction  of  electric  light  and  its 
replacement  by  gas,  the  citizens  demanding 
its  retention,  while  the  officials  propose  mak- 
ing the  change.   All  considerations  of  expense 
and  other  practical  points  bearing  on  the  ques- 
tion are  given,  rendering  the  article  a  very  in- 
structive   one.    •The    journal   also  contains 
much  other  matter  relative  to  inventions  and 
improvements,  all  written  in  a  practical  and 
interesting  manner. 

The  American  Engineer  presents  two  articles 
belonging  to  two  different  series  on  boiler  con- 
struction and  use,  the  second  article  of  the 
two  treating  especially  of  the  blast  furnace 
boiler.  In  a  short  article,  relative  to  the  pro- 
portioning of  castings,  the  too  common  idea 
that  mere  strength,  attained  by  the  addition  of 


so  much  metal,  is  the  desideratum,  is  combat- 
ed by  the  writer,  who  shows  the  superior- 
ity of  a  careful  distribution  of  metal  and  an 
efficient  system  of  braces  and  ribs,  which  in- 
sure proper  rigidity  and  at  the  same  time 
effect  vast  saving  of  material. 

The  article  "  Strains  and  Metals  in  Marine 
Construction  "  is  an  interesting  one,  treating 
largely  of  the  most  effective  modes  of  framing 
and  setting  up  engines  in  ships.  The  remain- 
ing articles  are  numerous,  and,  of  course, 
good. 

The  April  number  of  Van  Nostrand^s  En- 
gineering  Magazine  opens  with  an  interesting 
and  instructive  article  on  large  dams.  In  this 
article  the  variation  of  points  of  resultant 
strain  in  dams  of  alternately  empty  and  full 
reservoirs  is  illustrated,  and  the  methods  of 
construction,  adapted  to  insure  stability  under 
all  circumstances,  are  given  and  explained. 
The  article  on  "  Testing  Machines  *'  is  com- 
prehensive. Its  chief  feature  is  a  detailed  de- 
scription of  an  elaborate  testing  machine  manu- 
factured by  the  Fairbanks  Co.  One  of  the 
many  excellent  features  of  this  machine  is, 
that  by  transmitting  the  strain  through  steel 
hemispheres,  readily  movable  in  polished 
sockets,  the  direction  of  strain  is  auto- 
matically brought  into  coincidence  with  the 
axis  of  the  test  piece,  thus  preventing  lateral 
and  irregular  strains,  which  in  other  machines 
are  liable  to  be  produced.  In  addition  to 
these  articles  is  an  elaborate  one  on  **  The 
Theory  of  Stadia  Measurements,"  and  another 
on  the  flexure  of  long  columns,  in  which  the 
writer.  Professor  S.  W.  Robinson,  defends  one 
of  his  former  productions  against  the  attacks 
of  Professor  W.  H.  Burr.  The  remaining 
articles  are  numerous  and  worthy  of  atten- 
tion. 

The  Electrician  and  Electrical  Engineer  con- 
tains, in  addition  to  a  number  of  interesting 
editorials,  several  very  instructive  articles. 
The  first  of  these  is  the  concluding  article  of 
a  series  by  Professor  Thurston  on  "  Steam 
Engines  for  Electric  Lighting  Plants,"  in 
which  are  explained  and  discussed  two  inter- 
esting forms  of  the  high  speed  engine — one 
designed  for  electric  lighting  purposes,  by 
John  Ericsson,  and  the  Westinghouse  engine. 
The  latter,  which  is  a  single  acting  engine  of 
novel  construction,  has  attained,  experiment- 
ally, the  remarkable  speed  of  2,700  revolu- 
tions per  minute.  .  The  succeeding  article  is  a 
critical  review  of  some  of  the  work  of  the 
jury  in  the  recent  electrical  tests  at  the  Cin- 
cinnati Exposition,  the  writer  demonstrating 


I 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


the  inaccuracy  of  both  the  work  and  deduc- 
tions. An  excellent  article  is  one  of  a  series 
on  the  "  Mechanical  Explanation  of  Electric 
Units." 

The  first  April  number  of  Mechapucs  is 
filled  with  excellent  articles,  accompanied  by 
the  best  of  illustrations  ;  the  latter  are  a  de- 
cidedly noticeable  feature  of  the  paper.  Two 
interesting  articles  are  :  one,  on  a  new  form  of 
boiler,  the  Pelestot,  of  French  design  and 
manufacture ;  and  the  second,  on  an  auto- 
matic valve  motion,  designed  for  winding 
engines  ;  both  are  accompanied  by  complete 
drawings. 

The  North  Western  for  Ai)ril  contains,  in 
addition  to  a  considerable  amount  of  local 
matter,  a  well  written  article  by  a  free  trade 
writer  on  "  The  Surplus  Revenue,"  the  various 
dangers  arising  from  the  present  rapid  ac- 
cumulation of  revenue  receipts  being  present- 
ed and  remedies  proposed  and  discussed. 

The  first  April  number  of  the  Oberlin  Re- 
vietv  is  an  excellent  one,  two  very  entertain- 
ing articles  being  given,  one  on  "  The  Poetry 
of  James  Russell  Lowell "  and  the  second  on 
"  Bret  Harte."  The  traits  of  character  of 
both  writers,  as  manifested  in  their  writings, 
are  presented,  the  selections  given  being  well 
interpreted  and  displaying  judgment  on  the 
part  of  the  writers. 

The  Columbia  Spectator  is  very  well  gotten 
up,  and  a  pleasing  feature  of  the  paper  is  the 
illustrations.  The  issue  of  April  lo  shows, 
however,  a  lack  of  activity  on  the  part  of  con- 
tributors, the  articles  given  being  few  and 
short. 

We  have  received  from  the  Deane  Steam 
Pump  Company  their  catalogue,  in  which  all 
of  the  numerous  forms  of  their  popular  ma- 
chines, from  the  smallest  up  to  the  heaviest 
water  works  machinery,  and  embracing  arrange- 
ments for  almost  every  kind  of  work,  are 
clearly  represented  and  explained.  The  book 
is  a  model  one,  both  illustrations  and  typog- 
raphy being  excellent,  and  contains,  in  addition, 
several  pages  of  tables  and  other  useful 
information  for  the  engineer. 

We  have  received  the  following  additional 
exchanges :  Mechanics  of  April  26  and  also 
monthly  number,  American  Engineer  of  April 
II  and  18,  Electrical  Revieav  of  April  10, 
Hudson  County  Democrat  Advertiser,  Boiiuloin 
Orient^  Willistonian,  Adelphian^  the  Wheel,  La- 
Fayette  College  Journal,  Targum,  Lehigh  Burr, 
the  Tech,  University  Herald^  Michigan  Argo- 


naut, University  Magazine,  University  Courier^ 
Virginia  University  Magazine,  iht  Pdytechnic^ 
College  Argus, 

Of  the  two  yearly  publications  which  the 
Institute  has  the  honor  of  producing,  the 
elder,  the  Eccentric,  has  this  year  the  good 
fortune  to  be  first  in  appearance.  We  are 
pleased  to  note  its  arrival,  and  congratulate 
the  editors  on  the  success  which  has  attended 
their  efforts.  Although  there  are  some  points 
in  which  the  paper  could  be  better,  there  is 
very  little  work  of  which  this  same  may  not 
be  said,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  good 
features  are  numerous  and  noticeable,  and  the 
paper  generally  reflects  credit  on  the  managers. 
We  wish  it  a  long  career  and  continued  im- 
provement and  success. 


*'  Whose  ferry  boats  are  these  ?"  growled  a 
Senior  as  he  stumbled  over  a  pair  of  shoes  in 
the  hall. 

"  Ferry  boats,  indeed,  sir  !"  said  a  pretty 
face,  opening  the  door.  "Those  are  my 
shoes,  sir.  Very  polite  of  you  to  call  them 
ferry  boats,  sir." 

**  I  didn't  say  ferry  boats  ;  you  misunder- 
stood. Fairy  boots,  I  said,  my  dear  young 
lady."     It  takes  four  years  to  do  that. — Ex» 

SONG   OF  THE   EDITOR. 

O  for  a  horrible  holocaust, 

Or  an  accident  awfully  solemn  , 
An  earthciuake,  a  riot,  or  anything  weird. 

If  it  only  will  fill  up  a  column. 

—  Yale  Record, 

El'ITAI'U   ON   AN   ASTRONOMER. 

The  Stars  tu  him  were  meat  and  drink  and  sleep  ;  it 
was  his  sole  delight 

To  scan  the  sky  with  telescope  and  transit  all  the  live- 
long night. 

A  perihelion  on  his  head,  a  syzygee  in  either  hand. 

He's  climbing  up  the  ascending  node  to  reach  that 
better  land. 

—Ex. 

CAVALRY. 

In  barbaric,  unlearned,  dark  ages. 
In  the  lime  of  the  Frank  and  the  Norse, 

We're  instructed  by  chivalry's  pages 
The  dependence  of  man  was  the  horse. 

Now  the  world  is  considered  quite  learned, 
And  it  ridicules  helmet  and  corse ; 

Notwithstanding  professors  and  sages, 
The  dependence  of  man  is  the  "  norse." 

—Ex, 

Prof,  in  Chemistry:  "  Will  the  liquid  in 
a  crucible  evaporate  more  rapidly  with  the  lid 
partly  on  or  partly  off  ?" 


itevens  Institute  of  Technoloo^vJ 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOUNnED    BV   THK  LATE   EDWIN    A.  STEVENS. 

HOBOKEN    N    ' 


;..'ii. ,  ■  ,  ■  . 

NALL.  A.  A. 

£'&.,       ....          Pint,  ol  ExscrtincaEai 
AR,  M.  B-t  1:< 

jTEiiEr  U    S.  N,  Prnf.  of  Maji.ir.  EnsiD-^i^t-i.t  .■»!■. 


k 


5TEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL] 


THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGYj 

KB/VEfi  STREET,  bet  5ih  3,rM  6th. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER 


Ejniffltfliitippji  tar  AC 


ffSTHUCTrON  GIVEN  IN  Til; 
HAND   . 


JUNIOR   DEPARTMENT. 
SCNIOR   DEPARTMENT, 


.U  DtiAWlHli 

-      •«O.0O  PER   tNHUIW. 
•    BISO.OO  PER  AMNUM. 


FCf  ^tlAlCfJC*  9;.. 


THE 


levels   iRdiGatiSF. 


V^.   z. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  JUNE,  1884. 


No.  6. 


rDBLBHBD  ON  THB 

OF    EACH    MONTH,  DURIN6  THE  C0LLE6E  YEAR. 


BY  THE  STUDENTS  OF 


$teVeii0  In^tiMe  of  Tecpologj. 


SHUors. 

.     C.  W.  WHITINO,  '84. 

.    A.  P.  KLETZSCH,  '84. 

t JOHN  If.  RUSBY,  '85. 

JLoral  suitors. 

ROLLIN    MORRIS,  *«5. 
OIVTON,  "SB.  C.  R.  COLLINS,  '86. 

Z#ADD   PLUMLBY,   '87. 

IS  a — SI.  BO  per  YMr,  bi  Advtnca.     Single  Copy,  20  Cents. 


^  JHaeBB  Pwm  Q§m  m»  Smad  Hurt  UatUr. 


SMkseripHons  taken  by  the  business  manager,  7vho  ivill 
ih^  f^aper  to  any  address^  prepaid^  on  receipt  of 


copies  eon  be  obtained  at  Lutein's  book  slore^ 

paper  tmll  be  sent  regularly  to  subscribers  until 
'  io  be  discontinued. 


Smbscrihers  tuill  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
e  im  iJkeir  address  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 


J^wvJessorSf  aimmni,  undergraduates^  and  friends^  are 
itmttti  to  eorUribute  literary  ariicles^  items,  verses^  dis- 
trwiens  of  cmrreni  topics^  and  personal  notes. 

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li   is  expected  that  all  articles  shall  be  written  in  a 
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t  aeeomfany  the  article^  as  assurance  of  good  faith 
reHahJHty  ;  hmt  it  will  not  be  published^  unless  desired, 

do  not  necessarily  endorse  sentiments  ex- 
•epi  in  the  editorial  and  exchange  columns, 

a9e  invited  to  send  us  books  and  magazines 
retdew, 

'AameSf  conitihutions,  subscriptions^  advertisements, 
mUoiJbr  communications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
BB  Stxtkns  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Hoboken, 
Jf.J. 

AUpersoms  wishing  to  secure  the  business  patronage  of 
^^^mis  mmd  alumm  will  find  it  to  their  advantage  to 
for  otir  advertising  rates. 


ri7  HE  report  of  the  entertainment  committee, 
'1'  which  proved  a  disappointment  to  so 
many,  adds  one  more  drop  to  the  long  ago 
overflown  bucket  full  of  reasons  why  we  need 
a  gymnasium. 

The  committee,  who  deserve  much  credit 
for  their  diligence,  succeeded  in  raising  a  very 
attractive  programme,  and  when  everything 
was  in  readiness  were  unable  to  obtain  a  hall 
in  which  to  hold  the  affair.  They  made  three 
applications  for  the  German  Club  hall,  and 
were  refused  each  time, while  the  rates  charged 
for  Odd  Fellows'  hall  were  so  high  as  to  defeat 
the  object  of  the  entertainment,  hence  it  was 
given  up  entirely. 

When  we  get  our  gymnasium  we  will  be  in- 
dependent of  hall  owners,  for  we  will  have  our 
own  hall  just  as  they  did  six  years  ago,  when 
dramatic  entertainments  were  quite  frequent. 


« #  » » 


TT7HE  enterprise  of  Eighty-four  in  making 
l*"  up  a  more  extended  programme  for  Com- 
mencement week,  is  to  be  highly  commended. 
We  had  long  been  waiting  for  the  time  when 
the  size  of  the  Institute  should  warrant  the  in- 
troduction of  Class  Day  exercises  and  the 
preaching  of  a  baccalaureate  sermon.  Eighty- 
four  is  to  be  heartily  congratulated  upon  the 
good  management  which  rendered  her  Class 
Day,  the  first  to  be  held  at  Stevens,  a  signal  suc- 
cess. Not  a  little  of  this  success  is  due  to  the 
great  kindness  of  Mrs.  Stevens  in  allowing  the 
use  of  her  magnificent  lawn  for  the  occasion. 
Should  Mrs.  Stevens  deem  it  advisable  to  ten- 
der this  most  beautiful  spot  in  the  country  for 
use  on  similar  occasions  in  the  future.  Class  Day 
at  Stevens  must  necessarily  be  far  ahead  of 
those  at  other  colleges.  We  hope  that  these 
features  of  Commencement  week  will  remain 


74 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


an  established  custom  of  the  college,  and  if  so, 
they  will  be  a  worthy  monument  to  the  memory 
of  Eighty-four. 


« #  »  » 


AND  so  the  year  has  come  to  a  close  again; 
the  last  term  is  ended,  and  the  last  lesson 
conned.  As  the  term  came  toward  its  end, 
the  Freshman  became  bold  in  his  movements : 
he  no  longer  had  the  green  look  that  was  so 
noticeable  when  we  were  introduced  to  him. 
His  bearing  seemed  to  say,  I  am  not  a  Fresh- 
man, you  must  look  elsewhere,  you  must  look 
elsewhere.  And  this  reminds  me  of  a  story 
which,  if  my  memory  serves  me  truly,  is  to  be 
f ouncj  in  one  of  Scott's  charming  tales.  A  certain 
Irishman  was  struck  on  the  head  with  a  shilla- 
lah,  while  he  was  enjoying  himself  in  a  village 
frolic.  Mike  was  carried  home  to  his  sorrow- 
ing wife,  a  supposed  corpse.  The  wake  soon 
followed.  Mike's  choice  store  of  whiskey  was 
freely  dealt  out  by  the  new  made  widow,  and 
all  was  gayety.  The  blow  had  not,  however, 
quite  ended  Mike.  When  the  festivities  were 
at  their  highest  pitch,  and  whiskey  was  flow- 
ing as  freely  as  water,  and  the  widow  began  to 
look  jolly,  Mike  "came  to."  He  had  been 
stretched  out  on  a  pine  board,  and  to  the 
amazement  and  terror  of  his  friends  and  rela- 
tives, he  suddenly  and  without  warning  arose. 
Seizing  the  board,  he  began  to  deal  blows  to 
the  right  and  left  with  much  vigor,  at  the  same 
time  giving  vent  to  his  thoughts  by  saying : 
**  Bedad  !  I'm  not  ye're  corpse,  at  all,  at  all : 
Ye  must  go  elsewhere,  ye  must  go  elsewhere." 
So  it  was  with  all  of  us — Seniors,  Juniors, 
Sophs  and  Freshies — all  were  not  what  we 
seemed  to  be. 

And  now  a  year  already  rises  before  us,  with 
many  difficulties  to  surmount,  many  hours  of 
weary  toil  and  little  rest ;  and  when  we  think 
of  it,  I  doubt  if  any  of  us  feel  quite  equal  to 
the  tasks  that  we  know  the  coming  year  will 
bring  us.  But  after  a  couple  of  months  at  the 
seaside,  the  mountains  or  the  breezy  plains  of 
the  West,  we  will  come  back  with  new  resolves, 
new  energy  and  relish  for  study. 

There  is  something  sad  in  the  fact  that  the 


vacation  of  one  class  from  the  Institute  will 
last  forever.  The  years  crowd  one  on  another 
so  rapidly  that  we  can  almost  see  the  class  of 
'84  before  us  as  they  will  appear  in  twenty 
years.  We  think  we  see  some  distinguished 
men  among  that  future  group  of  careworn 
engineers,  a  group  much  grayer,  much  sadder, 
much  smaller  than  when  they  leave  the  Insti- 
tute this  month.  We  cannot  see  all  the  faces 
that  we  know  so  well.  Ah  !  there  is  little 
cause  to  ask  the  reason  why ;  and  so  leaving 
the  idle  fancy  where  it  is  the  saddest,  we  turn 
to  more  cheerful  thoughts.  We  wonder  how 
many  of  the  class  of  '84  are  engaged,  and  if  so 
if  she  is  pretty  or  wealthy,  or  both.  Will  she 
be  kind  and  tender  and  true  to  him  through 
all  the  coming  years  ?  and,-perchance,  if  she 
should  happen  to  see  this  harmless  scribble, 
will  she  accept  our  best  wishes  for  a  joyful 
future  and  a  happy  home  ? 

And  thus,  like  Tiny  Tot,  in  Dickens'  Christ- 
mas story,  we  bid  "  good  bye  to  all,  God  bless 
us  every  one." 


« ^  » » 


TT7HE  base  ball  season  was  a  very  short  and 
A  unsuccessful  one  in  all  respects.  Stevens 
won  but  one  game  of  any  importance  in  de- 
feating the  champions  of  the  league.  Of  the 
other  games  played  none  even  deserve  men- 
tion. The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Asso- 
ciation are  principally  responsible  for  this  dis- 
astrous season,  as  they  ought  not  to  have  per- 
mitted the  captain  of  the  base  ball  team  to  take 
out  the  men  which  he  did,  and  all  games  ex- 
cepting those  of  the  college  league  should  have 
been  declared  off. 

In  order  that  the  captain  of  the  foot  ball 
team  does  not  make  a  similar  showing  next 
fall,  the  Board  must  assist  him  in  every  pos- 
sible manner.  All  games  ought  to  be  arranged 
by  the  directors,  as  was  the  case  last  fall;  and 
in  order  that  the  captain  can  give  his  entire 
time  to  the  team,  a  good  business  manager 
must  be  appointed.  The  umpire,  if  selected 
by  the  Board,  and  if  a  good  business  man, 
could  act  as  such,  and  see  to  all  arrangements 


.r*. 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


75 


with  other  associations  with  which  games  have 
been  arranged,  to  getting  out  posters,  looking 
after  suits,  and  other  business  too  lengthy  to 
mention. 

The  good  effect  of  training  was  also  plainly 
seen  last  fall  in  foot  ball,  and  a  still  more 
thorough  and  rigid  system  ought  to  be  intro- 
duced. The  Board  must  notify  as  early  as 
possible  each  and  every  possible  candidate  for 
the  team  as  to  what  is  expected  of  him,  and  no 
exception  whatever  should  be  made.  If  it  has 
been  proven  that  he  has  violated  the  rules  im- 
posed upon  him,  the  directors  should  not  hes- 
itate an  instant  in  putting  him  off  immediately, 
before  causing  dissatisfaction  amongst  the  re- 
maining members.  It  was  a  noticeable  fact 
during  the  last  season  in  foot  ball,  that  the 
poorest  players  were  those  who  sneaked  off  to 
take  an  occasional  smoke,  and  otherwise  vio- 
lated the  rules. 

The   training  of   the   team   in   gymnastics 
and  calisthenics  should  also  be  carried  to  a 
greater  extent,  and  a  long  and  easy  run  each 
day  would   be  of  inestimable  value.     Great 
rivalry  is  already  apparent  amongst  students 
for  places  on  the  team,  and  this  is  sufficient  to 
insure  a  good  system   of  training.     Practice 
games  with  smaller  colleges  about  here  ought 
to  be  played  as  early  as  possible.     Then  put 
on  a  finishing  touch  by  tackling  Yale,  Prince- 
ton and  Harvard,  during  the  first  weeks  in  Oc- 
tober, and  at  the  close  of  the  season  Stevens 
will  again  stand  foremost  amongst  the  non- 
associaiion  teams. 


COMMENCEMENT  WEEK. 


The  exercises  of  Commencement  week, 
which  were  unusually  elaborate  this  year, 
opened  on  Sunday,  June  8,  with  the  baccalau- 
reate sermon  by  Prof.  Wall.  Nearly  all  of  the 
Senior  class,  together  with  many  other  students 
and  friends,  assembled  in  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  morning  with  spirits  as 
bright  as  the  weather. 

The  first  thing  noticed  was  the  beautiful 
array  of  flowers,  whose  fragrance  filled  the 
church,  and  bore  great  credit  upon  the  friends 
of  the  class  who  so  kindly  arranged  them. 


In  choosing  his  subject,  Prof.  Wall  stated 
that  he  had  endeavored  to  find  one  which 
would  be  of  interest  as  well  as  profit  to  his 
hearers.  He  was  well  rewarded  with  success 
on  this  point,  for  every  passage  commanded 
the  closest  attention  of  all  present. 

BACCALAUREATE  SERMON. 

The  text  may  he  found  in  I.  Chron.  xxii.  12  :  "  Only 
the  Lord  give  thee  wisdom,  *  *  *  ihat  ihou  may- 
est  keep  the  law  of  the  Lord  thy  God." 

He  spoke  of  the  existence  and  supremacy  of  moral 
law,  by  which  was  meant  such  an  order  or  sequence  of 
actions  and  their  effects  that  right  actions  promote  the 
well  doing  of  men  and  wrong  actions  produce  evil 
effects. 

The  Ten  Commandments  are  the  sublimest  exposition 
of  the  duty  we  owe  to  God  and  man,  and  therefore 
include  moral  laws.  But  independent  of  the  Bible, 
moral  law  may  be  discovered  by  study  of  human  con- 
duct and  character. 

Men  even  when  unenlightened  by  Christianity  or  re- 
jecting revealed  religion,  acknowledge  such  laws;  the 
philosophy  of  the  ancients,  writers  of  our  times,  in  the  one 
case  ignorant  of,  and  in  the  other  disbelievers  in,  Chris- 
tianity ;  the  history  and  literature  of  all  nations  declare 
it.  The  one  lesson  taught  by  historians  is  that  *'  Right- 
eousne.«s  exalteth  a  nation,  but  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any 
people."  All  civil  or  criminal  laws  are  or  claim  to  be 
based  on  moral  laws.  The  punishment  for  their  viola- 
tion is  not  always  immediate,  but  always  sure.  That  it 
follows  so  gradually  is  due  to  the  perfection  of  their 
working.  Showing  the  importance  of  regulating  con- 
duct by  these  laws,  which  are  *'  the  laws  of  the  Lord 
thy  God,"  the  Rev.  Professor  exhorted  the  young 
men  to  so  act  in  all  their  relations  to  their  fellow  men 
that  their  influence  would  be  in  favor  of  purity  in  public 
and  private  life,  integrity  in  the  discharge  of  every 
trust.  The  powers  have  passed  from  the  rulers  to  the 
people.  Virtue  and  religion  are  the  only  powers  which 
can  direct  to  wise  and  beneficent  ends  the  energies  of 
the  people  of  this  country. 

On  Monday  night  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Thurston 
held  their  Senior  reception.  The  Glee  Club 
and  many  young  lady  friends  were  also  invited, 
and  the  evening  was  most  pleasantly  spent. 
The  Glee  Club  rendered  several  selections, 
which  were  well  received.  A  feature  of  the 
evening  was  the  presentation  by  Prof.  Thurs- 
ton, through  one  of  the  members  of  the  class, 
of  a  package  of  brain  food  to  Mr.  Parker,  as 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Eccentric  Editors, 
"in  order  to  supply  a  much  needed  loss  sus- 
tained by  the  almost  superhuman  effort  in  the 
production  of  the  article  in  this  year's  Eccentric y 
entitled  *  A  Faculty  Meeting.' 


>  >> 


CLASS   DAY. 


The  weather  on  Tuesday  disappointed  many 
by  appearances  of  storm.  After  a  short  rain 
in  the  morning,  however,  the  clouds  began  to 
break,  and  to  all  appearances  the  afternoon 
would  be  favorable  to  the  Class  Day  exerciser, 


76 


THE  STEKENS  INDICATOR. 


which  were  to  be  held  out  of  doors.  Mrs. 
Stevens  generously  consented  to  the  free  use 
of  Castle  Point  for  the  occasion,  which  was  an 
inestimable  improvement  on  the  "  the  Campus." 
By  three  o'clock,  about  three  hundred  people 
had  assembled,  among  whom  were  many  rep- 
resentatives of  the  fair  sex.  The  inadequacy 
of  the  supply  of  chairs  was  soon  rendered  evi- 
dent, as  there  were  barely  enough  to  furnish 
sittings  for  the  ladies. 

There  was  a  short  delay  before  the  exercises 
commenced,  caused  by  the  tardiness  of  some 
of  the  members  of  the  Glee  Club.  The  au- 
dience, however,  felt  no  impatience,  as  the 
beautiful  surroundings  and  magnificent  view 
furnished  ample  entertainment  for  a  much 
longer  period. 

Finally,  the  Vice  President  and  Secretary  of 
the  class  mounted  the  platform,  and  the  pro- 
ceedings were  begun  by  the  calling  of  the  class 
roll  by  the  Secretary. 

Handsomely  engraved  programmes  had 
been  distributed,  which  were  as  follows  : 


PROGRAMME. 


Music,   -        -        - 

Introductory  Address, 

Class  History, 

Music, 

Class  Poem,   - 

Music, 

Class  Prophecy, 

Music,        -        -        - 


•84  Glee  Club. 

Kenneth  Torrance. 

Frank  Van  Vleck. 

'84  Glee  Club. 

Ernest  Howard  Foster. 

'84  Glee  Club. 

WiLLARD  Stewart  Tuitle. 

'84  Glee  Club. 


Presentation  of  gifts  to  each  member  of  the  class. 
Chorus — Class  Hymn,     -        -        •  Class  ok  '84. 

Vice  President  Torrance  read  an  intro- 
ductory address,  welcoming  the  visitors  and 
speaking  of  the  regret  which  President  Ren- 
wick  felt  at  being  kept  at  home  by  a  lame 
knee. 

Then  followed  the  class  history  by  Mr.  F. 
Van  Vleck. 

CLASS    history. 

The  past,  with  its  intense  interest,  presses  so  closely 
upon  us  that  it  seems  as  part  of  the  present.  These 
four  years  of  our  course  have  gone  with  lightning  ra- 
pidity, and  now  all  appears  as  existing  in  its  momentary 
after  glow.  The  time  which  has  thus  appeared  so 
short,  by  contrast  with  what  we  have  accomplished, 
shows  it  to  be  a  long  period. 

Four  years  ago  to-day  what  was  our  condition  as  a 
class?  We  yet  had  no  existence,  but  as  individuals  we 
were  in  the  throes  of  acquiring  in  a  minimum  of  time  a 
maximum  of  learning,  preparing  for  our  entrance  to  this 
Institution,  of  name  immortal  and  sublime  to  our 
youthful  imagination,  with  a  tension  upon  the  body  and 
mind  only  known  to  those  about  to  enter  college. 

*****  * 

The  class  numbered  about  46  men,  or,  more  accu- 
rately,  boys,  representatives  from  all  climes  and   con- 


ditions of  men — the  hardy  sons  of  the  soil  and  the  dap- 
jx-T dudes  from  the  avenues  ;  some  from  behind  counters, 
and  one  from  the  imperial  family  of  the  Celestial  em- 
pire. Such  was  the  rough  material  which  this  institu- 
tion of  machines  was  to  manufacture  into  renowned 
scientists  and  engineers. 

Freshman  year  passed  with  a  monotony  which  we, 
poor  innocents,  at  the  time,  considered  to  he  full  of  the 
grandest  excitement.  To  the  credit  of  the  class,  no 
attempts  were  made  at  a  cane  rush ;  the  class  abovef 
being  so  small  in  numbers,  concluded  that  "discretion 
was  the  better  part  of  valor."  The  same  peaceable 
spirit  was  manifested  daring  our  Sophomore  year.  In 
fact,  all  through  our  course  has  been  singularly  devoid 
of  all  harrowing  practical  college  jokes,  midnight  baths, 
greased  railway  tracks,  damaged  municipal  property, 
class  suspensions,  etc. 


Junior  year  saw  us  bright  with  the  hope  that  as  we 
were  on  the  home  stretch  of  the  course,  all  would  be 
clear  and  easy  sailing.  Alas  !  to  how  many  this  hope 
proved  delusive.  Work  was  piled  upon  us  as  never  before. 
Then  commenced  the  circulation  of  petitions,  for  which 
our  class  has  become  famous. 

Those  who  were  spared  to  become  Seniors,  were  fur- 
ther astonished  to  see  that  the  work  mapped  out  for 
them  to  be  accomplished  in  two  terms  could  hardly  be 
accomplished  in  two  years.  We  petitioned  the  Faculty, 
and  this  was  magnanimously  remedied.  And  now  our 
Senior  year  is  about  to  breathe  its  last.  Behold  !  bfefore 
you,  the  finished  product,  and  exclaim  in  the  words  of 
the  immortal  Shakespeare:  "Most  potent,  grave  and 
reverend  seigniors."  It  is  difficult  to  adequately  appre- 
ciate the  high  and  lofty  character  of  their  sublime  in- 
tellects. Consult  but  the  subjects  of  their  theses  and 
you  will  be  bewildered  by  their  gigantic  erudition.  A 
professor  himself  exclaims :  **  They  will  be  handed 
down  to  fame."  And  as  these  represent  the  average 
ability  of  the  members,  the  class  is  destined  to  be  im- 
mortal. The  entire  technical  press  of  the  land  is 
awaiting  with  bated  breath  the  appearance  of  '84's 
theses,  and  their  publication  is  expected  to  mark  an 
epoch  in  the  modern  engineering  age. 


On  looking  back  over  the  years  that  have  gone,  we 
find  many  changes.  Our  ranks  have  always  maintained 
the  same  number,  but  their  occupants  have  been  grad- 
ually changing.  Twice  have  we  been  sorrowfully  re- 
minded that  all  are  mortal.  That  *'fell  sergeant, 
death,  has  been  strict  in  his  arrest."  The  first  thus  to 
be  taken  was  Henry  Stehr,  in  our  Sophomore  year. 
Then,  as  we  were  about  to  enter  our  Junior  year,  Wil- 
liam McFarland  was  called. 

Now  that  we  have  completed  the  course,  we  look 
back  upon  its  scenes  and  events  and  perceive  that  these 
four  years  are  a  miniature  of  the  world's  real  life — 
strivings  for  place  and  power,  seeking  the  bubble  repu- 
tation with  as  much  assiduity  as  our  elders  outside  of 
classic  halls. 

Some  of  the  facts  given  may  be  thought  somewhat 
exaggerated  ;  but  as  figures  cannot  lie,  we  shall  present 
some  of  the  class  statistics. 

The  class  will  graduate  42  men. 

The  average  height  is  5  ft.  loj^  in. 

The  total  height  is  .408  of  a  mile. 

Our  tallest  man  is  Jacobus,  6  ft.  3}^  in.,  and  our 
shortest,  Miller,  5  ft. 

The  average  weight  is  148  lbs.  10  oz. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


77 


Our    heaviest  man    is   Klctzsch,  and    our  lightest, 
Carroll,  the  class  skeleton. 

The  total  weight  of  the  class  is  3.1  tons. 

The  average  and  total  age  of  the  class  could  not  be 
computed*  as  many  members  were  so  conscientious  and 
were  so  afraid  of  exaggerating  their  age,  that  many  of 
them  erred  in  (he  opposite  direction.  As  far  as  obser- 
vation goes,  it  has  been  concluded  that  the  average  age 
is  about  22  years.  Likewise  in  obtaining  the  dimensions 
of  the  pedal  extremities,  the  same  failing  was  manifested. 
Many  would  have  us  actually  believe  that  their  feet 
measured  but  six  or  seven  inches  in  length,  hence  it 
could  not  be  accurately  ascertained  wlio  was  the  posses- 
sor of  the  smallest.  But  in  the  case  of  the  largest  pair, 
the  ••  truth  is  mighty  and  will  prevail,"  whether  or  not 
their  owner  would  so  have  it.  The  arctics  wherewith  he 
was  woDt  to  clothe  them  were  for  a  time  in  the  Bar- 
tholdi  loan  exhibition  of  rare  curiosities. 

Among  facial  disfigurements  may  be  noted  four  real 
moustaches,  with  sideboards  to  match,  and  32  which 
approximate  more  or  less  closely  thereto.  The  pre- 
vailing tendency  of  color  is  toward  cardinal  or  hemp. 

The  appellations  by  which  we  are  known  to  each  other 
are  such  as,  Boy,  Jab,  Hans,  Beecher,  Bushy,  Kinck, 
Uncle  Fay,  L.  D..  Sleepy,  Double,  Faber,  E.  H.,  F. 
\V.,  Anna  Lise,  Jakey,  Baby,  Mack,  Spider,  Bessie 
Turner,  BiUie  Mahone,  Katy,  Bruiser,  Electrosilicon, 
etc. 


It  is  easily  observable  that  our  class  is  plcnteously 
endowed  with  the  highest  order  of  ambition.  On 
canvassing  it  was  found  that  all  the  great  professions  of 
the  age  were  to  be  represented.  The  aspirations  of 
some  are  so  great  that  they  even  hope  to  reach  the 
exalted  station  of  a  chemical  laboratory  imp,  a  hod 
carrier  or  a  barber.  Others  aspire  to  strut  the  quarter 
deck  of  the  Queen's  Navee  or  '*  the  applause  of  listen- 
ing senates  to  command."  Some  even  more  modest 
have  no  doubts  but  that  they  are  to  fill  the  executive 
chair  of  the  United  States. 

But  two  more  days  and  history  for  '84  shall  cease, 
and  this  class,  which  we  have  had  the  presumption  to 
think  incomparable,  will  become  a  thing  of  the  past, 
bat  will  never  be  effaced  from  our  hearts. 

"  If  stores  of  dry  and  learned  lore  we  gain, 
We  keep  them  in  the  memory  of  the  brain: 
Names,  things  and  facts — whate'er  we  knowledge 

call- 
There  is  the  common  lodge  for  them  all  ; 
And  images  on  this  cold  surface  traced. 
Make  slight  impression  and  are  soon  effaced. 
But  we've  a  page  more  glowing  and  more  bright, 
On  which  our  friendship  and  our  love  to  write  ; 
That  these  may  never  from  the  soul  depart. 
We  trust  them  to  the  memory  of  the  heart. 
There  is  no  dimming,  no  effacement  there  ; 
Each  new  pulsation  keeps  the  record  clear  ; 
Warm,  golden  letters  all  the  tablet  fill. 
Nor  lose  their  lustre  till  the  heart  stands  still." 

Mr.  E.  H.  Foster  then  read  the  class  poem : 

CLASS   POEM. 

Fellow  classmates,  here  at  last, 
Our  toilsome  journey  having  passed, 
I  greet  thee  on  this  eve  of  life, 
Which  at  the  best  will  be  but  strife  ; 


For  scarcely  can  we  claim  to  know 
How  things  outside  of  College  go. 
Although  our  lives  are  one-third  gone. 
We  have  our  work  but  just  begun. 
Whatever  shall  be  our  success, 
Much  unto  some,  to  others  le^is. 
In  each  case  will  it  all  depend, 
Not  only  on  the  time  we  spend, 
But  on  our  interest  in  our  work, 
And  absence  of  a  wish  to  shirk. 

As  now  we  are  about  to  start, 

Not  any  great  distance  apart. 

Much  like  unto  a  splendid  race. 

So  often  watched  with  eager  face. 

Our  college  training  is  to  us, 

A  preparation  generous. 

Our  character  our  bit  shall  be  ; 

Our  colors  are  integrity  ; 

Behind  us  in  the  sulky  rides 

Each  man's  own  name,  he  so  much  prides  ; 

Our  backers  and  trainers  shall  be 

The  members  of  the  Faculty. 

With  fairness,  firmness  not  to  budge, 

The  whole  great  world  shall  be  the  judge. 

O,  could  I  now  but  look  ahead 

And  see  what  Prophet  Tuttle  said, 

Or  if  not  yet,  quite  soon  will  say. 

Who'll  be  ahead  some  future  day? 

The  course  of  life  we  have  picked  out 

Is  great  and  noble  without  doubt ; 

The  grandeur  of  its  works  sublime 

Are  to  be  met  in  every  clime. 

Had  not  the  pen  dethroned  the  sword, 

Hammer  and  chisel  would  afford 

A  rival  dangerous,  I  ken. 

Which  now  works  with  the  mighty  pen. 

The  Seven  Wonders,  one  of  which 

Alone  would  render  the  world  rich. 

Are  all  the  work  of  engineers  ; 

And  at  the  present  it  appears 

That,  if  the  much  sought  eighth  is  found, 

In  it  will  science  much  abound. 

The  railroad,  steamboat,  telegraph, 

And  almost  everything  we  have. 

Are  but  the  work  of  leading  minds 

Which  one  in  our  profession  finds. 

The  engineer  letters  must  know  ; 

The  man  of  letters — goodness— oh  ! 

It  is  too  much  to  imagine. 

How  he  would  try  to  make  a  pin. 

The  Brooklyn  Bridge,  upon  whose  size 

Millions  do  gaze  with  wondering  eyes, 

Was  not  built  by  a  language  dead, 

With  classics  for  a  figure  head. 

One  tribute  to  our  Institute, 
Which  doth  bring  forth  such  noble  fruit. 
Though  young  in  years,  her  name  expands 
Throughout  nearly  all  foreign  lands  ; 
And,  though  her  sons  are  yet  but  few. 
We  find  t/um  high  in  science,  too ; 
For,  by  her  strict  and  thorough  course. 
Has  fairly  taken  all  by  force, 
And  won  herself  a  reputation 
Above  all  others  in  the  nation. 

But  to  return  unto  our  class. 

Let  us  these  last  few  moments  pass 


78 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


In  looking  back,  recounting  facts 

And  meditating  on  our  acts. 

Our  stay  at  Stevens  has  been  one 

In  which  improvements  have  been  done. 

The  first  great  act  our  name  surrounds. 

Finished  the  fence  around  the  grounds, 

Thus  keeping  out  the  festive  Mick, 

With  which  Hoboken  is  quite  thick. 

In  Freshman  year  we  lost  our  Gym., 

And  since  have  tried  to  replace  him  ; 

While  now  it  looks  as  though  ere  long 

Students  shall  once  again  be  strong. 

The  Presentation  of  the  Shop 

Gave  to  the  Institute  a  prop 

Which  cannot  be  too  much  thought  of, 

And,  as  though  that  were  not  enough, 

President  Morton,  so  generous, 

Founded  an  electrical  course. 

We  also  were  among  the  men 

To  sit  upon  th*  electric  pen  ; 

And  we  are  quite  happy  to  say 

The  hektograph  went  in  our  day. 

Athletic  meetings  were  revived, 

A  tennis  tournament  was  tried  ; 

A  splendid  glee  club  mainly  due 

Unto  our  efforts,  not  a  few  ; 

While  we  did,  by  the  largest  part. 

The  Stkvens  Indicator  start. 

In  foot  ball,  base  ball,  great  success 

Attended  captains  from  our  class. 

Our  valiant  deeds  are  many,  quite. 

Which,  but  for  modesty,  we'd  cite. 

As  to  the  genius  we  possess, 

Much  could  be  said  without  a  guess. 

Inventors  we  have  in  full  force — 

They  have  propped  out  all  through  the  course  ; 

They  now  have  but  to  fan  the  spark 

And  we  will  see  them  make  their  mark. 

Thus  we  with  different  virtues  blest, 
And  not  afraid  to  stand  the  test 
Will  forward  move,  onward  and  up, 
Determined  not  to  drink  the  cup 
Of  hopeless  failure  or  despair. 
However  poorly  we  may  fare. 
With  our  old  motto  for  our  star, 
Always  '*  Esto  perpetua." 
Which  now  we  hope  with  renewed  zeal, 
Will  to  our  loyal  hearts  appeal. 
Let  us  advance  as  engineers. 
And  when  we  meet  in  future  years, 
Thus  it  shall  be  our  pride  to  say, 
We  graduated  the  same  day  ; 
And  cry  with  sound  almost  a  roar 
Hurrah  !  for  Stevens  Eighty-four. 

During  the  reading  of  the  poem  a  few  drops 
of  rain  began  to  fall,  and  it  was  thought  ad- 
visable to  adjourn  to  the  large  piazza  of  Ste- 
vens Castle  before  proceeding  any  further. 
Fortunately  this  was  close  at  hand,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  order  was  restored  and  the  exer- 
cises continued  with  a  Glee  Club  song,  followed 
by  the  class  prophecy  by  Mr.  W.  S.  Tuttle. 

Next  followed  the  presentation  of  gifts, 
which  gave  rise  to  much  laughter.  Among 
these  were  such  suggestive  articles  as  a  toy  bed, 


gun,  lamb,  powder  puflf,  lemon  squeezer,  tin 
whistle,  doll's  arctics,  etc.  The  doll's  arctics 
were  the  best  hit  of  all,  but  the  point  was  en- 
tirely lost  by  the  absence  of  Mr.  Jacobus,  for 
whom  they  were  intended. 

Two  long  stemmed  clay  pipes  were  given  to 
each  lady,  one  with  a  red  and  the  other  with  a 
gray  ribbon  tied  on,  while  each  of  the  gentle- 
men were  presented  with  a  pipe,  and  together 
with  the  class  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace. 
While  this  was  going  on  the  class  sang  the 
class  hymn,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  the  fes- 
tivities were  over. 

The  Glee  Club  rendered  several  excellent  se- 
lections, which  sounded  well,  notwithstanding 
the  disadvantage  of  being  in  the  open  air. 
On  the  whole.  Class  Day  exercises  were  voted 
a  success. 

At  II  p.  m.  the  class  again  assembled  at 
Martinelli's,  where  they  enjoyed  their  class 
dinner. 

The  next  thing  in  order  was  Prof,  and  Mrs. 
Leeds'  reception  on  Wednesday  night,  where 
the  class  was  again  favored  with  singing  by 
the  Glee  Club. 

During  the  course  of  the  evening  a  pack  of 
cards  were  distributed  among  the  Seniors,  and 
then  one  of  the  men  drew  a  card  from  another 
pack,  and  whoever  held  the  corresponding 
card  was  to  receive  a  handsome  gold  scarf 
pin  as  a  present  from  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Leeds. 
Mr.  Brainard  proved  to  be  the  fortunate  one. 

COMMENCEMENT   DAY. 

Thursday,  June  12,  was  Commencement 
Day.  The  first  thing  to  occur  was  the  Alum- 
ni meeting  in  the  afternoon.  The  Senior  class 
had  been  previously  elected  to  membership  by 
the  Governing  Committee,  and  consequently 
many  of  the  class  were  present.  President 
Kursheedt  and  Secretary  Idell  officiated. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  : 

Pres,^  -         -  -         .    Mr.  Wm.  Kent,  '76. 

Vice-Pres.^       -  -      Mr.  F.  E.  Idell,  '77. 

Rec,  Sec.y     -  -  Mr.  A.  P.  Trautwein,'76. 

Cor,  Sec,          -  Mr.  T.  F.  Koezly,  '75. 

Treas,,        -  Mr.  A.  Riesenberger,  '76. 


Directors^  - 


j  Mr.  E.  Tatham,  '81, 
(  Mr.  D.  S.  Jacobus,  '84. 


Thus  Eighty-four  enjoys  the  unprecedented 
honor  of  having  one  of  her  members  elected 
an  officer  in  the  Alumni  Association  during 
his  first  year  of  membership. 

Each  of  the  members  of  the  Faculty  present 
made   some   remarks,  and   President  Morton 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


79 


Stated  that  Mr.  Leavitt  had  written  his  regrets  at 
not  being  able  to  be  present  at  Commencement, 
and  enclosed  fifty  dollars  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  graduating  class.  Mr.  Torrance, 
in  behalf  of  the  class,  stated  that  they  had  al- 
ready paid  all  expenses,  and  that  they  desired 
to  turn  the  money  over  to  the  beneficiary  fund, 
believing  that  in  this  way  it  will  do  the  most 
good. 

The  question  was  raised  as  to  the  advisa- 
bility of  the  recent  action  of  the  Faculty  in 
limiting  the  entering  class  to  fifty,  and 
choosing  these  men  by  the  entrance  examina- 
tion. Prof.  Wood  stated  that  the  Faculty  had 
discussed  many  plans,  and  had  merely  decided 
to  try  this  one  (which  is  similar  to  that  used 
at  the  Naval  Academy)  as  an  experiment,  or 
until  a  better  one  was  proposed  and  which  the 
facilities  would  allow.  The  question  of  en- 
larging the  Institute  was  raised,  and  an  ob- 
jection found  in  the  want  of  means.  The 
alumni  decided  that  the  field  for  present  action, 
was  to  correct  the  prevailing  impression  of  the 
wealth  of  the  Institute,  with  a  view  of  obtain- 
ing further  endowment. 

Inunediately  after  the  alumni  meeting.  Pres- 
ident and  Mrs.  Morton  held  their  annual  re- 
ception. The  attendance  was  larger  than  ever 
before. 

The  Commencement  exercises  were  held  in 
the  evening,  at  the  First  M.  E.  Church.  The 
Juniors  had  tastefully  decorated  the  hall  with 
flags,  and  at  eight  o'clock  the  Trustees  and 
Faculty  marched  up  the  left  aisle,  and  the 
graduating  class,  numbering  forty-two,  each 
with  a  daisy  in  his  button  hole,  marched  up 
the  right  aisle.  The  following  programme 
was  distributed  among  the  audience  : 

ORDER   OF   EXERCISES. 


Org%h  Prkludb,    - 


Wm.  S.  Chbstbr,  '86. 


Prayer. 

Introductory  Remarks,  -        -  By  President  Morton. 

Finale,        -  Lurline.        -      Vincbnt  Wallace. 

Salutatory  Address,    -        -     Chas  Francis  Parker. 

Selection,        -     Heart  and  Hand.        ...    Lecocq- 

Address  to  Graduating  Class,  Prof.  De  Volson  Wood. 

Galop,  -  -  Cordon  Rouge.  ...  Dilier. 
Remarks  by  Distinguished  Visitors. 

SiLEcnoM,  -  Beggar  Student.  -  •  Millotcker. 
Conferring  of  Degrees  and   Announcement  of  Prizes. 

College  Airs. — Selected. Dilier. 

Valedictory  Address,        ^        Henry  Robinson  Rea. 

SoECs, Cb«s  Quartette. 

OiGAH  I\>sriLtTDB,  ....  Wm.   S.    CHESTER,  '86. 


GRADUATES   AND   SUBJECTS   OF  THESES. 

Graduates  Receiving  Degree  of  Mechanical  Engineer. 

W.  S.  Aldrich,  N.  J. 
IIarvev  F.  Mitchell,  N.  Y. 

Automatic  Engines  :  Practice  and  Theory    (Experimental 

Investigation). 

James  S.  Alden,  N.  J. 

The  Storage  of  Electricity. 

William  O.  Barnes,  N.  J. 
Richard  L.  Fearn,  Ala. 

The  Theory  of  Steam   Injectors    (Experimental   Investigation  and 

Revision  of  Theory.) 

James  Beatty,  Jr.,  Md. 

Liquid  Fuels. 

John  A.  Bensel,  N.  Y. 
Prescott  Bush,  N.  J. 

Dynamometers  (Experimental  Investigation). 

Allen  W.  Brainard,  N.  Y. 
Victor  de  Mackiewicz,  N.  Y. 

Steam  Pumping  Machinery. 

William  Bristol,  Conn. 

A  new  Double  Acting  Gas  Engine  (Original  Design  and  new 

Invention). . 

Lafayette  D.  Carroll,  Va. 

Compounding  a  Beam  Engine  ("  Macnaughting."  Original  Design). 

Walter  Carroll,  La. 

Inertia  of  Reciprocating  Parts  of  Engines  (Mathematical 

Investigation). 

E.  L.  Dent,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  American  I..ocomotive  Elngine  (Theory  and  Current  Practice). 

Adolph  Faber  du  Faur,  Jr.,  N.  J. 

Safe  Construction  of  Plain  Cylindrical  Boilers  (Theory  and  Design). 

E.  H.  Foster,  N.  J. 
Kenneth  Torrance,  N.  J. 

Steam  Boiler   Fxplosions  (I'heory.  New   Determination  of  Stored 

Energy). 

F.  W.  Foster,  N.  Y. 

Development  of  the  locomotive. 

Charles  L  Gately,  Conn. 
Alvin  p.  Kletzsch,  Wis. 

Steam  Engine  Efficiency  (Experimental  Determination  of  Wastes, 

and  Law  of  their  Variation). 

Henry   L.    Ganit,  A.  B.  (John  Hopkins  Univ.),  Md. 
Dabney  H.  Maury,  Va. 

Steam,  Ether  and  other  Vapors  compared  as  Working  Substances 

in  Heat  Engines  (Original  Calculations  of  Efficiency  of 

the  several  Fluids). 

David  S.  Jacoiujs,  N.  J. 
Edward  B.  Renwick,  N.  J. 

Mechanical  Refrigerating  Machines  (Theory  and  Experimental 
Determination  of  Efficiency). 

William  L.   Lyall,  N.  Y. 

Jute  Manufacture  and  Machinery. 

Henry  J.  Miller,  N.  J. 

Safety  Valves. 

A.  Saunders  Morris,  Pa. 
H.  R.  Rka.  Pa. 

Manufacture  of  Cane  Sugar  (Experimental  Determination  of  Power). 

Charles  F.  Parker,  N.  Y. 

WiLLARI)  S.  TUTTLE,  N.  Y. 
Cable  Railways  (Construction  and  Costs\ 


8o 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Harry  de  B.  Parsqns,  B.  S.  (Columbia  College),  N.Y. 

Sy&temadc  Method  of  Ship  De»ign  (Theory  of  New  Syktem). 

William  H.  Peirce,  Md. 

Friction  of  Single  and  Compound  Engine^. 

Henry  S.  Prentiss,  A.  B.  (Princeton  College),  N.  Y. 

Thermo  Electricity  in  Engineering. 

George  J.  Roberts,  Va. 

The  Joy  Valve  Gear. 

George  F.  Sandt.  A.  B.  (Lafayette  College).  Pa. 

Dts^n  of  a  new  Suspension  Foot  Bridge. 

George  M.  Sinclair,  A.  B.  (Princeton  College),  Pa. 

Propulsion  of  Balloons  (Present  Status  and  Promise). 

Charles  W.  Thomas,  N.  J. 

Eccentric  and  Valves  of  Steam  Engines  (Comparison  of  Existing 

Types). 

Benjamin  W.  Tucker,  N.  J. 

The  Armington  and  Sims  Engine  (Construction  and  Theory). 

Frank  Van  Vleck,  N.  Y. 

Cams  (Sy&tems  and  Kinematic  Theory). 

John  Van  Vleck,  N.  Y. 

Reaction  Wheels  (Theory  and  Original  Design). 

Charles  W.  Whiting,  Pa. 

Hoisting  Machinery  (Review  of  Apparatus  for  Deep  Shaft). 

Alexander  Wurts,  Ph.  B.  (Sheffield    Sci.   School), 

Conn. 
Energy  and  the  Steam   Engine  (Tracer  Energy  passing  through 

Boiler  and  Engine). 

Honorary  Degree  of  Mechanical  Engineer,  conferred 
upon  Prof.  Clarence  A.  Carr.  Assistant  Engineer, 
U.  S.  N. 

The  E.  G.  Soltmann  Prize  in  Mechanical  Drawing, 
awarded  to  Mr.  Henry  Abbey,  Class  of  '85. 

For  commendable  work  in  the  Department  of  Mechan- 
ical Drawing,  during  the  Junior  year,  students  Thomas 
G.  Smith,  Harvey  D.  \Villiams  and  Otto  Pfordte, 
deserve  honorable  mention. 

The  Priestly  Prize  in  Chemistry  has  been  awarded  to 
Mr.  Otto  Pfordte. 

In  connection  therewith,  the  following  gentlemen 
have  received  honorable  mention :  Mr.  W.  J.  Broad- 
meadow,  Mr.  Edwin  Birhorn,  Mr.  Clayton  A. 
Pratt,  Mr.  Thomas  G.  Smith. 

The  Wm.  A.  Macy  Prize  has  been  awarded  to 
Eugene  H.  Kiernan. 

reception  committee. 

Wm.  S.  Dilworth,  A.  G.  Glasgow, 

J.  H.  Stewart,  Paul  Willis, 

O.  H.  Baldwin.  R.  H.  Rice, 

W.  A.  Adriance. 

As  usual,  the  "  Distinguished  Visitor  "  did 
not  appear.  The  Salutatory  and  Valedictory 
addresses  reflected  great  credit  upon  the 
speakers. 

The  floral  gifts  were  beautiful  beyond  descrip- 
tion, prominent  among  which  was  a  magnifi- 
cent and  most  perfect  representation  of  an 
eccentric  for  Mr.  Parker,  in  his  double' office 
of  Salutatorian  and  Eccentric  editor,  and  also 
a  handsome  ship  for  Mr.  Rea. 

Although  this  church  is  much  larger   than 


any  place  where  Commencement  has  been 
held  heretofore,  and  every  precaution  was  taken 
to  avoid  a  crowd,  yet  the  place  was  literally 
jammed  and  many  were  unable  to  obtain  an 
entrance. 

After  the  exercises  were  over,  the  Alumni 
held  their  annual  reception  and  collation  in 
the  German  Club  hall.  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Blaikie, 
who  was  invited  to  be  present,  spoke  a  few 
words  relative  to  the  needs  of  a  gymnasium, 
and  endeavored  to  persuade  the  Alumni  to 
assist  the  students  in  establishing  one. 

Thus  ended  the  memorable  twelfth  Com- 
mencement. 


« ^  » » 


LECTURE  ON  THE  MANUFACTURE  OF 
STEEL  AND  IRON. 


Deiiveied  by    Wm.  Kent^  M.  E.^  to  the  Senior  Clasi 

ofthi  Stevens  Institute  of  Technotofy^  March 

27  1884,  under  the  auspices  of 

the  Dept.  of  Experimental 

Mechanics. 


The  subject  matter  was  presented  by  Mr. 
Kent  in  the  form  of  answers  to  questions,  sug- 
gested to  the  minds  of  the  students  during  the 
annual  visit  to  prominent  metallurgical  estab- 
lishments. 

Question  :  We  have  seen  the  crucible  steel 
process  in  Jersey  City,  the  Bessemer  process 
at  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  open 
hearth  process  at  Midvale  Steel  Works,  Phila- 
delphia. Can  each  process  produce  all  the 
various  grades  of  steel  at  present  in  use  in  the 
trades  ? 

Anstver  :  The  crucible  can  produce  all  quali- 
ties of  steel  which  are  used  in  the  trades  ex- 
cept the  softer  qualities,  which  are  very  low 
in  silicon  and  carbon.  At  the  high  heats 
necessary  for  making  soft  steel  the  steel  is 
apt  to  absorb  both  silicon  and  carbon  from 
the  crucible,  and  consequently  there  is  more 
difficulty  in  producing  the  softer  kinds. 

The  Bessemer  process  is  capable  of  produc- 
ing nearly  all  qualities  of  steel,  provided  that 
raw  material  of  sufficient  purity  can  be  ob- 
tained, and  provided,  also,  that  by  extreme 
care  in  manipulation  the  bath  before  or  after 
pouring  can  be  freed  from  the  presence  of 
blow  holes  and  oxide  and  iron.  The  Bessemer 
process  is  ordinarily  used  to  produce  the  com- 
moner grades  of  steel,  leaving  the  very  finer, 
such  as  fine  tool  steels,  to  be  produced  in  the 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


8i 


crucible ;  but  considerable  success  has  been 
reached  in  the  manufacture  of  tool  steels  in 
Sweden,  where  the  raw  material  is  of  extraor- 
dinary purity,  and  the  converters  are  much 
smaller  and  run  with  lower  pressure  of  blast 
than  in  this  country.  It  would  not  be  pos- 
sible by  the  Bessemer  process,  as  at  present 
used,  to  produce  from  American  ores  the  finer 
grades  of  tool  steel. 

The  open  hearth  process  is  probably  capa- 
ble of  making  all  grades  of  steel.  The  open 
hearth  is  practically  a  large  crucible.  In  prac- 
tice, however,  the  open  hearth  has  not  yet 
been  used  to  any  great  extent  in  producing 
the  finer  grades  of  tool  steel,  although  a 
number  of  qualities  of  steel,  such  as  spring 
steel  and  cutlery  steel,  which  were  until  re- 
cently made  by  the  crucible  process  alone,  are 
now  made  in  the  open  hearth.  At  one  works 
in  the  United  States,  the  Bolton  Steel  Com- 
pany of  Canton,  Ohio,  the  open  hearth  pro- 
cess is  used  to  produce  tool  steels  of  good 
quality,  and  it  is  probably  that  in  future  those 
tool  steels,  for  which  there  is  a  large  market, 
will  be  largely  made  in  the  open  hearth. 

Q.  What  are  the  relative  advantages  of  the 
crucible  process,  open  hearth  and  Bessemer 
processes,  especially  as  to  the  element  of  cost  ? 
A.  The  chief  advantage  of  the  crucible  pro- 
cess is  that  it  is  especially  adapted  for  the 
production  of  small  masses — that  is,  for  cases 
in  which  only  a  small  quantity  is  desired  of  a 
particular  quality.     A  large  proportion  of  the 
tool  steels  are  used  in  very  small  quantities, 
and  orders  for  such  steels  are  always  figured 
in  pounds  and  not  in  hundred  weights  or  tons. 
Since  the  product  of  a  single  cast   of  open 
hearth  or  Bessemer  is  always  niore  than  a  ton, 
there  will  be  a  considerable  loss  in  using  this 
process  for  making  steels  for  which  the  mar- 
ket is  very  limited,  and  the  risk  of  making  a 
heat  which  should  not  be  exactly  of  the  quality 
desired  would  be  of  much  more  serious  im- 
portance than  the  risk  of  losing  the  contents 
of  a  crucible. 

The  disadvantages  of  the  crucible  process 
are  chiefly  high  costs,  due  to  cost  of  crucibles, 
large  amount  of  labor  required  in  the  process, 
and  relatively  large  consumption  of  fuel,  be- 
sides the  inability,  already  spoken  of,  to  make 
Jteels  very  low  in  carbon. 

On  account  of  the  expensive  character  and 
cost  of  plant  required  to  make  a  small  product 
by  the  crucible  process,  as  well  as  on  account 
of  other  disadvantages  already  spoken  of,  the 
crucible  process,  must  always  be  confined  to 
the  manufacture  of  the  higher  priced  steels, 


which  are  used  only  in  small  quantities.  It 
would  be  utterly  impracticable  to  build  cru- 
cible works  enough  to  supply  the  market  for 
steel  rails. 

The  principal  advantage  of  the  Bessemer 
process  is  the  cheapness  in  cost  of  its  product, 
the  cost  of  fuel,  labor,  repairs  and  interest  on 
plant  being  of  less  than  those  of  any  other 
process.  Consequently  it  is  the  favorite  pro- 
cess for  the  cheaper  steels. 

Another  advantage  of  the  Bessemer  process 
is  the  fact  that  it,  when  taken  in  connection 
with  the  blast  furnace,  works  directly  from  the 
native  raw  material — that  is,  iron  ore — and  the 
cost  of  raw  material  for  it,  therefore,  is  limited 
only  by  the  cost  of  mining  and  transportation, 
while  the  crucible  and  open  hearth  processes  de- 
pend for  their  raw  material  upon  manufacture 
iron  or  scrap,  the  supply  of  which  may  be 
limited  by  the  conditions  of  the  market.  The 
disadvantage  of  the  Bessemer  process  is  the 
difficulty  of  regulating  the  percentage  of  car- 
bon, especially  in  the  low  carbon  steels,  with 
such  extreme  nicety  as  in  the  open  hearth  and 
crucible  processes,  and  therefore  for  finer 
grades  of  steel  the  Bessemer  process  is  not 
quite  as  well  adapted  as  the  other  two  pro- 
cesses. 

The  open  hearth  process  holds  an  inter- 
mediate ground  between  the  Bessemer  and  the 
crucible  processes.  It  has  the  advantage  com- 
mon to  the  Bessemer  process  of  cheapness  in 
cost  due  to  the  handling  of  large  masses,  and 
much  smaller  cost  of  fuel  and  repairs  than  the 
crucible  process.  It  has  the  advantage  over 
the  crucible  process  of  certainty  of  quality  of 
product. 

The  disadvantages  compared  with  the  Bes- 
semer are  slightly  increased  cost  of  plant  for 
a  given  product,  and  the  increased  cost  of  pro- 
duct due  to  higher  price  of  raw  material. 

The  production  of  open  hearth  steel  also  is 
generally  limited  by  the  quantity  of  scrap  steel 
to  be  found  in  the  market.  Open  hearth  steel 
may  be  made  from  pig  and  ore  without  the  use 
of  scrap,  but  this  process  in  the  past  has  gen- 
erally been  found  rather  more  expensive  than 
the  scrap  process.  It  does  not  seem  likely  at 
present  that  the  open  hearth  process  will  be 
greatly  developed  in  the  future  for  the  cheaper 
steels,  since  the  Bessemer  process,  when  taking 
metal  direct  from  the  blast  furnace,  is  likely 
always  to  be  the  cheaper  process,  but  it  is 
quite  likely  that  the  open  hearth  process  will 
be  used  more  and  more  as  a  substitute  for  the 
crucible  process. 

Aa  idea  of  the  relative  growth  of  the  three 


I 


82 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


processes  may  be  given  from  the  following 
figures  of  production  in  the  years  1872,  1877, 
and  1882,  the  figures  being  in  tons  of  two 
thousand  pounds  : 


Yean. 

Bessemer 

Steel    Ingots 

Tons. 

1872 

1877 

120,108 

560,587 
1,196,450 

1882 

Crucible 

Steel     Ingots. 

Tons. 


29  260 
40.430 
85,089 


Open  Hearth 

Steel    Ingots. 

Tons. 


3,000 

25.031 
160,542 


Q,  How  do  the  Bethlehem  Bessemer  Steel 
Works  compare  with  other  steel  works  of  the 
country  ? 

A,  In  some  respects  the  Bethlehem  Steel 
Works  differ  from  all  other  works,  first,  from 
the  fact  that  the  whole  process  from  the  melt- 
ing of  the  iron  in  the  cupola  to  the  finishing 
of  the  rail  is  carried  on  in  one  bruilding.  The 
mill  building  itself  is  one  of  the  finest  in^the 
world. 

Another  difference  from  other  works  is,  I 
believe,  that  it  is  the  only  one  in  which  the 
transfer  ladle  system  is  used  between  the 
cupolas  and  the  Bessemer  converter,  except 
those  works  in  which  the  metal  is  brought 
direct  from  the  blast  furnace  by  means  of  a 
locomotive.  In  all  the  other  Bessemer  steel 
works  the  cupolas  are  set  at  a  higher  level,  and 
the  metal  is  run  through  inclined  runners  from 
the  cupolas  into  the  converters.  The  general 
arrangement  of  each  pair  of  converters,  with 
its  semicircular  pit  surrounded  by  top  sup- 
ported hydraulic  cranes  and  three-high  Fritz 
blooming  mill,  the  Siemens  furnace,  for  ingots 
and  blooms,  and  the  three-high  rail  mill,  with 
the  cooling  bed  and  the  straightening  and 
punching  presses,  are  the  same  as  at  nearly 
all  the  other  American  mills.  The  new 
blooming  mill  now  being  erected  at  Bethlehem 
is,  I  think,  the  largest  three-high  blooming 
mill  in  the  world,  and  I  think  the  engine  is 
the  largest  engine  in  this  country  attached  to 
a  rolling  mill.  When  the  Bethlehem  works 
were  first  built  they  had  only  two  converters, 
the  other  two  having  been  added  within  the 
past  two  years.  The  universal  American 
arrangement  prior  to  1880  was  two  convert- 
ers, and  the  product  of  two  converters  was 
increased  from  10,000  tons  per  annum  in 
1868  to  over  14,000  tons  per  month  in  1880. 
By  this  time  the  limit  of  capacity  of  the  two 
converter  plant  seemed  to  be  reached,  and 
various  works  have  adopted  different  arrange- 
ments, as  follows : 


CONVERTERS   USED. 


Bethlehem  Steel  Works. 

Edgar    Thomson    Steel 

Works 

Pennsylvania  Steel  Co... 

Cleveland  Rolling  Mill 
Co 

North  Chicago  Rolling 
Mill  Co 


March,    1880. 


July,  1882. 


two  7  ton 

two  7  ton 
two 


four  7  ton 
three  10  ton 


^ ,  ^       (  two   7   ton  and 
^  ""•  \  three  8  ton 


two-6  tons  two  10  tons 
two-6  tons 


j  two  6  tons  and 
{  three  10  tons 


It  is  too  early  yet  to  say  what  will  be  the 
arrangement  of  the  future  plant.  There  will 
probably  be  a  struggle  for  supremacy  between 
the  four  7  ton,  the  three  8  ton  and  the  two  10 
ton  and  the  three  10  ton  converter  plant  as  to 
which  can  turn  out  the  greatest  tonnage  with 
the  less  cost  for  labor  and  maintenance.  The 
lecturer  here  read  an  extract  from  a  letter  on 
improvements  in  Bessemer  steel  works,  which 
he  wrote  for  the  Bulletin  of  the  Iron  and  Steel 
Association  in  November,  1882^  as  follows  : 

"  Other  changes  of  works  besides  that  of  re- 
arrangement of  converters  have  taken  place, 
the  chief  among  them  being  the  taking  of  the 
metal  direct  from  the  blast  furnace,  the  use  of 
two-high  reversing  mills  for  either  blooming 
or  rail  rolling,  and  the  direct  rolling  of  the 
rail  from  the  ingot  without  shearing  or  re- 
heating the  bloom.  The  Cambria  works  have 
adopted  the  two-high  reversing  blooming  mill, 
and  the  South  Chicago  works  have  adopted 
a  two-high  reversing  rail  mill  while  retaining 
the  three-high  blooming  mill.  In  the  three- 
high  blooming  mill  itself  an  important  im- 
provement has  been  adopted  at  several  works, 
viz. :  the  making  stationary  of  all  three  rolls, 
instead  of  having  the  middle  roll  move  up  and 
down,  as  formerly.  Heavier  drafts  are  thus 
taken;  the  bloom  is  made  from  the  ingot  in 
fewer  passes  (usually  12),  and  the  mill  is  simpler 
in  construction  and  more  easily  kept  in  repair. 

"  Perhaps  the  farthest  departure  from  the 
old  methods  of  Bessemer  works  has  taken 
place  in  the  erection  of  the  new  works  of  the 
North  Chicago  Rolling  Mill  Company  at 
South  Chicago,  Illinois.  They  exhibit  the 
nearest  approach  to  a  **  direct  process  "  which 
has  yet  been  reached  in  steel  making,  as  well 
as  the  most  complete  substitution  of  machin- 
ery for  manual  labor.  The  plant  consists  at 
present  of  four  blast  furnaces,  three  10  ton 
converters,  four  Siemens  heating  furnaces, 
one  blooming  mill  and  one  rail  mill,  with  the 
necessary  equipment,  of  course,  of  Spiegel  cu- 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


83 


polas,   ladles,  cranes,  pumps,  rail    saws  and 
other  finishing  apparatus. 

"  The  first  impression  the  works  are  apt  to 
produce  upon  a  visitor  who  is  familiar  with 
the  appearance  of  the  oldest  Bessemer  works 
is  one  of  surprise  at  the  smallness  of  the  plant. 
This  surprise  is  likely  to  be  increased  when 
he  learns  that  these  works  have  a  capacity  be- 
yond that  of  any  two-converter   plant    ever 
built,  although  they  occupy  less  ground,  have 
dispensed  with  a  large  portion  of  what  was 
hitherto  supposed  to  be  necessary  equipment 
and  machinery,   and  employ   a  far    smaller 
force  of  men.     The  chief  features  which  dis- 
tinguish these  works  from  all  former  Ameri- 
can Bessemer  works  are  as  follows  :     Their 
use  of  pig  metal  direct   from  the  blast  fur- 
naces  in   the   melted   state,  thus  dispensing 
with  the  casting  and  breaking  of  pigs,  and 
with   the  cupolas    for  remelting    them  ;   the 
rolling   direct  from   the  ingot   into   the   rail 
without  reheating,  thus   dispensing  with  the 
cutting  of  the  ingot  into   rail  blooms  and  re- 
heating  them ;   and  the  use   of  a  two-high 
reversing  mill  with  automatic  feeding  tables 
for  rolling  rails,   thus  dispensing   with    the 
array  of  men  usually  seen  about  the  rail  rolls. 
"  It  is  a  little  surprising  that  the  first  of 
these  improvements,   namely,    the    using   of 
metal  direct   from   the  blast  furnace,  should 
not  have  been  adopted  in  this  country  years 
ago,  since  it  has  been  a  successful  feature  of 
some  foreign  works  for  many  years.     Nearly 
all  the  improvements  that  have  been  made  in 
Bessemer    practice     since     1865,     including 
Holley's  arrangement  of  plant  and  his  mov- 
able converter  bottoms,  the  use  of  top  sup- 
ported    hydraulic     cranes,    the     three-high 
blooming  mill  with  the  Fritz  feeding  tables, 
and  a  great  variety  of  minor  details  especially 
facilitating   rapid   production,   by  which  the 
product  of  each  American  converter  has  been 
made  to  average  from  two  to  four  times  that 
of  the  foreign,  have  been  made  upon  this  side 
of  the   ocean.     The  English  and  Continental 
works  have  hitherto  been  slow  in  adopting  our 
methods,  and  we  have  generally  depreciated 
the  merits  of  theirs.     Each  country  now  seems 
more  willing  to  adopt  the  best  ideas  of  the 
others,  and   so  we   find  the    latest    English 
works  built  after  a  study  of  the  American,  and 
the  latest  American  works  adopting  some  of 
the  methods  of  the  English. 

**  The  blast  furnaces  of  the  South  Chicago 
works  are  each  75  feet  high  by  21  feet  diam- 
eter of  bosh,  are  provided  with  fire-brick  hot- 
blast  stoves,  and  are  thoroughly  modem  in 


every  other  respect.  The  melted  pig  iron  is 
tapped  from  them  into  ladles  set  on  small 
trucks,  which  are  drawn  by  a  locomotive  to 
the  converter  house,  and  are  there  lifted  to 
the  level  of  the  converters.  The  crane  ladle, 
which  receives  the  steel  from  the  converter,  is 
transferred  from  one  crane  to  another,  the 
second  reaching  to  the  ingot  pit,  which  is  thus 
enabled  to  be  set  at  a  greater  distance  from 
the  converters  than  is  possible  in  the  old 
plants,  which  have  but  one  ladle  crane. 

"  When  the  ingots  are  cool  enough  to  be 
stripped,  or  taken  out  of  the  moulds,  their 
interior  being  still  liquid,  they  are  removed  to 
the  Siemens  furnaces,  where  in  about  half  an 
hour  their  exterior  is  heated  and  their  interior 
is  cooled  so  that  the  ingot  is  of  a  uniform  heat 
throughout  and  is  then  fit  for  rolling.  These 
furnaces  each  have  a  bed  24  feet  long  by '8 
feet  4  inches  wide,  and  are  large  enough  to 
contain  abouf  15  ingots  at  a  time. 

"  The  heated  ingot  is  taken  on  a  buggy  to 
the  feeding  tables  of  the  blooming  mill,  which 
is  of  the  ordinary  three-high  Fritz  pattern,  but 
is  of  great  size  and  strength,  having  rolls  40 
inches  in  diameter  and  the  middle  roll  station- 
ary. Only  eleven  passes  are  given  the  ingot 
in  this  mill,  and,  as  the  rolls  are  run  at  a 
speed  of  over  50  revolutions  per  minute,  the 
time  required  for  blooming  is  unusually 
small.  The  bloom  as  it  leaves  the  last  pass 
of  the  blooming  mill  is  at  once  taken  with  the 
speed  of  a  railroad  train  over  a  series  of  feed- 
ing rollers  to  the  rail  rolls,  about  200  feet  dis- 
tant, and  is  there  entered.  The  rail  mill  is 
two  high,  26  inches  in  diameter,  and  is  driven 
by  compound  reversing  engines.  Seven  passes 
in  this  mill  complete  the  rail,  which  is  over 
120  feet  long,  or  four  rail  lengths.  Another 
set  of  feeding  rollers  carries  it  in  front  of  the 
hot  saw,  which  saws  it  into  the  four  lengths. 
An  ingenious  device,  a  revolving  stop,  is  used 
for  stopping  the  end  of  the  rail  at  the  proper 
distance  from  the  saw,  to  insure  each  piece 
being  cut  to  the  right  length.  The  first  piece, 
being  the  hottest  when  cut,  is  cut  a  little 
longer  than  the  second  ;  this  is  cut  a  little 
longer  than  the  third,  and  so  on,  so  that  the 
contraction  of  each  will  equalize  the  lengths 
when  cold." 

The  Edgar  Thomson  Steel  Works  have 
recently  adopted  the  direct  process  of  taking 
the  fluid  metal  from  the  blast  furnaces  with- 
out remelting  in  cupolas.  The  Cambria  Iron 
Works  are  preparing  to  do  the  same,  and  it  is 
probable  that  this  direct  process  will  be  the 
process  of  the  future. 


84 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


A  more  recent  improvement  is  the  substitu- 
tion of  what  is  known  as  the  soaking  pit  for 
the  regenerative  furnace  for  the  heating  of 
ingots.  This  soaking  pit  is  simply  a  hole  in 
the  ground  lined  with  fire  brick,  into  which 
the  ingots  are  placed  immediately  after  being 
stripped  from  the  moulds.  The  interior  of 
the  ingot  being  still  liquid,  and  the  fire  brick 
walls  having  previously  been  heated,  an 
equalization  of  temperature  takes  place,  by 
which  the  inside  of  the  ingot  is  cooled  and  the 
outside  heated  until  the  whole  ingot  becomes 
of  a  uniform  white  heat,  just  ready  for  rolling, 
without  the  expenditure  of  any  fuel  as  in  the 
heating  furnace.  By  this  system  of  heating 
ingots  in  connection  with  the  system  of  roll- 
ing adopted  at  South  Chicago,  and  the  direct 
process  of  taking  metal  from  the  blast  furnace, 
the  only  fuel  necessary  in  the  Bessemer  proc- 
ess for  making  steel  rails  directly  from  the 
ore  need  be  the  fuel  used  in  the  l)last  furnace, 
since  the  waste  gases  of  the  blast  furnace  and 
the  waste  heat  from  the  Bessemer  converters 
should  be  more  than  enough  to  furnish  all  the 
steam  for  the  engines  of  the  blast  furnaces 
and  of  the  Bessemer  mill. 

The  utilization  of  the  waste  heat  of  the 
Bessemer  converter,  however,  is  not  yet  at- 
tempted in  practice,  and  at  all  works  thus  far 
built  some  of  the  boilers  are  fired  with  coal, 
with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  Edgar 
Thomson  Steel  Works,  in  which  the  boilers  are 
fired  by  natural  gas. 

Q,  Can  you  give  an  idea  of  the  probable 
extent  to  which  the  puddling  process  will  be 
superseded  in  the  future  by  Bessemer  and 
open  hearth  processes  ? 

A,  There  is  scarcely  any  doubt  that  before 
many  years  the  product  of  the  puddling  fur- 
nace will  be  very  largely  superseded  by  that 
of  the  Bessemer  and  open  hearth  processes. 
There  is  scarcely  any  purpose  in  the  arts  for 
which  puddled  iron  is  now  used  for  which 
open  hearth  and  Bessemer  steel  is  not  better, 
with  the  single  exception  of  those  pieces  and 
structures  in  wrought  iron  which  require  to  be 
welded  in  an  ordinary  blacksmith's  fire.  At 
the  present  time  iron  is  generally  welded  with 
more  facility  than  steel,  although  steel  is  now 
being  made  which  can  be  welded  with  a  con- 
siderable degree  of  success  when  special  fur- 
naces or  apparatus  is  used,  or  even  in  an  or- 
dinary furnace  by  a  skilful  blacksmith. 

The  question  of  relative  cost  of  the  two  is 
now  the  only  barrier  to  the  rapid  substitution 
of  steel  for  iron.  At  the  present  time  most 
structures  can  be  made  at  a  lower  price  per 


pound  in  iron  than  in  steel ;  but  as  the  steel 
works  are  rapidly  improving  their  machinery 
so  as  to  cheapen  their  product,  Bessemer  steel 
is  likely  soon  to  be  cheaper  than  puddled  iron. 
Steel  rails  can  already  be  made  much  cheaper 
than  iron  rails,  and  it  is  only  a  question  of  time 
when  the  proper  machinery  is  introduced, 
when  a  large  number  of  other  steel  products 
will  be  cheaper  than  iron  ones. 

The  following  figures  were  given  two  years 
ago  by  Messrs.  Thomas  &  Gilchrist,  the  Eng- 
lish inventors  of  the  basic  steel  process,  of  the 
comparative  cost  of  manufacture  in  England  of 
puddled  iron  and  of  basic  steel,  the  figures 
being  changed  into  American  money  : 


Price 

4 

per 

Q 
I 

tot*. 

e* 

ton  of 
Ingoc 


Labor 

Coal 

Coke 

Ingot  molds 

Lime 

Fellling 

Ferro  manganese. 

Refractories \ 

Stores  and  repairs 

Interest  and  re- 
demption at  ID 
j>er  cent 

General  expenses, 
royalty,  etc. . . . 

Total  conversion 
costs 


$3  29I   ..    .1 ifo.Ss 

I1.34  2,464    r.47;$i  34i     6041     .30 

3  05,       84!     .12 


4.07I     560      loa 


403 


.21 
•44 


Waste 

Total  costs,  in- 
cluding waste. . 

Cost  of  pig  . .    . . 

Cost  of  ingot  or 
puddled  bar. . . 


10.25 


13 
49 


.24 


...|$7-25 
168      .77 


$8  02i 

TO  25 

I 

118  27 


73.20 

II 

.36 

.81 

.49 
.24 

1. 10 

1 

•   •   •        • 

*4  92 
1.79 

' 392 

* 

$6.71 
10.25 

16.96 

• 

In  June,  1882,  I  wrote  to  the  American 
Manufacturer  concerning  the  paper  of  Messrs. 
Thomas  &  Gilchrist  (read  before  the  Iron  In- 
stitute of  Great  Britain)  as  follows  ; 

"  It  is  full  not  only  of  details  as  to  the 
work  and  the  technical  success  of  the  process, 
but  of  estimates  of  its  cost  and  chemicsd  analy- 
sis of  the  product,  and  what  I  think  most 
important  of  all,  a  strong  argument  in  favor  of 
the  early  substitution  of  basic  steel  for  the 
product  of  the  puddling  furnace.  1  know 
Messrs.  Thomas  &  Gilchrist's  views,  and  those 
of  other  writers  who  predict  the  early  extinc- 
tion of  a  large  majority  of  the  old  fashioned 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


85 


puddling  furnaces,  will  be  received  with  in- 
credulity by  many  American  iron  masters. 
They  ^ill  point  to  the  failure  of  all  the  similar 
predictions  which  have  been  made  during  the 
past  five  years,  and  to  the  fact  that,  in  spite  of 
such  predictions  and  of  the  rapid  rise  of  the 
Bessemer  process  in  the  United  States,  there 
never  was  such  a  large  demand  nor  such  a 
heavy  production  of  ordinary  puddled  iron, 
both  in  the  United  States  and  in  England, 
as  during  the  past  two  years.  But  I  think  the 
views  of  Messrs.  Thomas  &  Gilchrist  are  cor- 
rect, and  I  intend  to  keep  repeating  the  pre- 
diction until  its  final  fulfilment. 

"The  only  uncertainty  about  the  matter  is 
the  exact  date  when  it  will  take  place  ;  but  all 
the  signs  of  the  times  point  to  a  very  early  day. 
Do  not  misunderstand  me  :  all  the  puddling 
furnaces  will  not  become  extinct  within  the 
next  half  century.  As  the  Catalan  forge  has 
been  supplanted  by  the  puddling  furnace  for 
more  than  one  hundred  years,  yet  still  is  mak- 
ing about  as  much  iron  as  it  did  thirty,  fifty 
or  a  hundred  years  ago,  so  will  the  puddling 
furnaces  remain  in  operation  long  after  the 
Bessemer  and  open  hearth  processes  together 
shall  be  making  the  great  bulk  of  the  iron  and 
steel  products  of  the  world. 

"  I  think  it  quite  safe  to  make  the  predic- 
tion that  the  year  1882,  or  perhaps  1881,  will 
be  the  year  of  maximum  production  in  the 
United  States  of  finished  puddled  wrought 
iron,  exclusive  of  the  wrought  iron  which  is 
used  as  a  material  for  certain  steel  purposes." 
The  latter  prediction  has  thus  far  been  ful- 
filled.    The  year  1881  showed  the  maximum 
production  of  roll  iron  2,643,927  net  tons.     In 
1882  there  was  made  2,493,831  net  tons.     I 
have  not  seen  the  figures  for  1883,  but  believe 
they  will  be  even  less  than  those  of  1882. 

In  1881  the  product  of  steel  of  all  kinds  was 
1,778,912  net  tons,  and  in  1882,  1,945,05  net 
tons,  or  more  than  twelve  times  the  total  steel 
product  of  1872  (160,108  tons).  The  produc- 
tion of  rolled  iron  in  1873  was  1,847,922  net 
tons.  Thus,  while  the  production  of  iron  in 
ten  years  increased  less  than  36  per  cent.,  the 
production  of  steel  in  the  same  time  increased 
more  than  1,100  per  cent. 

C.  Are  mechanical  puddling  furnaces,  and 
especially  the  Danks  furnace,  likely  to  retard 
the  substitution  of  iron  for  steel  ? 

A,  I  think  not.  The  mechanical  puddling 
furnaces  have  generally  been  failures.  The 
Danks  furnace  is  the  only  one  of  these 
which  has  at  all  been  successful  in  the  United 
States,  and  that  is  now  employed  on  a  large 


scale  only  in  one  works — that  of  Messrs.  Graff, 
Bennett  &  Co.,  in  Pittsburg. 

An  account  of  the  Danks  furnace  may  be 
found  in  the  Metallurgical  Rtiiew  of  1877, 
and  in  the  transactions  of  the  Engineer  Society 
of  Western  Pennsylvania. 

I  saw  a  mill  in  Cincinnati  in  the  summer  of 
1882,  in  which  the  Danks  furnaces  were  in 
operation,  but  the  works  failed  subsequently, 
and  I  believe  are  not  now  running. 

In  October  of  that  year,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Bulletin  of  the  Iron  and  Steel  Association^  I 
wrote  as  follows  concerning  the  Danks  fur- 
nace : 

"  The  theoretical  obstructions  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  puddling  furnace  have  been 
much  less  serious  than  the  practical  obstruc- 
tion which  has  only  been  learned  by  costly 
experience,  namely,  that  it  is  extremely  diffi- 
cult to  build  and  to  operate  a  mechanical 
puddling  furnace  which  shall  work  so  success- 
fully that  the  losses  consequent  upon  imper- 
fectly worked  iron,  upon  expensive  and  fre- 
quent repairs,  upon  stoppages  and  irregularity 
of  working  of  furnaces,  and  upon  greater  in- 
terest in  cost  of  plant,  are  not  found  out  at 
the  end  of  a  year's  running  to  have  overbal- 
anced the  saving  in  fuel  or  in  wages  of  work- 
men. This  has  been  the  real  trouble  with 
mechanical  puddling  furnaces  ;  with  but  rare 
exceptions,  they  have  proved  commercial  fail- 
ures. They  did  not  for  any  long  period  of 
time  make  iron  cheaper  or  better  than  old 
fashioned  furnaces.  Even  the  Danks  furnace, 
which  is  certainly  a  success  in  two  establish- 
ments in  the  United  States,  is  only  a  partial 
exception.  The  failures  with  it  have  perhaps 
been  more  extensive  than  with  any  other 
mechanical  puddling  furnace.  The  writer 
well  remembers  that  about  five  years  ago  he 
mentioned  to  a  gentleman,  who  he  was  not 
then  aware  knew  anything  about  the  Danks 
furnace,  some  facts  he  had  learned  concern- 
ing the  results  of  its  work  in  Pittsburg.  The 
gentleman  replied  :  *  I  don't  want  to  hear 
anything  about  the  Danks  furnace.  I  have 
had  $175,000  worth  of  experience  in  it,  and 
don't  want  any  more.' "  Since  that  letter 
was  written  the  Danks  furnace  has  been  intro- 
duced into  the  Otis  Steel  Works  at  Cleveland, 
not  for  the  purpose  of  making  rolled  wrought 
iron,  but  dephosphorizing  pig  iron  and  con- 
verting it  into  a  bloom  of  exceedingly  fine 
quality  as  regards  freedom  from  phosphorus, 
which  is  used  as  a  raw  material  in  the  open 
hearth  steel  furnace  for  making  the  finer 
grades  of  steel. 


86 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Q,  Are  steel  castings  likely  to  replace 
wrought  iron  to  any  great  extent  ? 

A,  Probably  only  for  certain  forgings  which 
it  is  cheaper  to  make  in  steel  castings  than  of 
wrought  iron.  Steel  castings  are,  however, 
being  largely  used  to  replace  cast  iron,  espe- 
cially for  parts  of  machinery  requiring  great 
strength,  such  as  gear  wheels,  rolls,  pinions, 
etc.  A  number  of  steel  casting  establishments 
have  been  started  recently,  which  make  steel 
in  an  open  hearth  furnace,  and  they  are  said 
to  be  meeting  quite  a  large  market  for  their 
products,  and  are  making  them  of  excellent 
quality.  The  Pittsburg  Steel  Casting  Co. 
has  made  most  of  its  steel  castings  in  the  cru- 
cible, but  has  recently  added  a  Bessemer  con- 
verter for  large  castings.  Other  works  make 
their  castings  by  melting  some  special  quali- 
ties of  cast  iron  in  the  cupola,  and  removing 
the  carbon  from  the  castings  so  made  to  the 
point  desired  in  the  steel  by  annealing  in  boxes 
of  oxide  of  iron. 

Q.  What  is  the  benefit  of  gaseous  fuel  in 
the  iron  and  steel  manufacture  ? 

A,  Gaseous  fuel  is  chiefly  used  for  heating 
furnaces  and  for  melting  steel.  For  the  former 
purpose  its  advantage  is  a  saving  of  fuel  from 
the  ordinary  coal  fire  furnace,  also  a  saving  in 
waste  of  iron  in  the  furnace,  due  to  greater  con- 
trol of  the  quality  of  the  flame  by  the  melter. 

For  steel  melting  in  crucibles  it  offers  a  great 
saving  of  cost  over  coal  firing,  and  it  is  indis- 
pensable to  the  success  of  the  open  hearth  pro- 
cess, for  it  has  not  been  found  practicable  to  gen- 
erate and  maintain  the  necessary  heat  for  this 
process  by  any  other  means  than  by  the  use  of 
gaseous  fuel  in  connection  with  the  Siemens 
regenerative  furnace.  The  economy  of  fuel, 
when  gaseous  fuel  is  used,  comes  chiefly  from 
the  use  of  the  Siemens  furnace,  which  does 
not  discharge  the  waste  gases  of  combus- 
tion into  the  chimney  until  they  have  been  re- 
duced in  temperature  to  about  400  degrees, 
while  in  ordinary  furnaces,  such  gases  escape 
at  as  high  temperatures  sometimes  as  2,000 
degrees,  and  moreover  frequently  escape  before 
they  are  thoroughly  burned. 

Q,  The  students  have  seen  the  Sellers  7 
ton  hammer  at  the  Midvale  Steel  Works.  Are 
there  any  larger  hammers  in  this  country,  and 
if  so,  what  are  they  used  for  ? 

A,  The  largest  hammer  in  this  country  is  a 
17  ton  hammer  at  the  works  of  Park  Bros.  & 
Co.  in  Pittsburg.  It  is  used  for  making  heavy 
forgings,  such  as  shafts  for  marine  and  other 
engines,  and  also  for  hammering  steel  ingots 
into  blooms  to  be  rolled  in  the  rolling  mills.  In 


this  case,  the  large  hammer  takes  the  place  of 
a  blooming  mill,  such  as  the  students  saw  at 
Bethlehem. 

Q,  What  effect  would  the  adoption  of  free 
trade  have  upon  the  iron  and  steel  manufac- 
ture of  the  United  States,  and  what  are  the 
chief  reasons  against  its  adoption  as  regards 
that  manufacture  ? 

A.  It  would  be  disastrous  in  the  highest  de- 
gree. I  can  perhaps  answer  the  question  best 
by  referring  to  the  figures  I  have  already  given 
as  to  the  cost  of  puddled  iron  and  of  basic 
steel  in  England.  In  that  table  the  cost  of 
puddled  bar  in  England  is  given  at  $18.27  a 
ton.  I  do  not  believe  that  puddled  bar  has 
ever  been  made  in  this  country  at  a  cost  of 
less  than  $30  a  ton,  and  when  it  was  sold  in 
Pittsburg  five  years  ago  as  low  as  $34  a  ton, 
a  large  number  of  the  works  had  to  stop  run- 
ning. 

The  cost  of  ingot  steel  in  England  by  that 
table  is  less  than  $17  a  ton.  The  lowest  price 
that  steel  rails  have  ever  been  sold  at  in  this 
country  is  the  price  at  which  they  have  sold 
during  the  past  few  weeks,  namely  :  $34  per 
ton  ;  and  the  ingots  must  have  cost  not  less 
than  $28  per  ton.  A  few  months  ago  several 
of  the  Bessemer  mills  stopped  running  because 
they  could  not  make  steel  rails  at  the  prices 
then  prevailing. 

The  cost  of  pig  iron  is  given  in  the  English 
table  at  $10.25  a  ton.  The  lowest  price  at 
which  No.  I  pig  iron  ever  sold  in  Philadelphia 
was  $16.50  a  ton — in  November,  1878.  About 
the  same  time  in  Pittsburg  the  lowest  price 
for  Bessemer  pig  iron  was  $19,  and  this  low 
figure  has  never  been  touched  since. 

When  these  figures  prevailed  more  than  half 
the  blast  furnaces  in  the  country  were  out  of 
blast  because  it  was  impossible  to  run  them  at 
a  profit. 

The  reasons  why  pig  iron,  rolled  iron  and 
steel  cannot  be  made  and  sold  in  the  United 
States  as  cheaply  as  they  can  in  England  are  : 
First,  In  the  geographical  location  of  the  ores 
relative  to  the  fuels,  the  United  States  is 
greatly  at  a  disadvantage.  Pittsburg  is  the 
chief  centre  for  the  manufacture  of  finished 
iron  and  steel  in  the  United  States.  The  fuel 
for  its  pig  iron,  Connellsville  coke,  is  carried 
60  miles;  but  the  nearest  ore  suitable  for  Besse- 
mer steel  purposes  is  at  Lake  Superior,  and  at 
all  times  during  the  past  five  years  the  supply 
of  Lake  Superior  ore  has  been  so  limited  in 
Pittsburg  that  it  has  been  found  necessary  to 
transport  ores  more  than  4,000  miles  from 
Spain,  Algiers,  Elba  and  England, 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


87 


Second.  The  higher  interest  on  money 
makes  the  interest  charges  on  iron  works 
greater  in  America  than  in  England. 

Third.  The  higher  prices  of  labor  in  the 
United  States. 

When  I  Wsited  Europe  two  years  ago  the 
wages  paid  to  the  lowest  class  of  laborers  in  an 
iron  works  in  Pittsburg  was  a  dollar  and  a 
quarter  a  day.  The  same  class  of  labor  in 
an  iron  works  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  was  paid 
sixty-two  cents  per  day,  and  at  the  Cockerill 
Iron  Works  in  Seraing,  Belgium,  one  and  a 
half  francs  or  thirty  cents  per  day.  In  the 
Cockerill  Works  large  nimabers  of  women  were 
employed  who  hauled  in  small  carts  around 
the  works  fuel,  ashes,  and  other  materials. 
In  order  for  the  workman  to  support  his 
family  in  Belgium,  it  is  necessary  for  his  wife 
to  work  in  the  mill  with  him.  I  think  Mr. 
Abram  S.  Hewitt,  in  his  report  of  the  Paris 
Exposition,  in  1867,  says  that  the  condition  of 
the  continued  existence  of  the  iron  manufac- 
ture in  France  and  Belgium  is  that  the  laborer 
eats  meat  only  once  a  week.  If  absolute  free 
trade  in  iron  products  were  adopted  in  this 
country,  the  condition  of  the  existence  of  the 
iron  manufacture  in  this  country  would  not 
only  be  that  the  laborer  should  eat  meat  once 
a  week,  but  that  the  rate  of  interest  on  money 
should  be  as  low  as  it  is  in  England,  and  that 
the  cost  of  transpK)rtation  from  our  great  dis- 
tances between  ores  and  fuels  should  be  re- 
dued  to  an  equality  with  the  cost  of  transporta- 
tion of  ores  to  fuels  over  very  short  distances 
in  England. 

Mr.  Isaac  Louthian  Bell,  member  of  Parlia- 
ment, in  a  report  of  a  visit  he  made  in  this 
country  in  1876,  showed  clearly  that  the  dis- 
tances the  ores  and  fuels  had  to  be  transported 
in  this  country  was  a  permanent  disadvantage 
under  which  the  United  States  labored,  and 
that  in  thb  respect  it  could  never  compete 
with  Europe. 

The  iron  trade  of  the  United  States  in  all 
its  branches  is  now  such  an  exceedingly  im- 
portant branch  of  our  industries,  and  such  a 
large  portion  of  our  population  depends  upon 
it  for  subsistence,  including  the  laborers  en- 
gaged on  our  railroads  in  transporting  its  raw 
materials  and  products,  the  farmers  who  supply 
food  to  the  laborers  engaged  in  it,  and  all  the 
population  which  is  indirectly  dependent  upon 
these  trades,  that  if  it  were  possible  to  wipe 
oat  of  existence  any  considerable  portion  of 
the  iron  trade,  it  would  be  followed  by  a  com- 
mercial revolution  such  as  the  world  has  never 
seen.    If  any  of  you  students  believe  that  free 


trade  is  going  to  be  the  policy  of  this  country, 
I  would  advise  you  not  to  become  mechanical 
engineers,  but  to  become  lawyers,  for  if  free 
trade  is  adopted  the  legal  profession  will  be 
the  most  lucrative,  and  will  find  its  chief  em- 
ployment in  matters  connected  with  sheriffs' 
sales  and  bankruptcies. 

But  if,  as  I  believe,  free  trade  is  not  going 
to  be  adopted,  and  you  are  going  to  become 
mechanical  engineers,  there  is  no  better  field 
for  the  exercise  of  your  profession  than  the 
iron  and  steel  industries. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  read  something  I  wrote 
three  years  ago  concerning  the  status  of  the 
mechanical  engineering  profession  with  refer- 
ence to  the  manufacture  of  iron  and  steel 
{American  Engineer,  Aug.  1881)  : 

"  Considering  the  present  status  of  metal- 
lurgical engineering  in  this  country,  we  must 
say  that  it  occupies  as  advanced  a  position, 
and  presents  as  many  triumphs  of  invention 
and  skill,  as  any  other  branch  of  engineering 
in  any  country,  civil,  mechanical,  naval  or 
military,  and  the  means  by  which  it  works  to 
overcome  the  resistances  of  nature  by  the  least 
expenditure  of  time,  labor  and  capital,  are  as 
nearly  perfect  as  any  branch  of  engineering 
can  show. 

"  The  blast  furnace  is  a  marvellously  perfect 
apparatus  for  converting  the  crude  ore  into 
pig  iron.  The  Bessemer  converter  is  nearly 
as  perfect  for  converting  the  pig  iron  into 
steel.  The  open  hearth,  destined  to  be  coex- 
istent with  the  Bessemer  converter,  is  in  rapid 
process  of  development,  and  bids  fair  to  make 
any  grade  of  product,  from  the  lowest  to  the 
highest,  in  carbon.  The  old  direct  processes, 
such  as  the  Catalan,  the  puddling  process,  and 
the  crucible  steel  process,  still  have  their 
place,  and  will  have  it,  although  diminishing 
in  relative  importance,  just  as  the  sailing  ves- 
sel coexists  with  the  more  modern  steamship, 
as  the  stagecoach  coexists  with  the  locomotive. 

**  But  great  as  have  been  the  achievements 
of  the  past,  the  work  of  the  metallurgical 
engineer  is  far  from  being  ended,  and  we  have 
no  doubt  the  next  ten  years  will  witness  addi- 
tions to  his  triumphs,  although  not  so  great, 
perhaps,  as  the  invention  of  the  pneumatic 
process  (misnamed  the  Bessemer — it  should  be 
the  Kelly)  and  the  basic  process  (Thomas- 
Gilchrist,  Reese,  Snelus,  or  Riley).  The  open 
hearth  process  remains  to  be  perfected.  The 
use  of  steel  for  castings  needs  to  be  extended. 
Great  improvements  are  possible  in  the  meth- 
ods of  rolling,  or  otherwise  shaping  the  in- 
got  into  the  finished  material.     Economy  of 


i 


88 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


handling  material  in  rolling  mills,  economy  of 
steam,  and  a  number  of  minor  economies  still 
offer  problems  for  the  solution  of  the  metal- 
lurgist of  the  future. 

Here  the  line  of  division,  if  any  ever  ex- 
isted, between  the  mechanical  and  the  metal- 
lurgical engineer  vanishes.  It  is  now  entirely 
to  the  mechanical  engineer  that  we  must  look 
for  all  future  developments  in  the  manufacture 
of  iron  and  steel. 


« ♦  » > 


A  TRUE  STORY. 


Dick  Hathaway  and  I  had  been  chums  ever 
since  we  made  each  other's  acquaintance, 
some  fifteen  years  ago. 

We  both  lived  in  the  town  of  Franconia,  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  many  were  the  fishing 
and  hunting  excursions  which  Dick  and  I  made 
together  in  the  mountains  about  our  home.  In 
fact,  we  were  more  like  brothers  than  mere  ac- 
quaintances, and  so  when  my  parents  decided 
to  send  me  to  Stevens,  to  study  for  an  engineer, 
it  was  not  at  all  strange  that  Dick  should  ac- 
company me. 

Dick  immediately  became  popular  among 
the  boys,  for  he  was  an  adept  in  all  athletic 
sports,  and  they  welcomed  him  as  a  valuable 
addition  to  the  foot  ball  and  base  ball  teams. 
He  was  a  good  student,  too,  and  in  the  even- 
ings we  used  to  sit  in  our  study  and  get  out  our 
lessons  together,  and  when  these  were  done  we 
would  discuss  the  latest  foot  ball  or  base  ball 
matches. 

And  so  we  '*  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  our 
way"  through  the  Freshman,  Sophomore  and 
Junior  years,  and  entered  on  the  Senior.  For 
some  time  before  the  Christmas  vacation  I  had 
noticed  that  something  ailed  Dick.  His  face, 
which  had  always  been  so  cheerful  and  full  of 
color,  now  looked  careworn  and  pale.  His 
manner,  too,  always  so  full  of  good  humor,  had 
changed,  and  in  place  of  gathering  the  boys 
about  him  by  his  amusing  stories,  he  now 
seemed  to  avoid  them,  and  when  any  one 
spoke  to  him,  he  answered  in  monosyllables 
and  in  a  startled  kind  of  a  way. 

I  did  not  question  him  about  this  change, 
for  I  thought  it  was  only  the  effect  of  hard 
study,  and  supposed  that  after  visiting  home 
for  the  holidays,  he  would  come  back  with  all 
of  his  old  time  cheerfulness. 

It  so  happened  that  I  was  not  going  home 
that  Christmas,  but  was  to  visit  some  friends 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  so  after  giving  Dick  some 


messages  for  my   friends  at  home,  I  parted 
from  him  for  two  or  three  weeks. 

When  we  came  back  to  commence  the  sec- 
ond terra  I  was  surprised,  not  to  say  shocked, 
by  the  change  which  had  taken  place  in  Dick 
in  so  short  a  time.  His  health,  in  place  of 
growing  better  had  grown  worse,  and  now  one 
would  scarcely  have  recognized  him  as  the 
fellow  who  had  electrified  everybody  by  his 
brilliant  playing  on  the  foot  ball  field  not  three 
months  since. 

Of  course,  I  could  not  understjnd  it,  and 
so  one  night  when  we  were  seated  before  the 
grate  fire  in  our  study,  I  said  to  him: 

''  Dick,  what  in  the  mischief  has  got  through 
you  lately  ?  You  are  not  the  same  fellow  you 
used  to  be  at  all.  You  remind  me  now  of  one 
of  Poe's  cheerful  subjects,  or  Dickens'  haunted 
man.     What's  the  matter  with  you  anyhow  ?  " 

At  the  mention  of  the  word  haunted,  Dick 
turned  upon  me  quickly,  almost  fiercely  ;  but 
restraining  himself,  said  with  a  bitter  smile, 
"  Yes,  I  guess  I  am  haunted." 

Neither  of  us  spoke  for  some  time  after 
that,  but  sat  watching  the  sparks  fly  up  the 
chimney,  and  listening  to  the  wind  whistling 
round  the  building  and  the  snow  beating 
against  the  windows. 

I  confess  I  was  somewhat  alarmed  at  his 
strange  answer,  and  was  about  to  ask  him 
what  he  meant  by  it,  when  he  turned  to  me 
and  said  : 

**  Frank,  old  boy,  I've  never  kept  a  secret 
from  you  yet  and  I  don't  mean  to  now.  I 
have  never  told  this  at  home,  partly  for  fear 
of  being  laughed  at,  and  partly  for  fear  that 
they  would  not  let  me  come  back  ;  but  I'll  tell 
you  now  what  has  caused  this  change. 

"  You  know  just  before  the  ending  of  last 
term  Professor  Thurston  announced  that  we 
must  design  a  turbine.  I  didn't  think  much 
of  it  then,  although  I  always  despised  draw- 
ing. I  started  on  an  inward  flow  wheel,  and 
had  almost  finished  it  when  one  of  the  fellows 
came  along  and  told  me  that  Professor  Thurs- 
ton was  not  going  to  accept  any  inward  flow 
wheels.  That  rather  disheartened  me,  but  I 
threw  away  that  design  and  started  on  a  paral- 
lel flow.  I  got  along  on  that  all  right  until  I 
struck  the  regulating  apparatus.  Some  fellow 
told  me  we  had  to  make  an  original  design  for 
that.  There  was  where  all  the  trouble  com- 
menced. I  thought  over  that  thing  till  I  was 
almost  crazy.  At  last  in  despair  I  put  in  several 
cog  wheels  and  a  cover  to  regulate  it  by  and 
handed  it  in. 

"  When  I  was  coming  out  of  Professor  Thurs- 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


89 


ton's  room  I  met  one  of  the  fellows,  who  asked 
me  if  I  had  handed  in  my  turbine.  I  said  I 
had,  and  then  he  asked  me  how  I  hid  regulat- 
ed it.  I  told  him,  and  he  then  set  about  con- 
rincing  me  that  that  would  never  work.  He 
ended  up  by  telling  me  that  he  had  heard 
that  Professor  Thurston  was  not  going  to  ac- 
cept any  parallel  flows,  but  only  inward  flows. 
*  No  one  has  ever  accused  me  of  being  vin- 
dictive, but  I  felt  like  killing  that  fellow  then 
and  there. 

"  The  more  I  thought  of  that  turbine  the 
worse  I  got.  I  grew  morose  and  sullen  and 
didn't  want  to  see  or  speak  to  anybody.  I 
dreamt  of  it  by  night  and  heard  the  splash  of 
water  by  day.  When  I  ate  my  meals  I  tried 
mentally  to  figure  out  the  efficiency  of  that 
infernal  thing. 

"  Then  the  holidays  came  and  I  started  for 
home.  As  I  walked  up  Broadway  to  the 
Grand  Central  Depot  all  the  shop  windows 
appeared  to  be  filled  with  turbines ;  people 
appeared  to  be  buying  turbines  and  carrying 
them  home  for  Christmas  presents. 

"  When  I  got  to  the  depot  I  bought  my  ticket 
and  said  to  the  ticket  agent : 
"  *  What  time  does  the  turbine  start  ?* 
"  He  evidently  thought  I  had  been  a  little 
previous  in  celebrating  Christmas,  so  he  an- 
swered in  a  kind  tone  : 

"  *  You  mean  the  train,  I  presume.  That 
stans  at  11.05.' 

"I  looked  a  little  confused  when  he  corrected 
me,  but  took  my  ticket  and  started  for  the 
baggage  room.  As  I  passed  the  news  stand  I 
glanced  at  one  of  the  engineering  papers  lying 
on  it,  and  saw  in  large  letters  the  heading  '  A 
New  Form  of  Turbine.*  I  had  a  strange 
desire  to  buy  that  paper  and  then  viciously 
tear  it  to  pieces,  or  else  do  something  to  put 
it  where  others  could  not  get  at  it. 

"  I  walked  on,  however,  pondering  on  what 
form  of  turbine  that  new  one  might  be.  When 
I  reached  the  baggage  room  I  showed  my 
ticket  and  said  : 
"'Please  check  my  turbine  to  Franconia.' 
"  The  baggage  master  looked  at  me  for  a 
moment  and  then  replied  : 

"  *  Say,  what  are  yer  givin*  us  ?  Do  yer  take 
me  for  a  chump  ?* 

"I  didn't  know  what  he  meant  at  first,  but 
suddenly  I  remembered  what  I  had  said. 
Then  I  gave  him  a  quarter  and  told  him  that 
*  turbine'  was  the  French  for  *  trunk,'  and 
that  I  had  been  in  France  so  long  that  I  had 
become  rusty  on  English. 
"Do  you  remember  how  when  we  used  to  go 


home  together  I  would  sit  in  the  car  and 
whistle  tunes,  and  the  car  wheels  would  keep 
time  ?  Well,  as  I  sat  there  going  home  this 
time  the  car  wheels  seemed  to  keep  saying, 
'Turbines,  turbines,  turbines,  parallel  flow, 
parallel  flow,*  till  I  was  almost  wild. 

** At  last  I  reached  home,  and  for  the  next  two 
or  three  hours  I  forgot  my  troubles;  but  when 
I  went  up  to  my  room  to  prepare  for  dinner 
and  was  alone  for  a  short  time,  they  all  came 
back  again.  I  went  down  to  dinner  in  a  dazed 
sort  of  way  and  scarcely  heard  any  of  the 
conversation  that  was  going  on  about  me. 
I  remember,  however,  hearing  my  mother 
say  : 

"  *  This  steak  is  not  cooked  enough.  That 
cook  is  the  least  efficient  one  I  have  ever 
had.* 

"  *  Is  she  parallel  or  inward  flow  ?'  I  asked, 
*  because  if  you  want  her  to  be  efficient  you 
must  make  alpha  equal  to  twenty  degrees  and 
beta.* 

"  Just  then  I  looked  up  and  observed  the 
surprise  depicted  on  everybody's  face,  and 
stopped. 

After  dinner  all  the  folks  expressed  regret 
that  you  were  not  coming  home  that  week, 
and  my  mother  asked  me  why  I  didn't  invite 
George  Richards  to  come  and  stay  a  week.  I 
thought  this  was  a  good  idea,  and  went  up- 
stairs and  wrote  a  note  requesting  him  to  come 
and  stay  with  me.  The  next  dav  the  note 
came  back,  and  on  it  was  written  Is  this  in- 
tended for  me  ?'  I  read  it  over  again  and 
found  I  had  written  as  follows  : — 

•*  My  Dear  George — In  parallel  flow  turbines,  in 
order  that  the  water  may  work  to  the  best  advantage, 
it  should  enter  the  wheel  without  shock  and  leave  it 
without  whirling  motion  ;  for  which  purpose  the 
velocity  of  whirl  on  first  entering  the  wheel  should  be 
equal  to  the  first  circumference  of  the  wheel,  and  the 
velocity  of  whirl  relatively  to  the  wheel  on  leaving 
the  wheel  should  be  equal  and  contrary  to  that  of  the 
second  circumference  of  the  wheel.     Don't  forget. 

Yours,  very  truly, 

Dick  Hathaway. 

"  In  short,  Frank,  that  was  the  way  things 
went  during  my  stay  at  home,  and  I  was 
anxious  to  get  back  to  college,  for  I  thought 
that  when  I  got  back  among  the  boys  I  might 
forget  these  things.  But  no  such  good  luck 
was  in  store  for  me,  for  I  had  hardly  put  my 
foot  inside  of  the  Institute  door  when  one  of 
the  fellows  came  up  and  said,  *  Hello,  Dick, 
got  your  turbine  designed  yet  ?*  I  didn't  say 
anything;  I  just  turned  around  and  came 
home    and    waited    till    you   came.     There, 


90 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR': 


Frank,  you  have  the  whole  story.  I  suppose 
you  think  I  am  foolish,  but  I  can't  help  it. 
That  thing  has  been  preying  on  my  mind  the 
last  six  weeks,  and  I  feel  reckless  now  and 
don't  care  what  becomes  of  me.  Good  night, 
Frank." 

I  said  good  night,  and  then  sat  at  the  fire 
for  some  time  thinking  of  how  I  could  rid  Dick 
of  his  strange  hallucination.  I  resolved  finally 
to  talk  to  him  in  the  morning  and  see  if  I 
couldn't  cheer  him  up.  I  didn't  think  then 
that  when  Dick  bade  me  good  night  it  was 
the  last  time  he  would  ever  speak  to  me;  but 
when  I  went  in  his  room  in  the  morning  to  call 
him  he  was  dead.  Even  in  death  his  face  bore 
the  same  careworn  look  of  the  past  six  weeks, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  must  have  been 
thinking  of  his  turbine  up  to  the  last  minute. 
******* 

They  buried  him  in  the  quiet  little  church- 
yard in  Franconia.  I  didn't  think  when  we 
last  passed  that  spot  together  that  he  would 
be  lying  there  so  soon. 

It  seems  to  me  to  be  hard  for  one  to  die  so 
young;  but  when  I  look  at  the  turbines  and 
boilers,  and  all  that  stuff  that  I  must  design 
before  I  can  graduate,  I  think  that  he  has  a 
regular  snap  compared  with  me. 

It  is  very  lonesome  in  the  study  now,  and 
no  one  knows  how  I  miss  poor  Dick. 

Sometimes  I  sit  there  alone  for  hours  to- 
gether, and  think  of  the  good  times  we  have 
had,  and  wish  that  they  could  come  again. 

I  remember  how  one  night  I  sat  there  think- 
ing until  I  could  endure  it  no  longer,  and 
taking  up  my  hat,  I  went  out  of  doors.  The 
moon  which  was  partly  hidden  behind  the 
clouds  threw  a  strange  light  upon  the  earth 
and  seemed  to  make  the  Institute  twice  its  real 
size.  It  seemed  like  some  huge  sphinx  stand- 
ing there,  and  I  almost  fancied  I  could  whisper 
my  feelings  to  it  and  be  understood. 

I  wish  it  could  have  understood  me,  and 
also  that  it  would  have  repeated  my  words  to 
those  within,  for  I  remember  standing  there 
in  the  moonlight  and  calling  out  in  an  agonized 
voice,  "  O,  ye  rulers  of  the  Institute  !  Why 
will  you  still  persist  in  slinging  at  us  that  in- 
strument of  torture  called  the  turbine!" 


«#  » » 


OUR    "CREMATION." 


Here  at  Stevens  we  do  not  "Bury  the 
Ancient,"  simply  because  we  have  not  the 
pleasant  companionship  with  this  much 
abused   (?)   volume,   which  always  leads  the 


more  fortunate  (?)  students,  whose  course  em» 
braces  it,  to  have  a  general  jollification  and 
burial  when  they  have  "  passed." 

Nor  did  we  bury  anything  ;  but  we  burnt! 
and  what  a  feeling  of  relief  we  experienced  as 
we  watched  the  flames  lick  around  the  leaves 
and  banged  up  comers  of  the  well-soaked-in- 
oil  literature,  over  which  we  had  spent  many 
weary  and  tiresome  hours. 

The  whole  thing  had  been  kept  a  profound 
secret ;  in  fact,  so  quiet  had  the  founders  of 
the  project  kept  their  pet  scheme,  that  no  one 
was  aware  of  what  was  going  on  until  all  was 
over,  and  the  whole  affair  voted  a  perfect  suc- 
cess by  the  happy  participants. 

We  assembled  at  the  Institute  at  9  p.  m.  on 
the  — th  of  June,  and  when  all  was  ready 
started  for  the  Park,  taking  the  precaution  to 
split  up  into  small  parties,  so  that  the  Hobo- 
kenites  who  wear  the  uniform  of  the  guardians 
of  the  peace  should  not  take  it  into  their  pre- 
cious heads  to  interfere.  I  forgot  to  mention 
that  the  torches  were  distributed,  and  the 
"  book  "  presented  by  the  "  chief  sinner  "  of 
'86,  before  starting. 

When  we  arrived  at  our  destination  we 
found  the  band  anxiously  waiting  our  appear- 
ance, and,  no  doubt,  more  than  willing  that 
9.30  p.m.  should  pass  without  our  showing  up ; 
for  the  agreement  with  the  band  master  had 
been,  that  in  case  we  did  not  arrive  at  9.30 
he  was  at  liberty  to  go  ;  and  as  we  would  not 
tell  him  what  it  was  all  about,  I  suppose  he 
felt  rather  shaky  about  what  the  consequences 
might  be. 

At  the  Park  we  formed  in  line  and  lit  our 
torches,  and  as  all  were  lighted  at  one  and 
the  same  time,  you  can  imagine  the  effect  of 
the  suddenly  lighted  up  Park  (we  had  taken 
care  to  turn  down  the  gas  in  the  immediate 
surroundings  to  heighten  the  effect),  and  then 
the  band  commenced  No.  I.  on  the  programme, 
which  was  a  brilliantly  executed  funeral  dirge. 
To  the  slow  movement  of  this  tune  we  marched 
up  Fourth  to  Hudson  Streets,  and  from  there 
to  Wareing's,  at  which  place  the  band,  curi- 
ously enough,  finished  No.  I.  on  the  pro- 
gramme. All  hands  refreshed  themselves,  and 
started  in  line  again  toward  the  Campus, 
where  a  stand  had  been  erected  for  the  speak- 
ers, who  were  to  tell  us  what  joy  it  gave  them 
to  have  the  privilege  of  addressing  so  intelli- 
gent an  assemblage,  and  how  highly  honored 
they  felt  at  the  distinction  conferred  on  their 
unworthy  selves.  The  procession  filed  slowly 
in,  headed  by  our  illustrious  President  and 
the  officers  of  the  class  ;  next  came  the  band, 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


91 


playing  No.  II.  on  the  programme,  which  was 
a  brilliantly  executed  funeral  dirge ;  following 
the  musicians  came  our  honorable  class,  to 
whose  credit  it  may  be  said  that  they  are  the 
only  class  that  has  any  of  the  spirit  which  is 
so  often  spoken  of,  but  so  seldom  seen,  in  Col- 
lege history. 

After  we  had  assembled  on  the  Campus, 
around  the   framework   upon  which  the  last 
scene  was  to  be  acted,  the  band  played  No. 
III.  on  the  programme,  which  was  a  brilliantly 
executed  funeral  dirge.     Then  followed  the 
speeches.    Our  President  addressed  his  fellow 
students  in   tones  of  deepest  sympathy  and 
pathos,  calling  tears  to  every  eye  as  he  told 
us,  in  a   voice  broken  with  emotion,  of  the 
many  heart  breaking  hours  he  had  passed  in 
endeavoring  to  understand  the  subject  of  Eng- 
lish and  American  literature,  as  expounded 
and  explained  to  a  great  degree  of  clearness 
and  lucidity  by  those  worthy  writers,  Shaw  and 
Tuckerman  ;  of  the  many  times  that  he  had 
righteously  resolved  to  do  a  good  night's  work, 
and  had  been  foolish  enough  to  commence  by 
taking  up  the  book  which  he  at  this  moment 
bdd  in  his  hand,  with  the  invariable  result  of 
going  to  sleep.    The  Chaplain  next  proceeded 
with  the  services  agreed  upon  as  fitting  the 
subject  in  hand  ;  after  which  the  band  played 
No.  IV.  on  the  programme,  which  was  a  bril- 
liantly executed  funeral  dirge.     Just   as  the 
last  notes  of  No.  IV.  on  the  programme  died 
away  in  faint  echoes,  the  fatal  match  was  ap- 
plied to  the  victim,  and  as  the  flames  were  seen 
to  have  a  good  hold  of  his  literatureship,  the 
torches,  which  had  all  this  time  been  burning 
brightly,  and  doing  themselves  proud  in  honor 
of  the  occasion  by  occasidhally  dropping  oil 
on  troubled  waters  as  a  slight  amusement,  were 
put  out,  and  his  literatureship  allowed  to  burn 
in  all  his  unprecedented  and  inimitably  gor- 
geous glory.     Only  those  who  have  had  a  long 
aquaintance  with  the  now  burnt  book,  can 
feel  the  feelings  that  we  felt  as  we  watched  the 
fiery  flames  do  their  deadly  duty   dutifully. 
^Vhen  the  last  few  flickers  were  over,  the  stu- 
dents knew  that  the  ceremony  was  over,  as 
also  did  the  band,  which  started  to  play  No. 
V.  on  the  programme,  which  was  a  brilliantly 
murdered  version  of  "  We  wont  go  home  until 
morning."     Then,  with  three  wild  cheers,  the 
students  dispersed.     Now,  then,  if   this  had 
happened,  it  would  have  been  a  fitting  demon- 
stration of  our  love  for  this  particular  book. 

Em. 

The  worst  season  for  bicycles — fall. 


ATHLETIC  MEETING. 


We  regret  that  our  space  will  not  allow  a 
fuller  account  of  our  very  successful  field 
meeting.  The  promoters  of  the  affair  were 
agreeably  surprised  by  the  enthusiasm  shown 
and  the  fair  number  of  spectators.  Now  that 
the  thing  has  been  started  with  such  favorable 
results,  we  hope  that  the  future  will  witness 
an  annual  repetition  "of  the  same. 

The  following  is  the  official  report :  220 
yards  dash,  Cotiart,  *86,  27  1-8  sec;  100 
yards  dash,  Torrance,  '84,  10  7-8  sec;  100 
yards,  three  legged  race,  W.  Carroll,  '84, 
Glasgow,  '85,  14  sec;  one  mile  run,  Maury, 
'84,  5  min.  4  sec;  hitch  kick,  Adriance,  '85, 
8  ft.;  running  high  jump,  Greenbaum,  '85, 
5  ft.,  I  in.;  running  broad  jump,  Crisfield,  '87, 
18  ft.  6  1-2  in.;  standing  broad  jump,  Green- 
baum,  '85,  39  ft.  5  in.;  half  mile  run,  Maury 
'84,  2  min.  29  sec;  throwing  base  ball,  Munk- 
witz,  '85,  315  ft.  4  in.;  throwing  lacrosse 
ball,  W.  Carroll,  '84,  255  ft.  11  in.;  tug  of 
war,  won  by  '85. 


« ^  » » 


ri^SIGflJFSR  CFR9- 


The  motion  which  was  made  at  the  last 
Athletic  Association  meeting  to  the  effect  that 
the  game  of  lacrosse  be  recognized  by  the  as- 
sociation, was  not  gone  about  in  the  right 
way,  and  consequently  was  not  carried 
through.  The  idea  was  to  insure  the  use  of 
the  grounds  for  lacrosse  and  to  allow  players 
"  to  apply  for  the  use  of  the  grounds  not  as 
outside  parties,  but  as  members  of  the  Athletic 
Association." 

If  the  Athletic  Association  is  to  adopt  the 
game  and  put  a  representative  team  from  the 
college  into  the  field,  it  must  be  done  in  the 
same  manner  that  the  foot  ball  and  base  ball 
teams  are  managed,  by  electing  a  captain  of 
lacrosse  each  year,  who  shall  have  a  seat  in  the 
Board  of  Directors,  and  whose  duties  shall  be 
similar  to  other  captains. 

So  long  as  there  exists  in  the  college  a  sep- 
arate lacrosse  association,  the  Athletic  Associa- 
tion cannot  be  compelled  to  lend  the  grounds 
which  are  entrusted  to  its  care,  for  a  game 
which  it  does  not  control.  If,  however,  a 
regular  captain  were  elected  by  the  Associa- 
tion, there  would  arise  no  complicacy,  and 
balls  would  be  furnished,  and  the  team  would 
have  the  support  of  the  college. 


92 


THE   S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


•76. 

Wm.  Kent  read  a  paper  on  "Rules  for 
Boiler  Tests  "  at  the  Pittsburg  meeting  of  me- 
chanical engineers. 

'79- 
John  S.  Cooke  was  recently  elected  presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  the  Cooke  Loco- 
motive and  Machine  Co.,  Paterson,  N.  J. 

'80. 

John  W.  Lieb,  electrician  to  the  Italian 
Edison  Company,  Milan,  Italy,  will  visit  the 
States  for  a  brief  period  this  summer. 

'82. 

Chas.  W.  Scribner  is  with  the  Logan  Iron 
Works,  Greenport,  L.  I. 

F.  W.  CooKE  is  vice-president  of  the 
Cooke  Locomotive  and  Machine  Co.,  Pater- 
son, N.  J. 

'82. 

W.  L.  Breath  is  with  A.  Gary  Smith,  yacht 
designer.  Studio  building,  54  West  Tenth 
Street,  New  York. 

Wm.  F.  Zimmerman,  '76,  E.  B.  Wall,  '76, 
A.  P.  Trautwein,  '76,  E.  P.  Thompson,  '78, 
Willard  P.  Parsons,  '80,  James  B.  Ladd,  '81, 
W.  T.  Magruder,  *8i,  and  Albert  Spies,  *8i, 
were  recently  elected  members  of  the  Ameri- 
can Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers. 


-•-♦- 


PACKING. 


Newly  made  Sophomore  (just  finishing  ex- 
ercise)— "  Professor,  what  shall  I  go  on  next  ?" 
Professor  L. — "  Make  a  *exagon." 
N.  M.  S. — "  How  many  sides  shall  I  make 
it— eight  ?" 

A  rival  of  Pat  has  been  found  in  an  upper 
classman,  who,  while  asserting  his  superior 
knowledge  about  certain  peculiarities  of  land 
slides,  remarked  :  "  I  speak  from  experience; 
I  have  never  seen  them." 


-♦-♦^ 


SlUFFIF^S  B0X. 

The  "  Elysian  Fields  "  will  soon  be  a  thing 
of  the  past. 

Page,  '87,  was  threatened  some  time  ago  with 
scarlet  fever,  but  has  entirely  recovered. 


"  How  does  Rice  get  on  with  his  bicycle  ?  " 
"  He  get's  on  very  well,  but  he  doesn't  stay 
on. 

Nothing  new  from  our  Left  Wing,  only  the 
temporary  relief  to  know  that  the  Preps  have 
gone  (for  a  while). 

The  Freshmen  are  receiving  that  all  impor- 
tant instruction  of  how  to  earn  their  bread  by 
the  sweat  of  their  brows. 

The  President  of  '86  favored  the  class 
with  his  first  real  speech  on  the  occasion 
of  his  re-election  as  editor  of  the  Indicator. 

The  Fresh ies*  "  term  '*  expires  July  15. 
They  are  being  worked  hard,  but  then 
Fresh  ies  are  bad  and  require  some  correc- 
tion. 

Some  would  say  the  new  helmets  look  well 
on  the  Hoboken  police,  but  our  opinion  is 
rather  that  the  "  peeler  "  looks  well  in  the  hel- 
met. 

The  Indicator,  unfortunately,  is  not  an 
exception  to  the  rule,  and  must  request  sub- 
scribers to  pay,  so  that  the  outgoing  board 
can  close  their  accounts. 

Student. — "  Well,  professor,  he  was  a  sort 
of  philosopher,  I  think  the  book  says.  O 
yes,  I  remember,  he  was  a  noted  Meta  Physics." 
^' That  will  do,  Mr. ." 

The  game  between  '85  and  *86  was  never 
played,  and  the  record  bears  the  testimony: 

Class  games,  '85  vs.  ^Zd  not  played.  Re- 
marks:   The  former  afraid,  the  latter  dasn't." 

"  The  point  of  inflictiony'  says  a  Sophomore 
in  Calculus,  "  is  taken — ."  But  the  suffering 
is  over,  and  the  point  may  now  be  anything 
and  anywhere  it  should  most  desire.  We  (*86) 
are  through  with  him. 

Elections  for  editors  of  the  "  Indicator  " 
of  1884-85  resulted  in  the  return  of  the 
present  editors  from  '85,  '86  and  '87,  with  the 
addition  of  Smith  from  '87.  The  editor  from 
*88  is  elected  next  term. 

Our  efforts  in  lacrosse  are  on  the  improve. 
One  player  has  already  been  kept  indoors 
with  a  very  much  disarranged  face;  but  then  it 
must  still  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  game  is  a 
more  gentle  one  than  fool  ball. 

The  country  must  have  been  ransacked  for 
the  color  of  the  catalogue  cover.  It  must  be 
a  big  thing,  for  out  of  many  artists  not  one  has 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR, 


93 


been  able  to  come  within  miles  of  striking  the 
same  shade.  But  then  we  didn't  inquire  of 
any  bill  posters. 

Something  more  from  the  Freshman  class. 
A  conversation,  overheard,  ran  thusly  :  Indi- 
cator is  better  this  month;  there  have  been  a 
good  many  articles  contributed.  I  see  several 
from  "Em,"  but  *^£x"  seems  to  write  the  most; 
I  wonder  who  A^  is  ? 

The  catalogue  estimate  of  expenses  for  the 
course  is  right  as  far  as  it  goes.  But  the  two 
important  items  of  text  books  and  get-rich-at- 
any-raU  shop  material  charges,  when  added, 
make  one's  financial  condition  as  precarious 
as  that  of  a  Wall  Street  broker. 

It  is  clearly  evident  that  Prof.  Wall's  criti- 
cisms and  discussions  in  literature  have  been 
more  interesting  and  instructive  than  the 
tiresome  repetitions  which  filled  the  text  book 
used;  and  the  question  presents  itself :  Why 
cannot  this  branch  of  study  be  improved  ? 

Commencement  week — the  first  of  the  kind 
for  Stevens — proved  a  grand  success.  '84  has 
set  the  example,  and  it  remains  to  be  seen 
whether  the  coming  classes  will  exert  them- 
selves to  leave  as  pleasant  an  impression  be- 
hind as  the  graduating  class  this  year  have 
done. 

Stevens  has  come  out  ahead  on  annuals  this 
year.  The  last  effort,  the  "Bolt,"  has  made  a 
successful  departure  from  the  ordinary  style 
of  college  publication,  and  from  the  reports 
which  come  to  us,  the  reception  which  it  has 
received  has  amply  repaid  the  editors  for  their 
trouble. 

Baseball  this  season  was,  generally  speaking, 
a  failure.  After  buying  new  suits  to  make  our 
team  invincible  and  at  the  same  time  attract- 
ive, the  pennant  floats  off  toward  Easton. 
We  congratulate  our  friends  at  Lafayette,  and 
shall  look  for  them  again  next  spring  with 
higher  hopes. 

The  same  Freshman  (that  was)  who  is 
known  familiarly  to  us  in  his  dual  effort  to 
walk  up  a  lamp  post  and   organize  a  drum 

corpse,"  has  worked  off  fourteen  pounds  of 
unnecessary  stoutness,  and  may  be  expected 
in  the  fall,  full  of  new  schemes  and  renewed 
'biceptial  "  power  for  daring  adventures. 

"Now,  professor,"  thus  recites  a  student, 

it  can't  possibly  make  any  difference.  Why, 

|f  there  is  a  body  having  a  given  force  pulling 

it  and  an  equal  force  pushing,  why,  of  course, 


it  will  stand  still,"  and  then  he  smiled  at  the 
professor  for  asking  so  simple  a  question  of  one 
whose  knowledge  of  the  subject  was  beyond 
dispute. 

Complaints  are  still  being  made  that  a  few 
of  the  obliging  and  curious  continue  to  act  as 
deputy  mail  carriers  and  to  open  all  picture 
papers  in  the  P.  O.,  throwing  them  down 
anywhere  after  having  amused  themselves. 
There  is  a  golden  maxim,  that  "  He  who  tends 
to  his  own  business  gets  rich."  Some  of  us 
would  do  well  to  consider  this. 

As  a  great  many  have  already  noticed  the 
fact,  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  state  for  the 
few  who  haven't,  that  the  entertainment  so 
much  talked  off  didn't  "come  off."  A  great 
many  things  interfered  with  its  progress,  and 
it  was  necessary  to  give  the  project  up.  Still 
we  ought  to  devise  some  means  of  erecting  a 
grand  stand  before  the  fall  games. 

Cricket  a  la  St.  George  is  something  worth 
seeing.  The  great  charm  about  this  peculiar 
kind  of  cricket  is  that  the  players  are  real 
English.  They  can  say  "Bloody  'ot,  'Arry," 
"  'As  thee  seen  my  bloomin'  trap,"  etc.,  etc., 
but  to  play  cricket  is  entirely  incompatible 
with  their  dignity  and  waist  measure.  A 
game  arranged  for  this  last  season  would  have 
been  a  walk  over  for  the  visiting  team,  but  for 
the  timely  appearance  of  four  or  five  Preps., 
who  filled  the  vacancies  on  the  St.  George 
eleven. 

Prof.  Mayers'  assistant,  during  his  lectures 
before  the  class  of  '86,  couldn't  have  been  of 
the  same  order  as  the  kind  used  in  the 
French  Academy.  Prof.  Mayers  takes  delight 
in  telling  how  the  assistant  helps  the  profes- 
sor lecturing  and  what  a  great  relief  it  is  to 
have  one  ;  but  ours,  the  only  specimen  extant, 
feels  his  importance  sufficiently  to  do  every- 
thing he  isn't  wanted  to,  and  then  smiles  and 
looks  sublimely  happy  when  he  can  tell  a 
visitor,  who  happened  to  interfere  with  the 
lecture,  that  ^^  we  would  be  through  shortly." 

Couldn't  the  course  of  literature  be  shorn 
of  some  of  its  glory,  and  the  subject  of  polit- 
ical economy  be  taken  up  to  fill  the  vacancy  ? 
The  latter  study  is  an  important  one,  and  es- 
pecially so  to  us.  More  benefit  could  be  de- 
rived from  this  than  the  spending,  as  we  now 
do,  of  hours  in  memorizing  such  facts  as  that  a 
certain  Sir  Grandiloquent  had  lots  of  cash 
and  court  influence,  a  sort  of  ancient  dude, 
but  his  writings  were  not "  inimitable  "  enough 


94 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


to  merit  praise.  It  takes  five  pages  to  explain 
this,  after  which  in  three  lines  the  student  is 
recommended  to  pass  over  Sir  G.'s  works  as 
being  below  par. 

Our  worthy  janitor  having  reached  the 
climax  of  one  of  his  peculiar  humors,  the  other 
day  was  heard  to  inquire  the  shortest  way 
to  a  crpw  bar  which  he  wanted  for  some  of 
his  janitorial  work.  He  found  the  proper 
corner  after  some  judicious  and  thrilling 
efforts  to  ciroumnavigate  the  blast  furnace  and 
scale  the  dizzy  heights  of  a  soap  box  or  two, 
and  reappeared  with  a  broomstick  weighing 
down  his  right  shoulder.  Blandly  smiling  he 
disappeared  in  the  dark,  with  an  uncertain 
idea  that  the  broomstick  was  the  crow  bar. 
But  our  janitor  is  always  full  of  spirit,  and 
thus  it  is  his  labors  are  made  light.* 

From  Real  Life. — Dramatis  persona — A 
Student,  a  Janitor  and  a  fence.  Scene — Stu- 
dent going  home,  passes  the  fence,  whose  life 
is  hanging  on  the  ragged  edge  of  despair  in 
the  effort  to  keep  the  Janitor  '*  heads  up." 

Student^  smiling  pleasantly  at  Janitor — "  How 
do  you  do,  Mr.  Porter?"  (His  real  name 
wasn't  Porter.) 

Janitor — "  Now  (hie)  I  haven't  expressed 
an  opinion,  I  haven't  uttered  a  single  syllable 
which  would  criminate  me.  My  argument 
remains  intact,  and  to  say  that  I  had  anything 
to  do  with  (the  fence  shakes),  and  to  say  I 
did,  is  simply  stating  an  untruth.  My  pur- 
pose in  turning  out  the  gas  (fence  cracks), 
Pres " 

Student  continues  the  smiling  as  before, 
passes  on,  and  next  day  notices  carpenters  at 
work  on  the  fence.     (True  story). 

A  member  of  the  Faculty  who  has  been  ex- 
ercising our  intellects  on  such  subjects  as  the 
possibilities  of  what  a  body  could  be  capable 
of  doing  at  the  centre  of  the  earth,  etc.,  is 
likely  to  have  a  rival  from  the  ranks  of  '84.  A 
true  genius,  in  connection  with  his  thesis  on 
locomotives,  after  having  proven  theoretically 
and  practically  that  the  greatest  efficiency  could 
be  reached  by  using  a  ten  inch  belt  about  the 
boiler  (his  experiments  being  made  on  an 
actual,  real  locomotive  presented  by  the  class), 
has  drifted  a  little  from  his  subject,  and 
nightly  wrestles  with  a  huge  combination  of 
dividers  and  parallel  rulers,  to  see  if  it  isn't 
possible  to  draw  a  series  of  straight  lines  par- 
allel and  mutually  perpendicular.  The  out- 
come of  this  will  probably  be  a  new  text  book, 
a  sort  of  companion  to  descriptive,  with  which 
to  while  away  our  extra  time. 


We  have  been  favored  during  the  past 
month  with  many  exchanges,  among  them  a 
number  of  new  ones,  to  all  of  which  we  would 
gladly  give  notice  were  it  possible,  but  we  can 
of  course  notice  briefly  only  a  few. 

Our  engineering  exchanges  particularly  are 
worthy  of  notice.  We  wish  that  we  could 
present  to  our  readers  even  a  small  part  of  the 
great  amount  of  information  contained  in 
them,  but  this  being,  of  course,  impossible,  we 
remind  them  that  these  journals  may  be  pur- 
chased at  almost  any  news  store,  and  the  stu- 
dent will  be  amply  repaid  for  their  perusal. 

In  the  American  Engineer  we  notice  among 
the  great  number  of  excellent  articles  in  every 
number  a  series  which  has  appeared  for  a 
number  of  weeks  on  *'  The  Most  Economical 
Steam  Engine,"  and  also  one  in  which  the 
theory  of  the  causing  of  floods  by  destruction 
of  forests  is  discussed.  The  person  who  is 
interested  in  iron  construction  will  also  find 
in  the  May  numbers  many  interesting  articles 
and  illustrations  on  work  in  the  various 
branches  of  this  department,  as  on  bridges  and 
roofs. 

In  the  monthly  edition  of  Mechanics  we 
notice  a  very  interesting  article  on  the  con- 
struction of  heavy  shafts  for  steamships,  and 
an  excellently  illustrated  description  of  a 
swing  crane,  of  sixty  tons  capacity,  built  and 
in  successful  operation  at  Rotterdam,  Hol- 
land. The  number  of  May  10  contains  an 
account  of  experiment  on  the  value  of  chilled 
iron  as  a  substance  for  armor  plating.  On 
being  tested  it  gave  encouraging  results.  Al- 
though breaking  more  readily  than  a  malleable 
material,  it  was  perfectly  impenetrable,  ex- 
periencing only  a  slight  indentation  on  being 
struck  by  a  steel  shell,  which  pierced  without 
difficulty  a  15  inch  wrought  iron  plate. 

The  paper  contains  nothing  but  what  will 
sustain  its  reputation  as  one  of  the  foremost 
journals  in  its  department. 

The  May  number  of  Van  Nostramfs  Engi- 
neering Magazine^  in  addition  to  a  number  of 
articles  on  mathematical  and  mechanical  sub- 
jects, gives  three  articles  of  interest  and  value 
to  the  electrician.  The  first  is  on  *'  Electric 
Launches,"  and  is,  as  its  title  indicates,  de- 
voted to  a  consideration  of  the  most  economi- 
cal and  efficient  method  of  applying  electric 
motors  to  the  propulsion  of  small  crafts.  The 
advantages  of  this  motor — economy  of  space, 
absence  of  heat  and  lightness — are  very  great. 


THE    S TE YENS    IND ICATOR. 


95 


In  point  of  economy,  however,  steam  is  as  yet 
decidedly  ahead,  the  comparative  costs  of 
steam,  storage  batteries  and  primary  zinc  bat- 
teries being  roughly  given  by  the  writer  as  i, 
2.5,  and  12. 

The  remaining  two  articles  are  by  the  best 
authorities — one  on  "  Electrical  Units  of 
Measurement,"  by  Sir  Wm.  Thompson  ;  the 
other  on  "  Recent  Progress  in  Dynamo  Elec- 
tric Machines,"  by  Professor  Silvanus  P. 
Thompson. 

The  last  month's  number  of  the  Electrical 
Review  contains  many  interesting  contribu- 
tions, and  much  descriptive  matter  relative  to 
recent  inventions  and  improvements.  Among 
the  latter  is  a  minute  description,  well  illus- 
trated, of  a  new  system  of  lighting — the  Van 
Depoele.  It  is  a  Chicago  invention,  and 
seems  to  have  sprung  rapidly  into  favor, 
having  been  already  adopted  by  many  cities 
and  towns. 

The  Electrician  and  Electrical  Engineer 
presents  in  its  May  number  a  comprehensive 
article  on  "Electro  Magnets." 

A  very  interesting  part  of  the  contents  is 
the  corresjyondence  from  various  great  cities 
giving  the  electrical  news  from  the  respective 
places. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  make  the 
acquaintance  of  Amateur  Mechanics^  an  Eng- 
lish publication  devoted  to  mechanical  theory 
and  manipulation.  The  contents  are  excel- 
lent, being  devoid  of  all  technicalities,  written 
in  a  plain,  easy  manner,  and  are  of  a  practical 
nature  that  will  recommend  them  to  the 
general  reader.  All  the  operations  described 
are  well  illustrated  in  a  supplement.  We 
wish  for  this  young  magazine  a  most  success- 
ful future,  and  feel  safe  in  predicting  the  same 
for  it.  It  is  published*  by  Iliff e  &  Sons,  98 
Fleet  Street,  E.  C,  London. 

We  are  glad  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
the  Journal  of  the  Franklin  Institute^  for 
June.  The  contents  are  varied,  voluminous, 
apd,  in  regard  to  quality,  in  keeping  with  the 
high  reputation  which  the  productions  of  the 
society  enjoys.  The  article  of  most  interest 
to  the  student  is  a  revision  of  Rankine's  Gen- 
eral Theory  of  the  Turbine,  by  Professor  Wood. 
In  it  he  demonstrates  that  the  so-called  "  gen- 
eral" case  is  really  a  case  of  very  limited  ap- 
plication, and  the  object  of  Professor  Wood's 
treatment  is  to  show  the  limitations  and  ex- 
tend the  demonstration.  If  we  mistake  not, 
an  opportunity  will  be  given  the  students  to 


obtain  copies  of  the  Journal^  when  they  can 
compare  the  two  demonstrations. 

We  would  notice  for  the  first  time  the  Yale 
Recordy  this  being  our  first  opportunity,  al- 
though we  have  previously  received  the  paper. 
It  presents  an  excellent  appearance,  and  is  in 
point  of  contents  and  finish  what  one  would 
expect  of  a  Yale  periodical.  We  commend 
the  tone  of  the  editorial  condemning  the  action 
of  the  students  who  burned  the  shutters  from 
the  hall.  For  such  conduct  there  is  no  excuse; 
other  fuel  would  have  burned  just  as  well,  and 
such  an  act  shows  a  spirit  of  wanton  destruc- 
tiveness  which,  even  though  often  met,  is  en- 
tirely out  of  place.  The  articles,  poems,  etc., 
are  very  interesting. 

We  have  received  a  copy  of  the  present 
year's  edition  of  the  Bolty  which  appeared 
shortly  after  our  last  issue.  The  magazine  is 
decidedly  well  arranged,  contains  a  consider- 
able amount  of  good  reading  matter,  and  is 
unusually  well  provided  with  cuts.  The  finish 
of  the  book  is  excellent,  paper,  type  and  bind- 
ing displaying  no  careless  work,  and  the  neat 
appearance  of  the  whole  being  a  credit  to  the 
management.  We  can  only  hope  that  the  next 
year's  number  may  be  equal  in  all  respects  to 
the  present  one. 


« #  » » 


5FRE  C0IIUBGB  WQRUD. 


Columbia. — The  Board  of  Editors  of  the 
Columbiad  have  adopted  the  plan  of  accepting 
contributions  from  students  in  all  the  classes. 
The  "Class  Day"  exercises  were  un- 
usually interesting,  and  were  enjoyed  by  a 
large  number  of  young  ladies — all  friends,  of 

course,  of  the  Seniors. The  Spectator  ^ves 

notice  that  it  will  support  the  Republican 
party  in  the  coming  campaign,  and  that  stu- 
dents are  invited  to  meet  at  the  office  of  the 
paper,  on  October  2,  for  the  purpose  of  form- 
ing a  campaign  club. One  of  the  class  of 

'88  is  said  to  have  come  in  a   baby   carriage. 

The  Freshman  class  will  number  about 

one  hundred. The  total  number  of  gradu- 
ates from  the  departments  of  the  college  since 

its   foundation   now    amounts  to   8,500. 

President  Barnard  sailed  for  Europe  some 
time  since,  and  will  be  gone  until  September 
15. Since  the  institution  of  the  intercol- 
legiate games  Columbia  has  won  69  prizes  out 
of  260  given.  Harvard  is  a  close  second, 
^ith  57. The  Third  Year  mining  engineers 


96 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Started  on  their  summer  trip  to  the  Lake  Su- 
perior mining  regions,  June  9. A  meeting 

of  the  graduates  of  the  School  of  Mines  was 
held  at  Denver,  (!!ol.,  on  July  i. 

Harvard. — Great  surprise  is  expressed  at 
the  result  of  the  Yale-Harvard  race,  as  con- 
siderable confidence  was  placed  in  the  Har- 
vard  crew. The   Senior  class   held   their 

dinner  on  Monday,  June  23. Of  the  Soph- 
omore class,  it  is  said  that  99  per  cent,  part 

their  hair  in  the  middle. The  name  of  the 

Herald  Crimson  has  been   lately  changed  to 

The  Daily  Crimson, A  Canoe  Club  has  been 

formed. Grounds    have  been  secured  for 

a  polo  club. The  three  strongest  men  in 

the  college  are  in  the  Senior  class. Harvard 

has   the   college   and   national   championship 

in  tennis. A  swimming  tank  will  soon  be 

placed  in  the  gymnasium. A  bronze  statue 

of  the  Rev.  John  Harvard  will  be  unveiled  at 
Harvard  in  the  coming  September.  It  is  the 
gift  of  Gen.  Samuel  T.  Bridge. 

Yale. — It  is  proposed  to  form  a  Knicker- 
bocker club,  if  thirty  names  can  be  obtained 
of  those  who  will  agree  to  wear  Knickerbockers 

all   the   time. Out  of  the  first  thirty-two 

Governors  of  Connecticut,  fifteen  were  Yale 

men. Eighteen,  says  President   Porter,  is 

the  proper  age  to  enter  college. '84  gradu- 
ated 113  men. The  class  of  '87  had  about 

$100  in  a  bank  that  failed  recently. The 

Seniors  are  complaining  at  the  exorbitant 
charges  for  class  suppers. 

In  General. — Of  260  men  in  Brown,  107 

are  members  of  secret  fraternities. There 

are  330  colleges  and  universities  in  the 
United  States,  of  which  only  twenty-four 
have  more  than  200  students,  and  only  seven- 
teen have  more  than  twenty  teachers.  A 
large  number  of  these  colleges  furnish  no 
better  education  than  can  be  obtained  in  a 
high  school  of  the  first  class.  One  "  univer- 
sity "  in  this  country  has  three  professors  and 
twelve  students,  and  another  has  two  profes- 
sors and  eighteen  students.  These  professors 
can  take  the  college  home  with  them  at  night, 
and  thus  prevent  it  from  getting  into  mischief. — 

The  Tribune, There  is  a  debt  of  $600  on  the 

Lafayette  College  Journal, The  New  York 

Evening  Post  now  has  regular  correspondents  at 
Yale,  Princeton,  Williams,  Lafayette,  Amherst, 

Cornell  and  Harvard. The  young  ladies  of 

the  Ontario  Ladies' College  have  organized  two 

base  ball  clubs. The  students  at  Amherst 

are  endeavoring  to  organize  a  polo  team. 

A  lecture   has  been  delivered  at   Cornell  on 


"New  Jersey;  or,  the  Mysteries  of  an  Unknown 

Land." Vassar    girls  are    said  to  be    so 

modest  that  they  will  not  work  on  improper 

fractions. — Ex. A    new  college    for    the 

higher  education  of  women  has  been  char- 
tered  in   New  York. A  new  college   for 

women   will   be  opened  in  October  at  West- 

bridgeport,  Mass. At  Little  Rock  Univer* 

sity  a  Sophomore  has  been  fined  two  dollars 
for  kissing  a  co-ed.  Judging  from  the  co-eds 
it  has  been  our  misfortune  to  see,  the  fine 
should  have  been  changed  to  a  premium.-^ 
Ex, 


We  stood  at  the  bars  as  the  sun  went  down, 

Behind  the  hills  on  a  sammer's  day  ; 
Her  eyes  were  tender  and  big  and  brown. 

Her  breath  as  sweet  as  the  new  mown  hay. 
Far  from  the  west  the  faint  sunshine 

Shown  sparkling  o'er  the  radiant  air  ; 
Those  deep  brown  eyes  were  turned  toward  mine» 

A  look  of  contentment  rested  there. 
I  see  her  bathed  in  the  sunlight  flood, 

I  sec  her  standing  peacefully  now ; 
Peacefully  standing  and  chewing  her  cad, 

As  I  stroked  her  ears — that  Jersey  cow. 

Harvard  Advocate^ 

How  does  Pat  get  over  single  blessedness? 
He  proposes  to  Bridg-it. — Ex, 

"  Dying  in  poverty,"  mused  a  needy  stu- 
dent, '^  is  nothing ;  it  is  living  in  poverty  that 
is  hard  on  a  fellow." — Ex. 

Wit  and  Wisdom. — Student  (translating)  : 
"  And  —  er —  then  —  er — he — er — went — er — 
and — er."  Professor  :  "  Don't  laugh,  gentle- 
men ;  to  err  is  human.** — Ex, 

Conductor  :  "  Smith  Street  !  Smith  Street  !** 
— Smith  (who  is  about  half  seas  over,  aroused 
from  his  nap  by  the  accusation):  "Hie,  old 
man  ;  guess's  my  treat  last." — Ex, 

Prof,  (near  the  close  of  a  recitation):  "  Are 
there  any  questions  any  one  would  like  to 
ask?"  Pupil  (not  prepared  and  anxious): 
"  What  time  is  it,  please  ?'* — Ex, 

Some  one  has  ascertained  the  reason  that 
borrowed  books  are  so  seldom  returned.  It 
is  because  it  is  easier  to  retain  the  books  than 
the  thoughts  expressed  in  them. — Ex. 

There  is  not  much  satisfaction  in  editors. 
A  correspondent  came  to  the  chief  last  night 
and  exhaustedly  inquired :  "  What  in  the 
world  shall  I  write  about  ?**  "  Write  about 
two  columns  and  a  half,**  was  the  pathetic  re- 
ply.— Ex, 


Vol.  I. 


3K  O'bbeie,  1884.  K 


no.  7. 


-Con5E/^5g. 


.ia/br   ®af2*,  .  -  ^  .  .  .  ,  .  .  100 

^«i_«yVftal:  mlpRt  Raw  Hoffania  ot  M»  fa»t  go)i«»mo'«  Sfo**  WMllnj,    ,       101 


iO.) 


orffi^.. 


jfaasiKark.  n.  j. : 
"■5*5    /teVeQj  In^titut*  oF  «»o,l2no|ofy. 


THE  1 

Stevens  Institute  of  Technology, 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOUNDED   BY  THE   LATE  EDWIN   A.  STEVENS. 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 


BENRV  MORTOH.  rh-  D., 
ElFRED  M    MAVBR    Pfi   D., 

OBERT    !l     TUV\>i.lOtr   A_  M  . 


.  RlESEHaERGER.  ».  E.. 
,  A-  CARR.  Am'1  En^rU  S.  H. 

*  -.  GEVfLa,  rh,  D.,  , 


Prosidrat 
Ptat.  Pliysin 

P/r.r_  ML-ch.   Eu^tnriifinc 


Prat  or  Huiov  EuKlaeeHui^  aii  ■'. 


i 


H.  MOKTON,  MoboJcen.  N.  Jjl 


5TEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL 


THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 


— OT  mm: — . 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGYj 

RIVER  STREET,  bet.  Bth  and  6ih,  HOBOKEN.  S.  J.. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER   17,  1884. 

Exammatlona  fw  AimtealBt  en  thQ  IBth  bbI  leth  rf  3Q6l«ra'oi!r. 


|NSTROCnON  GIVEK  VH  THE  AMCIEKT  AND  MODERK  LANODAQES;  IN  PREE 
HAND  AND  HECHAHICAL  DRAWINa 

JUNIOR   DEPARTMENT,      ....      s«0.00  PER  ANNUM. 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT,      ....    8160.00  PER  ANNUM. 


Tar  CBFtdbsueft  apply  u  *jx*  £.lbm7Xu  01  SMrenx  iniuivsn. 


THE 


jQTSe^e^s  jRdiGil©P. 


VU.  I. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  OCTOBER,  1884. 


No.  7. 


I  Vhe  Stsevei^g  Indi@at©p. 

nWUMiWD  ON  THB 

Wk  or  EilCN  MliTH,  OURINB  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 
BY  THE  STUDENTS  OF 

^Ven|!  Mitnte  of  Tecpolog  j. 

.  C.  R.  COLLINS,  *86. 
.  B.  P.  If OWTON,  *86. 
.     NORTH  McLBAN.  *85. 

Steal  mUtrs. 

HBNRY  ABBBY,  '«5. 

LADD  PLUMLBY,   *97,         ROBT.  Q.  SMITH,  *87. 

HUBBRT  8.  WYNKOOP.  '88. 

TEMM  :-^9LW  fut  Y«r,  hi  iUhrtnet.     Single  Copy,  20  Cents. 

•  IVil  CPw  MM  atnmd  Clmut  Matter. 


£xim  tefits  cam  hi  ohiained  at  Luthin^s  book  store^ 

Smkserihen  wiU  pUase  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
€ktmg€  im  ikeir  oddressts  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 

Tke  wriiet^sfmii  hmv/,  as  well  as  his  nom  de  plume, 
WMtti  mctamfctmy  the  mrticle^  As  assurance  of  j^ood  faith 
''wrMmMity;  hit  it  will  not  be  published^  unless  desired. 

tkemgeSt  emtfibutioHs,  subset  iptions,  advertisements, 
mUMtrcpwtmmncations  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
A»  Tub  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Hoboken, 
N.J. 

TfTHE   Indicator  for  October  greets  its 

X      friends  (it  has  no  enemies),  and  at  the 

same  dme  congratulates  itself  that  it  is  but 

two  weeks  behind  time. 

Some  of  its  contents  may  be  new  ;  some,  of 

ocnuae,  will  have  grown  old  with  long  standing 
on  the  editorial  shelf. 

The  factSy  ladies  and  gentlemen,  boys  and 
FrepSb,  are  these  :  The  Institute  has  about  one 
Imndred  and  seventy  students,  each  one  pro- 
daiming  his  intention  to  support  The  Indica- 
tor or  burst  But  when  the  first  of  October 
came  around,  but  six  of  the  one  hundred  and 
■erenty  volunteered  to  support  The  Indica- 
lOR  in  preference  to  bursting. 


A  knowledge  of  the  amount  of  work  the 
College  requires  of  each  student  will  show 
that  the  six,  with  a  new  recruit,  had  to  use 
most  of  their  spare  time  in  order  to  publish 
an  October  Indicator  even  this  late. 

We  are  not  complaining,  but  all  we  hope  is, 
if  the  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  don't  do 
something  for  The  Indicator  next  month, 
that  they  will  every  one  explode,  burst  or  other- 
wise be  reduced  to  nothingness. 


-•-♦ 


rN  the  June  number  of  The  Indicator  the 
suggestion  was  made  that  the  course  in 
English  Literature  be  shortened  in  order  to 
make  room  for  the  science  of  Political  Econo- 
my. This  is  to  us,  and,  we  believe,  to  all  the 
students,  an  important  suggestion,  and  one  that 
may  reasonably  occupy  the  attention  of  the 
Faculty.  In  canvassing  among  the  different 
classes  for  statistics  for  the  coming  presidential 
election,  we  have  found  a  deplorable  want  of 
knowledge  in  regard  to  candidates,  party  plat- 
forms and  political  terms.  We  do  not  think 
that  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  details 
of  the  campaigns  is  at  all  desirable  in  a  stu- 
dent, but  when  he  cannot  express  his  opinions 
intelligently  in  regard  to  a  question  at  issue 
his  education  is  surely  deficient.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  is  not  to  be  desired  that  the 
class  be  obliged  to  listen  to  bigoted  professors 
ranting  on  "  Free  Trade  "  or  "  Protection,"  as 
is  the  case  in  some  of  our  colleges.  Far  better 
that  the  study  be  omitted  entirely. 

Now  we  are  ready  with  a  plan — as  all  those 
who  advocate  a  desired  change  should  be — 
and  it  is  this  :  In  the  curriculum,  as  at  present 
laid  down  in  the  catalogue,  the  study  of  the 
English  language  is  pursued  in  the  Sopho- 
more year  as  follows  :     First  term,   Shaw's 


98 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


English  Literature ;  second  term,  English 
Literature  of  the  17th  and  i8th  Centuries  ; 
third  term,  English  and  American  Literature 
of  the  19th  Century.  Now,  why  may  not  the 
course  in  English  be  condensed  so  that  the 
catalogue  shall  read  :  First  term,  Political 
Economy ;  second  and  third  terms  English 
Literature  ?  The  course  in  Political  Economy 
might  be  made  to  embrace  recitations  from 
some  modem  text  book  and  lectures  by  the 
professor  ;  and  after  the  first  few  weeks,  when 
an  insight  into  the  subject  has  been  obtained 
by  the  student,  he  should  be  required  fre- 
quently to  take  part  in  debates  upon  promi- 
nent topics,  the  professor  deciding  according 
to  the  points  advanced  by  the  different  sides. 

By  this  means  the  student  learns  to  grapple 
with  these  mat  ers  as  they  are  brought  up  in 
politics,  and  will  not  be  readily  lead  astray  by 
a  demagogue  orator  or  a  cultured  politician. 
There  is  no  object  more  open  to  ridicule  than 
a  man  who  is  forward  in  expressing  his  opinion, 
but  when  questioned,  cannot  state  his  grounds 
for  such  belief  other  than  that  such  and  such  an 
editor  or  prominent  party  leader  has  said  so. 
Unfortunately  there  are  many  such  in  this 
country.  May  it  never  be  said  that  a  Stevens 
Alumnus  is  such  a  man  ! 

It  is  our  earnest  desire  that  the  Faculty 
may  see  the  advisability  of  making  provision 
for  this  long  felt  want,  and  we  think  that  such 
a  change  in  the  curriculum  would  never  be 
regretted.  The  interest  manifested  and  knowl- 
edge gained  by  the  students  in  such  an  im- 
portant and  popular  branch  of  science  would 
more  than  compensate  for  the  loss  of  time  in 
literature. 


« #» » 


alRCUMSTANCES  prevented  last  year's 
Glee  Club  from  practising  much.  Their 
organization  was  not  completed  until  the 
winter  term  ;  and  then  the  arduous  task  of 
compiling  a  thesis  occupied  so  large  a  portion 
of  the  time  of  some  members  during  the 
spring  term,  that  they  were  unable  to  attend 
the  Glee  Club's  meetings. 

As  will  be  seen  on  another  page,  some  of 


the  old  members  are  trying  to  fill  up  the  ranks. 
They  want  to  increase  their  number,  to  engage 
a  competent  leader,  and  to  organize  and  get 
to  work  immediately. 

Stevens  proves  no  exception  to  the  rule 
that  tenors  are  scarce,  and  all  students  who 
can  sing,  particularly  those  singing  tenor, 
should  not  be  too  modest  or  backward  in  apH 
plying  for  admission,  for  we  have  no  hesitation 
in  saying  that  all  belonging  to  the  club  will 
be  both  pleased  and  profited.  The  public  re- 
hearsal given  last  winter  seemed  to  have  been 
appreciated,  and  if  all  who  have  it  in  their 
power  will  assist,  we  may  have  the  pleasure  of 
attending  not  only  their  rehearsals,  but  con- 
certs which  will  be  a  credit  to  the  Club  and 
the  College. 


« #  » » 


FT  the  Athletic  Association  meeting  on  Oct. 
I  St  the  subject  of  a  new  track  at  the 
grounds  was  again  brought  up  and  discussed. 
As  the  matter  of  training  and  a  gymnasium  is 
now  being  agitated  by  the  students,  a  few  re- 
marks here  might  throw  some  light  on  the  sub- 
ject. In  the  first  place,  we  will  give  a  brief 
history  of  the  old  track  :  It  was  ordered  built 
by  the  association  in  1877,  and  George  Giles 
was  employed  to  see  that  the  work  was  done. 
It  was  composed  of  a  lower  layer  of  cinders 
and  clay,  and  an  upper  layer  of  fine  cinders 
well  rolled,  the  whole  being  about  one  foot 
thick.  The  first  year  only  a  few  students  took 
advantage  of  the  new  track,  and  their  enthu- 
siasm soon  slackened  to  such  an  extent,  that 
by  the  following  fall  the  track  was  almost  de- 
serted and  weeds  were  fast  gaining  a  footing 
in  it.  It  was  evident  that  we  could  not  use  a 
track  enough  to  pay  to  keep  it  in  order. 

In  1882  more  space  for  tennis  courts  was 
needed,  and  the  field  was  also  extended,  so  the 
track  was  ordered  dug  up  at  as  great  expense 
as  the  first  building  of  it  cost.  The  question 
has  arisen,  do  we  want  to  repeat  the  experi- 
ment ?  Various  arguments  have  been  brought 
up  pro  and  con.  The  expense  of  a  track  would 
have  to  be  defrayed  by  an  assessment  upon 
the  members.     Now,  if  an  assessment  is  to  b^ 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR, 


99 


made  at  all,  would  it  not  be  better  to  devote 
the  funds   to  the  erection  of  a  stand  at  the 
grounds  for  the  seating  of  spectators  ?     This 
was  proposed  last  year  and  met  with  great 
favor,  but  the  only  obstruction  to  carrying  it 
out  was  the  liability  of  the  grounds  being  soon 
appropriated  for  some  other  purposes.  The  ob- 
jection has  now  been  removed,  and  we  are  as- 
sured of  at  least  one  year's  notice  before  such 
is  done,  and  it  was  also  expressed  that  it  was 
highly  improbable  that  any  other  use  would 
be  made  of  the  ground  for  some  years  to  come. 
Were  a  stand  erected,  the  seating  portion 
might  be  so  elevated  as  to  make  ample  room 
beneath  for  dressing  rooms,  and  a  room  fitted 
with  various  appliances  for  exercising  in  which 
training  might  goon  during  inclement  weather, 
when  a  track  would  be  useless.     The  expense 
of  building  a  stand  would  be  more   than  a 
track,  but  would  it  not  be  more  advisable  to 
have  a  thing  of  usefulness  to  all  and  an  orna- 
ment to  the  grounds  than  a  track  to  be  mo- 
nopolized, perhaps,  by  a  few  bicyclists  ? 

It  lyust  be  conceded  by  all  that  some  sort 
of  new  dressing  rooms  are  an  absolute  necessity. 
It  is  a  wonder  that  a  team  will  visit  us  at  all 
when  they  have  to  be  ushered  into  such  an 
edifice  of  comfort  and  beauty  as  we  possess, 
in  order  to  disrobe. 


7Y?E  publish  in  another  column  a  com- 
*«  munication  signed  "Zid,"  in  regard 
to  the  proposed  "committee  on  college  pins.** 
The  objections  that  he  urges  against  the 
choosing  of  such  a  pin  are  (i),  that  the  taste 
of  '87  and  *88  is  not  of  a  quality  to  suit  all ; 
(2)  that  such  a  pin  is  comparatively  valueless  ; 
{3)  that  it  will  be  either  too  expensive  or 
too  cheap.  We  think  that  these  objections 
may  be  met,  and,  perhaps,  to  "  Zid's  "  own 
satisfaction. 

Since  we  received  this  communication  the 
matter  has  taken  on  a  new  aspect.  The  com- 
mittees from  '87  and  '88  met  last  week,  and 
it  was  decided  to  request  the  presidents  of  the 
classes  of  '85  and  '%(>  to  appoint  committees 
of  three  from  their  respective  classes.     Thus, 


instead  of  a  co-operative  plan  effecting  the 
two  lower  classes,  there  is  a  convention  of 
delegates  from  each  of  the  four  classes,  and 
the  object  of  this  convention  is  to  select  de- 
signs, which  are  to  be  submitted  to  the  stu- 
dents and  voted  upon. 

Now,  as  to  the  objections.  In  the  first 
place,  the  pin  will  be  an  expression  of  the 
taste  of  the  students  of  the  Institute,  not  of 
one  class  merely.  Who  have  a  better  right  to 
decide  upon  such  a  matter  than  those  most 
directly  concerned  ?  The  decision  once  made, 
the  announcement  goes  forth  over  the  country 
that  the  students  of  the  Stevens  Institute  of 
Technology  have,  by  ballot,  declared  that  the 
"  Stevens  pin  "  shall  now  and  hereafter  be 
of  such  or  such  a  design.  What  class  would 
ever  think  of  changing  it  ?  Sooner  think  of 
changing  college  colors  for  no  better  reason 
than  that  some  student  found  the  present  shade 
objectionable  ! 

We  believe  that  "  Zid  "  is  in  the  wrong  in 
stating  that  college  pins  are  never  worn  after 
graduation.  The  reason  they  are  not  worn 
continuously  is  that  there  is  no  need  for 
them  ;  but  let  there  be  a  reunion  or  a  foot 
ball  match  or  a  boat  race,  and  the  badges 
are  taken  from  their  cotton  lined  boxes  and 
pinned  on  in  their  accustomed  places.  No 
need  of  introduction  then  !  The  middle  aged 
man  and  the  youth  just  graduated  meet  for 
the  first  time  like  old  friends.  Then,  again, 
the  pin  is  valuable  is  this  respect :  it  places 
the  wearer  where  he  belongs,  in  the  front 
rank  ;  for  a  man  recognized  to  be  a  Stev- 
ens graduate  can  possess  no  higher  recom- 
mendation as  to  his  ability. 

In  regard  to  expense,  we  think  that  a  re- 
fo'rm  is  needed.  It  almost  always  happens 
that  in  a  large  class  there  are  some  to  whom 
money  is  not  a  common  article,  particularly 
in  a  college  like  ours,  where  the  expenses  are 
very  great.  Now,  as  a  rule,  the  more  fortu- 
nate are  continually  devising  schemes  requiring 
the  financial  aid  of  the  entire  class.  Con- 
spicuously among  these  schemes  is  that  for  a 
class    pin.     Some    favor   a  ten    dollar   pin ; 


L 


lOO 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


Others,  one  costing  but  four  dollars.  A  vote  is 
taken,  and  the  majority  are  of  the  first  men- 
tioned. What  are  the  poorer  students  to  do  ? 
If  they  buy  the  pin,  they  must  suffer  incon- 
venience in  some  other  direction  ;  if  they  re- 
fuse, they  are  accused  of  "  want  of  class  feel- 
ing," "stinginess,"  etc.  Thus  it  often  hap- 
pens that  the  pin  is  bought  only  to  stay  the  tor- 
rent of  indignation  poured  out  by  unthinking 
members  of  the  class.  With  a  standard  pin 
this  difficulty  would  to  a  great  degree  be 
avoided,  as  each  student  will  vote  according 
to  his  taste  or  means,  as  he  prefers.  In  all 
probability  the  pin  selected  will  be  a  medium 
between  the  expensive  and  the  cheap  design. 
Now  that  the  plan  for  the  adoption  of  a 
college  pin  has  become  general,  dealing  with 
the  college  rather  than  with  classes,  we  are 
heartily  in  favor  of  it,  and  eagerly  look  for- 
ward to  the  realization  of  such  a  project. 


-♦-♦ 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

I  notice  that  the  idea  of  a  college  pin  is 
being  discussed  by  '87,  with  the  hope  of  get- 
ting the  co-operation  of  '88  and  subsequent 
classes  as  they  enter  in  introducing  it,  so 
that  after  '86  the  class  pins  may  be  alike 
for  all  classes,  with  the  exception  of  the  dates, 
of  course.  It  seems  to  me  that  this  course 
would  not  be  advisable,  even  if  it  is  now 
suited  to  '87  and  '88,  for  the  question  arises, 
would  designs  adopted  by  these  two  classes  be 
acceptable  to  subsequent  classes  ?  True,  it 
may  seem  at  first  one  Stevens  man  would  be 
able  to  know  another  of  a  different  class,  and 
would  be  recognized  as  a  Stevens  man  by 
other  collegians  if  they  happened  to  know  the 
pin  ;  yet,  would  not  the  small  advantages  thus 
derived  be  more  than  compensated  by  the 
fact  that  each  class,  by  its  own  separate  pin, 
exercises  its  taste  and  humor,  according  to  its 
pleasure  and  without  the  regrets  arising  from 
the  fact  that  they  were  not  the  ones  who  had 
designed  it,  and  thinking  that  if  they  had,  it 
would  have  been  much  more  artistic  and 
more  expressive  of  their  taste  as  a  class  ? 
Moreover,  when  two  young  men  are  thrown 
together,  each  soon  discovers  whether  the 
other  one  is  a  college  man  or  not ;  and,  also, 
in  the  case  of  each  being  from  Stevens,  they 


know  each  other  already,  or,  at  least,  have 
had  opportunity,  except  when  they  are  of 
classes  four  or  more  years  apart,  in  which 
case  one  or  both  are  graduates,  and  a  gradu- 
ate of  any  college  never  wears  his  pin  after 
graduation,  merely  keeping  it  as  a  memento 
of  happy  days  gone  by.  Again,  one  class 
might  be  disposed  to  have  a  more  or  less 
expensive  pin  than  another,  while  with  a  pre- 
scribed college  pin,  of  invariable  design,  and 
that,  possibly,  of  questionable  beauty,  each 
class  would  have  to  adopt  the  same  one. 
Hence,  from  these  considerations,  do  you  not 
agree  with  the  proposition  stated  at  first :  it 
is  unadvisable  ?  "  Zid." 


*  ♦» » 


We  notice  that  the  bulletin  board,  supposed 
to  be  a  source  of  information  on  college 
matters  for  the  students,  is  turned  into  an  ad- 
vertising medium  for  boarding  houses.  Some 
time  ago  our  hearts  were  rejoiced  at  seeing  a 
»  compact  list  of  all  boarding  houses  placed  in 
one  corner  of  the  board,  but  since  then  private 
advertisements  have  been  encroaching  more 
and  more  on  the  already  limited  space,  we  do 
not  know  with  whose  permission.  On^  begins 
to  wonder  whether,  judging  from  the  reading 
matter  on  the  board,  the  students  of  Stevens 
are  most  interested  in  the  matter  of  spare  room 
in  Hoboken  houses,  or  in  their  own  affairs  of 
studies  and  athletics. 


A  noteworthy  change  has  taken  place  in  the 
shop.  The  tool  room  has  been  moved  down 
to  the  first  floor  of  the  shop,  at  the  north  end. 
It  connects  by  a  small  elevator  with  the  supply 
room  upstairs,  so  that  students  may  obtain 
tools  and  material  at  the  same  time.  The 
dressing  room,  formerly  taking  up  the  whole 
width  of  the  wing,  has  been  cut  in  half,  the 
part  connecting  with  the  shop,  used  as  a  dress- 
ing room,  has  the  lockers  ranged  on  two  sides 
of  the  room.  The  othet  part  connects  with 
the  tool  room,  where  overalls  are  to  be  handed 
in  and  are  taken  charge  of  by  the  person  in 
the  tool  room.  Thus  tool  lockers  and  tool 
and  stock  supplies  are  accessible  without  the 
numerous  journeys  upstairs  which  we  were 
obliged  to  make  under  the  old  plan.  It  will 
also  be  seen  that  every  one  will  have  his  own 
overalls  without  fear  of  their  being  *'  borrowed  " 
at  different  times.  Very  good;  one  of  those 
improvements  for  which,  it  is  said,  there  is 
always  room. 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


lOI 


WHAT     MIGHT    HAVE    HAPPENED    AT 
THE    LAST   SOPHOMORE    CLASS 

MEETING. 


While  I  was  dozing  in  the  Literature  class 
the  other  day,  the  lesson  came  to  an  end. 
When  about  to  leave  the  room  I  seemed  to 
hear  notice  given  that  a  class  meeting  would 
be  held  at  that  time  and  place.  Knowmg  that 
this  was  the  regular  annual  meeting,  and  that 
the  principal  purpose  of  the  gathering  was  to 
elect  officers  for  the  year  '84-'85,  I  waited  in 
my  seat.  The  president  rose  with  great  dig- 
nity and  took  the  place  just  vacated  by  Pro- 
fessor Wall.  In  a  few  apt  and  eloquent  words 
he  informed  the  class  of  the  purpose  of  the 
meeting  and  called  for  nominations  for  the 
chief  executive  office.  Like  the  last  Chicago 
convention,  everybody  seemed  to  wish  that 
everybody  else  would  keep  silent  while  every- 
body spoke.  This  plan  gave  results  for  the 
first  few  moments  like  those  in  a  meeting  of 
the  New  York  Park  Commissioners,  when  only 
three  are  present,  but  soon  augmenting  as  the 
number  of  speakers  increased,  the  flood  of 
learned  and  majestic  eloquence  carried  every- 
thing before  it.  Motions,  anti-motions,  points 
of  order  and  amendments  filled  the  air  so  full 
of  words  that  at  one  and  the  same  time  the 
writer  counted  753  words  in  mid  air,  and  483  J 
about  leaving  the  mouths  of  the  orators.  Such 
is  the  power  of  mind  over  matter,  that  even 
the  chalk,  urged  by  the  mental  electricity  which 
prevaded  all  space,  was  seen  to  leave  the 
blackboard  and  table  and  jump  in  a  lively 
manner  about  the  room.  The  writer  knows 
this  to  be  true,  as  he  was  hit  in  various  tender 
parts  of  the  body  by  small  particles  of  chalk, 
which  seemed  to  come  from  no  one  knew 
whence.  With  many,  this  exhibition  would 
have  been  entertaining.  Not  so,  however,  with 
the  president,  who  knew  that  his  reputation 
through  all  time  would  depend  upon  his  keep- 
ing order  at  this  meeting — the  last  that  he  was 
to  preside  over ;  at  least  during  the  Sopho- 
more term — ^and  so,  knowing  what  responsi- 
bility rested  upon  him,  the  honorable  gentle- 
man made  all  the  noise  he  could  on  his  plat- 
form, thus  hoping  to  drown  the  sounds  of  dis- 
cord and  prevent  undue  oratorical  prominence 
in  the  back  of  the  room.  At  last,  with  fearful 
and  astonishing  confusion,  a  president,  vice 
president  and  secretary  were  elected,  but,  oh  ! 
what  dire  distress  followed  the  motion  to 
abolish  the  office  of  chaplain.  A  division  on 
the  question  was  called,  and  the  contesting 


parties  took  or  attempted  to  take  opposite 
sides  of  the  room,  no  one  knowing  how  to 
vote  or  on  which  side  of  the  room  to  go  if 
they  did.  This  was  the  culminating  and  last 
act,  and  as  the  humble  narrator  of  these  facts 
thought  it  best  to  leave  at  that  time,  he  can 
inform  the  reading  public  of  nothing  further. 


«^  »* 


LECTURE 

DELIVERED    BEFORE     THE    SENIOR     CLASS    OF 

STEVENS    INSTITUTE   OF    TECHNOLOGY, 

HOBOKEN,    N,  J.,  NOV.    1 8,   1 88 1. 


Mr.  Denton — Mr.  Allen  has  very  kind- 
ly consented  to  allow  us  to  ask  him  any 
questions  we  choose  to-day,  so  that  if  there  is 
anything  in  the  questions  asked  by  me  which 
suggests  other  questions  to  any  one  here,  let  us 
have  them,  so  that  we  can  cover  the  ground. 
We  probably  shall  not  get  another  such  oppor- 
tunity as  this  for  obtaining  information  about 
the  very  important  matter  of  boiler  insurance, 
so  that  we  ought  to  make  the  most  of  it. 

Mr.  Allen — I  will  make  this  reservation, 
gentlemen :  While  I  agree  to  answer  to  the  best 
of  my  ability  any  questions  that  may  be  put 
to  me,  I  am  not  sure  that  I  shall  be  able  to  do 
so  satisfactorily. 

Mr.  Denton — Will  you  please  explain  in 
general  outline  what  it  is  that  the  Hartford 
Steam  Boiler  Inspection  and  Insurance  Com- 
pany aims  to  do  for  the  public,  and  what  is 
about  the  charge  to  the  public  for  their 
services  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Professor  Denton  and  gentle- 
men :  The  object  of  the  Hartford  Steam  Boiler 
Inspection  and  Insurance  Company  is  to  pre- 
vent the  explosion  of  boilers  by  making 
periodical  examinations.  I  am  most  familiar 
with  the  business  as  conducted  at  our  New 
York  branch  office.  We  make  quarterly  visits 
of  inspection  to  the  premises,  and  at  those 
inspection  visits  the  inspector  looks  at  theboiler 
just  as  it  is  being  used  in  its  regular  operations. 
He  looks  along  the  furnace  sheets  and  at 
the  connections,  safety  valves,  steam  gauges, 
water  gauges,  and  all  the  safety  appliances, 
and  reports  their  condition.  A  verbal  report 
is  given  to  the  superintendent,  or  manager,  or 
chief  engineer — the  responsible  person,whoever 
he  may  be,  on  the  premises — and  the  inspector 
on  his  return  to  the  company's  Office  writes 
out  a  report,  which  is  sent  by  mail.  Once  or 
twice  a  year  besides  that,  each  boiler  is  thor- 


102 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


oughly  examined  internally  and  externally  by 
sound — by  the  hammer.  The  charges  vary 
according  to  the  condition  of  the  boiler,  its 
situation,  the  steam  pressure  carried,  and  a 
great  many  other  considerations,  generally 
from  one  to  three  per  cent. 

Mr.  Denton — Of  the  cost  of  the  boiler  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Not  of  necessity.  We  insure 
against  all  damage  by  explosion.  It  is  on  the 
boilers,  building,  stock  and  machinery. 

Mr.  Denton — What  corps  of  employes  is 
necessary  to  perform  the  above  service  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Well,  I  have  not  had  occasion 
recently  to  look  up  the  number  of  boilers  we 
are  insuring.  But  two  years  ago  we  had  ten . 
thousand  boilers  under  the  company's  charge. 
The  number  has  since  increased.  We  have,  as 
far  as  I  know,  some  thirty-five  inspectors,  with 
probably  an  equal  number  of  special  agents, 
who  have  some  supervision  over  the  works. 

Mr.  Denton — Are  those  boilers  distributed 
over  the  entire  country,  or  are  they  confined  to 
a  particular  locality  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Not  over  the  entire  country, 
but  in  those  localities  that  are  pretty  thickly 
settled,  where  business  may  be  conducted  with 
profit;  in  the  well  settled  States  and  in  the  larger 
cities.  The  company  does  no  business  in  the 
Territories,  nor  where  steam  power  is  scattered, 
as  in  most  of  the  Western  States.  I  think  that 
in  the  West  we  do  not  extend  operations  far- 
ther than  Illinois,  and  in  the  Southwest  far- 
ther than  Missouri.  And  in  the  South,  beyond 
«ome  portion  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  per- 
haps, operated  from  the  Baltimore  office,  I 
think  we  have  no  business. 

Mr.  Denton — These  thirty-five  inspectors 
constitute,  then,  all — outside  of  the  commercial 
equipment — the  officials  who — 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Denton— And  besides  these  inspectors 
and  the  special  agents  and  chief  inspector, 
they  are  the  only  ones  that  are  necessary  to 
take  care  of  the  ten  thousand  boilers  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Those  are  the  gentlemen  de- 
pended on  to  make  the  examinations.  I 
omitted  the  general  agents,  who  have  more  or 
less  to  do  with  those  things,  and  the  president 
of  the  company,  who  acts  as  the  chief  engineer, 
to  whom  all  disputed  matters  are  referred  for 
decision. 

Mr.  ))enton — How  are  these  inspectors 
trained  for  their  work,  and  from  what  class  of 
men  are  recruits  drawn  ? 

Mr.  Allen — The  company's  experience,  so 
far  as  I  know,  and  certainly  our  experience 
here  at    the    New  York  office,  has  been  most 


successful  with  mechanical  engineers — that  is, 
steam  engineers  who  are  practical  mechanics — 
and  there  are  some  boiler  makers  on  the  force, 
but  the  bulk  of  them  I  believe  are  mechanical 
engineers.  They  are  trained  in  this  way :  When 
a  new  inspector  is  added  to  the  force  he  ac- 
companies one  of  the  older  inspectors  on  his 
round  of  visits  for  a  month  or  more,  before 
the  company  allows  him  to  make  any  inspec- 
tions on  his  own  responsibility. 

Mr.  Denton — Are  there  any  of  technical 
education  among  the  inspectors  ? 

Mr.  Allen — I  think  not,  sir. 

Mr.  Denton— How  would  the  course  of 
such  an  institution  as  this  qualify  its  graduates 
for  such  duty  ?    Would  it  be  of  any  assistance  ? 

Mr.  Allen — It  would  be  of  very  valuable 
assistance,  sir. 

New  York,  Nov,  19,  1884. 

In  correction  to  a  reply  to  question  concerning  the 
selection  of  employes  by  this  company,  Mr.  Allen  says  : 

*'I  said  mechanical  engineers — meaning  engineer 
mechanics.  That  refers  to  inspectors  only.  Those  to 
whom  more  important  duties  are  intrusted  are  selected 
from  better  material. 

"As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  applied  to  your  Institute, 
through  Prof.  Thurston,  to  recommend  one  of  his  grad- 
uates for  employment  as  special  agent,  assigned  to  duty 
upon  the  locomotive  at  home  office,  Hartford,  only 
a  few  months  ago.  He  informed  me,  so  far  as  he  then 
knew,  they  were  all  profitably  eng^ed,  and  for  that 
reason  we  looked  elsewhere,  ^r.  H.  F.  Smith  was  ap- 
pointed, a  graduate  of  some  Eastern  technical  school. 
I  have  no  doubt  the  company  will  be  only  too  glad  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  benefits  conferred  by  institutions 
similar  to  the  '  Stevens  Institute  '  in  making  selections 
for  future  appointments.  The  company  have  a  system 
of  boiler  setting  which  they  recommend  when  their  ad- 
vice is  sought. 

Mr.  Denton — But  besides  that,  it  is  essen- 
tial that  a  good  deal  of  practical  mechanical 
knowledge  should  supplement  it  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Denton — What  other  boiler  insurance 
companies  are  there  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Well,  there  are  some  six  com- 
panies in  England  and  some  others  on  the 
continent ;  how  many,  I  do  not  know.  They 
are  being  established  from  year  to  year.  In 
this  country  we  have  a  Mutual  Insurance 
Company  in  Boston,  and  I  believe  there  is  a 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  in  New  York  a  company  that  takes  a 
number  of  different  kinds  of  business,  among 
others  that  of  steam  boilers  in  New  York 
State.  I  believe  those  are  the  only  companies 
in  this  country.  The  mutual  insurance  com- 
panies are  not  represented  hereabout.  The 
Rhode  Island  Mutual — I  believe  that  is  the 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


103 


name  of  it — or  the  Providence  Mutual  (I 
don't  know  which)  does  not,  I  think,  operate 
outside  of  a  small  locality  around  in  Rhode 
Island  ;  and  the  Boston  Mutual  does  busi- 
ness with  the  mills  through  Massachusetts  and 
New  York — a  very  limited  business.  The 
New  York  company  is  now  pushing  for  busi- 
ness in  the  larger  cities  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Denton — And  in  England  what  are 
the  prominent  companies  ? 

Mr.  Allen — The  prominent  companies 
are  the  Manchester  Steam  Users*  Association, 
which,  however,  is  not  an  insurance  company. 
It  is  an  association  of  manufacturers  who  sub- 
scribe according  to  the  expenses  pro  rata,  and 
employ  inspectors  who  go  about  and  examine 
the  boilers  of  the  members  of  the  association. 
In  fact,  that  was  the  starting  point  in  this 
business.  It  was  organized  by  Professor  Fajr- 
baim  about  forty  years  ago 

Mr.  Denton — Sir  William  Fairbairn  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Sir  William  Fairbairn.  And 
the  services  of  the  inspectors  proved  so  valu- 
able to  the  manufacturers  in  the  district  they 
visited  that  companies  were  organized  on  the 
insurance  principle  to  indemnify  in  case  of 
loss  ;  not  only  to  make  inspections,  but  to  in- 
demnify if  loss  occurred.  The  Manchester 
Steam  Users*  Association  has  been  a  highly 
successful  organization,  and  is  doing  excellent 
service  to-day,  and  is.  making  experiments 
from  time  to  time  on  a  number  of  disputed 
points  concerning  boilers. 

Mr.  Denton— The  chief  technical  authori- 
ty in  that  is  Mr.  Lavington  Fletcher? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir,  he  is  the  chief  engi- 
neer. Then  there  is  the  National  Boiler  In- 
surance Company.  I  am  not  able  to  give  you 
the  names  of  all  ;  there  are  some  five  or  six. 

Mr.  Denton— Are  there  any  in  France  or 
Germany  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir  ;  societies  much  after 
the  plan,  I  think,  of  the  Manchester  Steam 
Users*  Association.  In  Germany  there  are 
insurance  companies.  In  France,  so  far  as  I 
know,  there  are  no  insurance  companies,  but 
the  organization  is  after  the  plan  of  the  Man- 
chester Steam  Users'  Association. 

Mr.  Denton  —  The  Manchester  Steam 
Users'  was,  then,  the  first  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Denton— And  all  others  that  followed 
based  their  business  and  organization  on  the 
plan  of  that  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir  ;  as  far  as  the  exami- 
nations were  concerned.  I  think  the  next 
company  to  succeed  them  was  the  Insurance 


and  Steam  Power  Company,  limiied.  I  think 
that  was  in  Manchester.  I  think  that  it  was 
organized  by  some  of  the  officers  who  went  out 
of  the  Manchester  Steam  Users*  Association, 
and  for  commercial  considerations  organized 
the  insurance  part  of  the  business. 

Mr.  Denton — Who  was  the  originator  of 
boiler  insurance  in  this  country  ? 

Mr.  Allen — J.  M.  Allen,  of  Hartford. 

Mr.  Denton — Was  the  Hartford  company 
the  first  to  undertake  risks  for  boilers  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir ;  the  Hartford  is  the 
pioneer  company  in  the  United  States  in  that 
line  of  business. 

Mr.  Denton — Do  the  fields  of  labor  which 
these  companies  endeavor  to  serve  differ  essen- 
tially from  that  of  the  Hartford  company  ? 

Mr.  Allen — In  this  country,  you  refer 
to? 

Mr.  Denton — Yes. 

Mr.  Allen — Well,  the  other  companies 
that  I  have  spoken  of  are  in  limited  districts. 
The  Hartford  company  is  represented,  as  I 
have  said,  through  the  Middle  States,  through 
New  England,  in  the  West,  and  to  some  ex- 
tent in  the  Southwest.  The  other  companies 
are  only  in  the  larger  cities.  New  York,  Bos- 
ton, Philadelphia  and  Baltimore.  There  is 
one  other  company  I  did  not  mention,  the 
New  York  company — the  Fidelity  and  Casu- 
alty Company  it  is  called. 

Mr.  Denton — And  the  commercial  form 
in  which  the  duty  is  undertaken  by  those 
companies  is  best  stated  as  that  of  preventing 
boiler  explosions  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir;  by  periodical  exam- 
inations. 

Mr.  Denton — Is  there  any  direction  in 
which  the  field  of  labor  or  effectiveness  of 
boiler  insurance  companies  could  be  increased 
by  proper  legislative  assistance  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Well,  we  ask  to  be  left  alone 
by  State  legislation.  They  make  us  a  great 
deal  of  difficulty  and  study  to  impose  arbitrary 
restrictions  for  their  own  purposes.  It  is 
best  for  us  not  to  characterize  it,  perhaps. 
The  courts  have  held  very  strongly  that  the 
steam  user  is  responsible  for  any  negligence 
on  the  part  of  his  engineer,  or  any  want  of 
proper  equipment  on  the  boiler — anything 
that  is  essential  to  the  safety  of  the  boiler. 
You  have  recently  had  a  case  in  Jersey  City — 
the  dry  dock  explosion — in  which  the  engi- 
neer and  the  owners  are  now  under  trial,  and 
have  been  presented  to  the  grand  jury,  and,  I 
am  not  sure,  but  I  think,  indicted,  and  the 
case  will  probably  be  tried.     The  courts  have 


L 


104 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


held  that  in  the  event  of  an  explosion  the 
owner  of  the  establishment,  if  suits  are  insti- 
tuted, is  bound  to  prove  that  every  thing 
necessary  was  done  to  prevent  an  explosion, 
that  a  competent  engineer  was  employed,  and 
that  a  boiler  of  the  requisite  strength  and 
properly  kept  was  used. 

Mr.  Denton — How  does  that  interfere 
with  the  Boiler  Insurance  Company's  inten- 
tions ? 

Mr.  Allen  —  That  rather  contributes,  I 
think,  to  the  business  of  such  companies.  It 
does  not  coerce  the  steam  user  into  employing 
an  insurance  company;  but  if  he  desires  to  ob- 
tain the  best  advice  and  the  best  assistance  in 
preventing  such  explosions,  he  will  of  necessity 
employ  a  company  that  has  a  competent  corps 
of  inspectors  and  is  equipped  for  doing  the 
work;  and  in  one  or  two  cases  in  which  losses 
have  occurred  by  explosion,  and  it  was  shown 
that  the  boiler  had  not  lacked  necessary  re- 
pairs, and  was  provided  with  the  safety  equip- 
ments, that  constituted  a  successful  defence, 
and  verdicts  were  not  found  against  the  own- 
ers. 

Mr.  Denton — In  case  one  desired  to  se- 
cure the  best  assistance  of  the  Hartford  com- 
pany in  purchasing  and  using  a  steam  boiler, 
what  advice  could  he  get  from  them  regarding 
the  best  form  of  boiler  to  buy,  where  to 
buy  it  and  what  material  to  put  into  it  ? 

Mr.  Allen — The  company  would,  on  re- 
ceiving from  the  person  proposing  to  purchase 
a  boiler,  a  promise — which  of  course  is  readily 
given— to  insure  it  with  the  company  on  its 
completion,  advise  him  as  to  the  design  of 
the  boiler,  and  as  to  the  type  of  boiler  accord- 
ing to  his  needs  and  according  to  the  locality 
where  it  is  to  be  used.  Concerning  the  man- 
ufacture of  the  boiler,  the  company  respect- 
fully decline  to  make  any  recommendations. 
They  will  furnish  the  steam  user  who  desires 
a  specification  of  details  of  the  boiler,  and  he 
can  invite  proposals  from  the  boiler  makers. 
On  accepting  the  proposal  he  thinks  best,  he 
notifies  the  company,  and  they  send  an  inspec- 
tor from  time  to  time  to  the  boiler  shop  where 
the  boiler  is  being  constructed,  and  it  is  the 
business  of  the  inspector  to  see  that  the  con- 
ditions of  the  contract  are  fully  complied 
with,  and  in  that  way  the  steam  user  and  our- 
selves are  fully  protected.  No  matter  what 
boiler  maker  may  be  selected,  they  ask  that 
the  boiler  maker  comply  with  the  conditions 
of  the  specification,  and  if  he  does  not,  the 
boiler  will  be  condemned  and  the  work  upon 
it  stopped. 


Mr.  Denton — Some  years  ago  Mr.  Laving- 
ton  Fletcher,  of  the  Manchester  Steam  Users' 
Association,  put  forward  a  design  of  a  Lanca- 
shire boiler  as  being  the  opinion  of  the  society 
that  that  was  as  good  a  boiler  as  one  could 
use.     Am  I  right  in  that  ? 

Mr.  Allen— Yes,  sir. 

Mr.  Denton — Do  the  companies  in  this 
country  give  their  sanction  to  any  particular 
form  of  boiler  to  that  extent  ? 

Mr.  Allen — No,  sir. 

Mr.  Denton — Is  it  that  the  circumstances 
of  the  Manchester  company  enable  them  to 
do  that  ?  That  is,  does  their  work  lie  in  such  a 
direction  that  they  can  do  it  ? 

Mr.  Allen — We  have  assumed,  sir,  that 
that  is  the  case.  The  Manchester  company 
make  a  series  of  experiments,  and  through 
their  chief  engineer  determine  that  a  cer- 
tain boiler  is  the  best  to  use,  and  recommend 
the  adoption  of  such  boiler.  One  of  the  other 
companies  have  a  fusible  plug  that  they  put 
in  the  crown  sheet,  or  in  the  fire  furnace  of 
the  boiler,  usually  in  the  crown  sheet  or  back 
connection  at  its  lowest  point,  and  they  make 
a  rebate  on  the  insurance  where  this  patent  of 
theirs  is  employed ;  but  in  this  country  such 
things  as  that  are  familiarly  known  as  jobs, 
and  a  company  would  incur  the  opposition  of 
all  our  manufacturing-  boiler  makers  and 
people  who  are  in  the  supply  line  if  they  re- 
commended any  particular  contrivance.  We 
have  had  to  be  extraordinarily  careful  in  the 
conduct  of  our  business  to  keep  clear  of 
all  those  things.  The  company's  influ- 
ence is  sought  almost  every  hour  to  put 
something  on  the  market,  so  that  it  may  be 
said  that  the  Hartford  Steam  Boiler  Inspec- 
tion and  Insurance  Company  favor  this  con- 
trivance or  the  other  contrivance  ;  but  they 
and  all  their  subordinates  have  to  be  very 
careful  that  they  do  not  approve  anything 
officially.  All  those  things  conducive  to  the 
safety  of  boilers  are  approved  generally,  and 
we  leave  it  to  the  steam  user  and  owner  of 
the  boiler  as  to  putting  on  safety  appliances 
outside  the  ordinary  equipments. 

Mr.  Denton — If  the  form  of  boiler  and 
place  of  purchase  were  settled,  how  next  could 
the  company  assist  the  buyer  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Ordinarily  we  could  not  assist. 
The  transportation  of  the  boiler  would  be  the 
next  thing  in  order,  and  the  place  in  which  it 
is  to  be  set.  Boilers  are  oftentimes  injured  in 
transportation  by  the  chafing  of  the  chains  or 
the  manner  in  which  they  are  blocked  up,  and 
sometimes  by  wedging  up  the  tubes  and  pry- 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


105 


ing  up  the  tubes  while  moving  the  boiler 
around,  but  ordinarily  the  maker  attends  to 
that.  We  have  found  cases,  however,  in  which 
there  was  such  injury.  The  company  could 
not  render  much  service  under  such  circum- 
stances unless  the  boiler  had  been  used 
somewhere. 

Mr.  Denton — If  the  boiler  were  ready  for 
setting,  what  advice  and  assistance  would  the 
company  give  the  owner  regarding  the  setting 
and  the  connections  ? 

Mr.  Allen — The  company  would  advise 
concerning  the  setting  and  connections  of 
the  boiler  in  accordance  with  their  experience, 
so  as  to  make  the  boiler  accessible  in  every 
part  for  inspection  and  to  make  the  setting  a 
durable  one,  and  to  run  the  pipes  and  con- 
nections in  a  substantial  and  safe  way. 

Mr.  Denton — Would  they  criticise  a  draw- 
ing of  a  boiler  setting,  or  give  the  dimensions 
for  a  boiler  setting  ? 

Mr.  Allen — Yes,  sir  ;  and  that  is  a  very 
important  thing.  And,  by  the  way,  gentlemen, 
speaking  about  the  connections  to  the  boiler, 
you  have  a  case  in  point  in  this  recent  explo- 
sion at  Jersey  City.  I  do  not  know  how  closely 
you  have  followed  it,  but  the  accounts  given 
in  the  public  prints  are  very  often  garbled, 
and  they  come  to  us  in  such  a  shape  that, 
unless  you  have  some  personal  knowledge  of 
the  case,  you  are  left  in  ignorance  of  some  of 
the  most  important  facts.  In  the  case  at 
Jersey  City,  the  safety  valve  attached  to  the 
boiler  was  a  trifle  small,  according  to  the 
United  States  official  regulations  on  the  subject, 
and  they  are  the  only  official  ones  in  this 
country.  The  safety  yalve  had  a  diameter  of 
about  2  J  inches.  Instead  of  the  valve's  blow- 
ing out  freely,  there  was  a  pipe  that  conducted 
the  waste  steam  to  the  open  air,  and  that  was 
only  an  inch  and  a  half.  So  that  there  was  a 
safety  valve  2 J  inches  in  diameter,  and  in 
connection  with  that  a  pipe  that  reduced  its 
effective  area  to  an  inch  and  a  half,  besides 
the  friction  of  the  elbow  and  the  pipe,  and 
the  placing  of  stop  valves  between  the  safety 
valve  and  the  boiler.  That  is  another  com- 
mon error  in  the  equipments  of  boilers.  We 
had  a  very  violent  explosion  in  Newark 
within  the  last  year  at  Balbach's  refinery, 
resulting  from  that.  They  had  placed  the 
steam  gauge  connection  on  the  main  line  of 
pipe,  and  the  safety  valve  also  on  the  same 
connection,  and  two  stop  valves — two  valves 
by  which  the  steam  could  be  stopped  off 
between  the  boiler  and  the  safety  valve — and 
when  they  were  shut  off  there  was  no  means 


of  knowing  what  pressure  was  on  the  boilers. 
The  safety  valve  connection  was  on  the 
branch  pipe  between  the  two  boilers,  and 
between  that  connection  were  these  stop  valves 
that  I  speak  of,  so  that  the  pressure  accumu- 
lated to  a  dangerous  extent,  until  it  reached 
the  limit  of  the  strength  of  the  boilers  and 
both  blew  up. 

Mr.  Denton — In  this  boiler  specification 
that  I  mentioned  as  having  been  put  forth  by 
Mr.  Lavington  Fletcher,  I  noticed  that  con- 
siderable emphasis  was  laid  upon  having 
room  enough  between  the  boiler  and  its  walls 
or  the  walls  of  the  setting  to  allow  a  person 
to  walk  around  the  boiler  and  get  at  every 
part  of  it.  In  contracting  for  boilers  in  this 
neighborhood,  I  have  known  that  idea  to  be 
spoken  of  as  detrimental  to  economy.  What* 
is  the  fact  in  the  case?  Is  economy  so  ef- 
fected by  having  room  for  walking  alongside 
of  the  boiler  as  to  make  it  worth  while  to  build 
the  walls  in  close  to  the  boiler  ? 

Mr.  Allen — That  is  a  disputed  point,  Pro- 
fessor. The  recommendation  of  the  inspec- 
tion companies  is  to  have  a  suitable  space  all  - 
around  the  boiler  so  that  it  can  be  inspected. 
Probably  on  first  getting  up  steam  all  that 
space  has  to  be  heated  at  the  expense  of  the 
fuel.  After  that  is  once  done  and  the  boiler  put 
into  operation,  there  is  very  little  loss  from 
that  account.  We  think  that  there  is  no  ap- 
preciable loss,  and  that  the  gain  is  so  great 
that  all  boilers  should  be  set  in  that  way  to 
make  them  accessible. 

Mr.  Denton — Then  if  a  drawing  were  pre- 
sented by  a  boiler  user,  showing  the  walls  of 
the  setting  to  be  within  four  inches  of  the 
shell  of  the  boiler,  the  company  would  not 
hesitate  to  advise  him  to  make  that  twelve 
inches  ? 

Mr.  Allen — To  make  that  of  such  a  dis- 
tance that  an  inspector  could  crawl  around 
that  and  get  to  the  riveted  seams — twelve  or 
fourteen  inches — get  to  the  girth  seams  and 
the  shell  of  the  boiler. 

Mr.  Denton — When  the  boiler  user  had 
set  his  boiler  ready,  would  the  company  assist 
him  in  the  selection  of  a  competent  fireman  ? 

Mr.  Allen — A  few  of  the  larger  cities  have 
municipal  inspections ;  and  before  a  boiler 
can  be  run  it  is  necessary  to  obtain  a  certifi- 
cate of  inspection  from  those  authorities.  It 
is  contrary  to  law  to  run  a  boiler  without  it. 
That  is  the  case  in  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia, and  I  believe  Brooklyn,  and  in  other 
cities  in  the  West  and  the  same  in  the  East, 
and  Boston,  perhaps.     The  company,  on  the 


io6 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


applicalioaof  ihe  abjured,  will  always  give  any 
information.  Thev  do  not  interfere  in  the 
matter.  If  the  inspector  has  any  reason  to 
believe  that  there  is  any  carelessness  or  negli- 
gence in  the  management  of  the  boiler  or 
machinery,  or  such  other  things  as  we  have 
charge  of,  he  ascertains  as  to  the  capability  of 
the  man,  and  that  is  included  in  his  report. 

Mr.  Denton — This  question  was  based  on  the 
custom  in  large  manufactories — for  instance. 
Hoe's  Printing  Press  Works — of  recording  the 
name  of  a  man  who  is  capable  of  running  a 
printing  press  as  soon  as  he  gets  out  of  work  ; 
and  people  get  into  the  habit  of  applying  to 
Hoe  for  a  competent  pressman.  The  question 
was  put  to  learn  if  that  practice  was  encouraged 
by  boiler  insurance  companies — that  is,  their 
suggesting  the  names  of  good  firemen,  or 
attempting  to  keep  themselves  posted  as  to 
where  a  good  fireman  could  be  obtained. 

Mr.  Allen — It  is  done  to  some  extent,  not 
by  the  company,  but  by  its  employes.  A 
man,  known  to  be  a  good  man,  having  been 
employed  at  some  place  where  the  com- 
pany has  been  insuring  and  inspecting,  will 
come  to  the  company's  office  on  getting  out 
of  employment  and  leave  his  name  with  the 
company,  and  ask  to  have  the  privilege  of 
referring  to  the  company.  The  company 
never  erive  any  written  recommendations  to 
any  one.  What  I  described  has  been  done 
to  a  limited  extent. 

( To  be  Continued,) 


AlFgliBSFIGS. 


REGULAR  MEETING  OF  THE  S.  I.  A.  A. 


-#-<- 


A  SUGGESTION. 


Why  not  have  an  athletic  association  bul- 
letin board  ?  By  that,  we  mean  a  board  on 
which  athletic  matters  and  notices  can  be 
posted,  without  danger  of  being  pulled  down  ; 
quite  a  number  of  notices  on  this  subject  are 
mislaid  or  waylaid,  before  all  have  had  a 
chance  to  see  them.  Under  the  present  sys- 
tem, all  official  notices  are  put  under  the  glass 
of  the  now  universal  board,  very  much  on 
the  plan  of  a  shingle  roof — one  part  over- 
lapping another — very  often  covering  it  alto- 
gether. Again,  to  get  a  notice  under  the  glass 
case,  you  must  hunt  up  one  of  the  jani- 
tors, or  pin  it  fast  to  the  frame  of  the  glass 
door,  the  said  frame  looking  very  much  as  if  it 
had  attempted  to  stop  a  charge  of  shot,  with 
indifferent  success. 

We  would  like  to  see  a  neat  board  put  up 
somewhere  in  a  place  where  all  could  see  it, 
and  on  which  nothing  but  athletic  notices 
should  be  posted. 


In  accordance  with  the  constitution,  the 
first  regular  meeting  of  the  term  was  called 
October  i,  in  Prof.  Thurston's  lecture  room. 
The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  2.15  p.  m., 
with  President  W.  S.  Dilworth  in  the  chair. 

The  three  upper  classes  were  very  fully 
represented  among  those  present,  who  occu- 
pied the  centre  of  the  room,  while  the  stand- 
ing room  was  pretty  well  occupied  by  mem- 
bers of  the  Class  of  *88,  who  had  dropped  in 
to  witness  the  proceedings  and  to  see  that 
they  were  duly  elected  members  of  the  asso- 
ciation. Several  familiar  faces  of  the  Class  of  '84 
graced  the  assemblage,  and  Messrs.  Kletzsch 
and  Maury  showed  several  times  that  their 
interest  was  still  alive  by  taking  part  in  the 
discussions. 

Their  longer  experience  and  superior  knowl- 
edge added  much  to  the  weight  of  their  ad- 
vice. , 

Clerk  O.  H.  Baldwin,  of  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors, reported  for  that  body,  stating  that  they 
had  not  been  able  to  rebuild  the  track  at  the 
grounds  during  the  summer,  as  financial  pro- 
vision for  the  work  was  wanting  and  the 
treasury  could  not  well  be  taxed  to  that  extent 
in  its  present  condition.  He  had  received  an 
offer,  however,  from  a  contractor  to  build  the 
track  and  sod  the  base  ball  diamond  for  S150. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  Hudson  County  wheelmen,  to  see  if  an 
arrangement  could  not  be  made  with  them 
concerning  the  track.  Several  games  of  foot 
ball  have  already  been  arranged,  and  eight 
colleges  are  yet  to  be  heard  from.  The 
treasurer  reported  $21.65  ^^  ^^  treasury,  with 
rent  from  the  St.  George  Cricket  Club  yet  to 
come  in  and  all  the  fees  from  members,  which 
will  put  the  association  on  good  footing  for 
the  coming  foot  ball  season. 

The  election  of  officers  was  next  in  order, 
and  resulted  as  follows  : 

President :  R.  H.  Rice,  '85. 

Vice  President ;  Burchard,  '85. 

Recording  Secretary  :  Abbey,  '85. 

Corresponding  Secretary  :  Collins,  '86. 

Treasurer :  Field,  '86. 

Directors  :  Dilworth,  '85  ;  Adriance,  '85. 

Base  Ball  Captain  :  E.  Munkwitz,  '85. 

An  alteration  in  the  constitution  was  also 
made,  providing  for  the  election  each  year  of 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


107 


a  lacrosse  captain,  and  he  is  also  to  be  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

R.  Norris,  '85,  was  elected  lacrosse  captain 
for  the  ensuing  year. 

It  was  proposed  to  make  a  charge  of  admis- 
sion to  the  foot  ball  games  for  members,  but 
was  ruled  out  of  order,  as  contrary  to  the  con- 
stitution. A  written  resolution  was  handed  in, 
signed  by  Baldwin  and  Adriance,  to  that 
effect,  to  be  voted  on  at  the  next  meeting. 

It  was  also  agreed  to  add  25  per  cent,  to 
the  dues  if  not  paid  before  November  i. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  4  p.  m. 

STEVENS  VS,  VALE. 

The  foot  ball  elevens  of  Yale  College  and 
Stevens  Institute  met  on  the  new  foot  ball 
grounds  at  New  Haven,  Saturday,  Oct.  11, 
in  the  presence  of  about  500  spectators. 

The  contest  resulted  in  an  easy  victory  for 
Vale,  although  the  score  did  not  reach  the 
much  coveted  100  points. 

Yale  put  the  following  men  in  the  field  : 

Rushers;  Corwin,  Robinson,  Peters,  Storrs  ; 
centre  :  Flanders,  Marlin,  Bertron. 

Quarter  Back  :  Bayne. 

Half  Backs  :  Terry  and  Goodwin. 

Full  Back  :  Richards,  captain. 

Stevens  team  were  as  follows  : 

Rushers  :  Cotiart,  Burhorn,  McLean, 
Kletzsch,  Hart  ;  centre :  Brownell,  Munk- 
witz. 

Quarter  Back  :  Maury. 

Half  Backs  :  Baldwin  (captain),  Gibson. 

Full  Back  :  Glasgow. 

The  game  was  called  at  a  few  minutes  past 
three  o  clock  ;  Stevens  having  won  the  toss, 
took  the  wind  in  their  favor.  Yale  started  by 
kicking  off. 

In  two  minutes  Yale  succeeded  in  obtaining 
a  touch  down  directly  behind  the  goal  posts, 
but  failed  to  make  a  goal  from  an  easy  kick. 
After  the  ball  was  again  kicked  off  by  Kletzsch 
the  ground  was  hotly  contested  for  five  min- 
utes, when  Yale  got  the  ball  from  a  scrim- 
mage and  carried  it  barely  over  the  line,  where 
a  maul  in  goal  ensued,  in  which  Yale  made  a 
touch  down.  A  goal  was  obtained  from  this, 
and  two  more  touch  downs  for  Yale  followed, 
but  in  each  case  they  failed  to  kick  a  goal. 

Here  followed  some  better  work  for  Stevens, 
and  in  one  instance  the  ball  reached  Yale's 
twenty-five  yard  line  and  a  down  for  Stevens 
was  made  there.  Yale  began  to  work  desper- 
ately now,  and  by  a  fine  run  and  quick  dodg- 
ing Terry  obtained  a  touch  down,  and  from 
this  a  goal  was   kicked.     The  first  half  was 


finished  with  three  more  goals  from  touch 
downs  for  Yale. 

Play  was  called  for  the  second  half  at  4.13 
p.  m.  The  second  half  was  characterized  by 
stronger  playing  on  Stevens'  part,  Baldwin 
and  Kletzsch  making  some  good  plays  and  the 
rush  line  blocking  harder.  Gibson  made 
some  good  catches,  obtaining  free  kicks.  Terry 
made  several  good  runs,  dodging  in  his  pecu- 
liar way  most  effectually.  In  this  half,  Yale 
secured  ^v^  goals  from  touch  downs,  two 
goals  from  field  kicks,  and  Stevens  made  one 
safety.  Baldwin  tackled  sure,  and  usually 
threw  his  man.  Kletzsch 's  long"  kicks  at  the 
proper  height  attracted  much  favorable  com- 
ment. 

A  very  noticeable  point  in  Yale's  playing 
was  the  closeness  with  which  they  followed 
each  other  up,  several  always  being  ready  to 
receive  a  pass. 

The  score  was  : 

VALE. 

Gosis  from  touch  downs 10 

"     field  kicks 2 

Touch  downs  failing  goal   6 

STEVENS. 

Safeties i 

Yale 9O 

Stevens o 

UMPIRES. 

Yale,  E.  M.  Schultz.         |      Stevens,  W.  S.  Dilworth. 
PRINCETON   VS.    STEVENS. 

On  Wednesday,  the  15th  inst.,  Stevens  Foot 
Ball  Team  played  the  first  game  of  the  season 
on  their  own  grounds.  Their  opponents,  the 
Princeton  Team,  although  victorious,  found  it 
necessary  to  work  extremely  hard,  and  then 
were  only  saved  from  defeat  by  good  for- 
tune. Each  college  had  nearly  its  strongest 
team  in  the  field,  the  players  being  as  follows: 

Stevens — Rushers  :  Cotiart,  Adriance,  Mc- 
Coy, Dilworth,  Hart,  Burhorn  and  N.  Camp- 
bell. 

Quarter  Back:  Munkwitz. 

Half  Backs:  Baldwin  (captain)  and  Kletzsch. 

Back:  Maury. 

Princeton — Rushers:  Hodge,  Irvine,  Fine, 
Adams,  Bird  (captain),  Harris  and  Green. 

Quarter  Back:  Worthington. 

Half  Backs:  Lamar  and  Baker. 

Back:  Toler. 

The  decisions  of  Mr.  Storrs,  of  Yale,  who 
acted  as  referee,  showed  impartiality  and  the 
best  of  judgment,  and  Stevens*  umpire,  Mr.  E. 
Schultz,  was  a  model. 


L 


io8 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


The  game  was  called  at  about  3.30  p.  m., 
Kletzsch  kicking  the  ball  rather  low  and  to 
one  side  of  the  field,  so  that  Campbell  caught 
it  and  at  once  started  toward  Princeton's  goal. 
Before  he  had  gone  many  feet,  however,  he 
was  thrown  by  a  Princeton  rusher.  Kletzsch 
made  a  good  kick,  and  was  answered  by  Lamar 
with  a  long  high  kick,  which  landed  the  ball 
near  Maury.  Our  full  back  proved  equal 
to  the  occasion,  and  dropped  on  the  ball  in 
most  approved  style.  Baldwin  sent  it  a  little 
beyond  the  centre  of  the  field,  and  owing  to 
the  fumbling  of  Lamar,  Campbell  secured  it. 
Kletzsch  then  made  several  good  attempts  to 
force  through  the  Princeton  rush  line,  each  of 
which  forced  the  play  a  little  closer  to  the 
enemy's  goal.  Baker  unsuccessfully  attempted 
a  catch  from  Baldwin's  high  kick,  and  Bur- 
horn  by  a  quick  pick  up  and  a  couple  of  good 
dodges  succeeded  in  placing  the  ball  between 
himself  and  the  ground  just  back  of  the 
Princeton's  goal  line,  but  the  referee  allowed 
the  claim  of  "  interference "  and  Baker  was 
given  a  free  kick. 

Princeton's  half  backs  now  tried  running 
with  the  ball.  Lamar,  with  excellent  dodging, 
carried  it  from  the  25  yard  line  to  the  middle 
of  the  field.  Several  times  Lamar  and  Baker 
tried  to  get  nearer  to  Stevens'  goal,  sometimes 
gaining  a  little  and  at  others  being  forced 
back.  The  latter  finally  succeeded  in  gaining 
a  quarter  of  the  length  of  the  field,  but  was 
thrown  to  the  ground  with  such  force  by  Bald- 
win and  Cotiart  that  he  was  unable  to  con- 
tinue playing  for  several  minutes.  The  ball 
was  carried  by  Kletzsch  back  to  the  centre  of 
the  field,  and  shortly  afterward  Lamar  kicked 
it  well  down  toward  Stevens'  goal  line.  Kletzsch 
tried  to  catch  it,  but  only  succeeded  in  touch- 
ing it  with  the  ends  of  his  fingers,  thus  chang- 
ing its  direction  so  much  that  Maury,  who  was 
running  up  for  it,  had  to  go  back  nearly  to  the 
goal  line,  where  he  picked  it  up  and  kicked  it. 
The  ball  striking  one  of  them,  bounced  back 
over  the  goal  line,  and  as  a  Princeton  man 
reached  it  first,  he  secured  a  touch  down. 
The  trial  for  goal,  however,  failed. 

After  the  ball  was  kicked  from  the  25  yard 
line,  a  good  run  by  Baldwin,  and  another  by 
Cotiart,  in  the  latter  case  the  ball  being  splen- 
didly passed  by  Munkwitz,  forced  the  play 
close  to  Princeton's  goal.  After  making  a 
touch  in  goal,  Stevens'  opponents  succeeded 
in  taking  the  ball  nearly  to  the  centre  of  the 
field,  when  time  was  called. 

The  second  half  was  very  much  a  repetition 
of    the  first.     Princeton's  big  centre  rusher. 


who  seemed  to  be  the  pet  of  the  team  and  was 
familiarly  called  "  Jim,"  had  the  ball  passed 
to  him  quite  frequently,  but  his  weight  and 
strength  were  not  half  as  successful  as  the 
dodging  of  Lamar  and  Baker. 

Much  of  the  time  the  ball  was  between 
Stevens*  25  yard  line  and  the  centre,  but 
'several  times  it  was  worked  dangerously  near 
Princeton's  goal.  Twice  Baldwin  and 
Kletzsch  both  tried  to  catch  the  same  ball,  and 
as  a  result,  both  missed  it ;  but  fortunately  no 
great  loss  was  experienced  as  a  result.  Bur- 
horn  was  slightly  injured  toward  the  close  of 
the  half,  and  Kletzsch  took  his  place  in  the 
rush  line,  Campbell  playing  half  back  and 
Greenebaum  end  rush.  The  latter  did  some 
very  swift  running,  spoiling  a  kick  by  Lamar 
several  times.  This,  with  good  general  play- 
ing, brought  the  ball  to  Princeton's  25  yard 
line,  where  it  remained  a  few  minutes,  and  was 
then  gradually  worked  to  within  six  feet  of 
the  goal  line,  when  time  was  called.  No  ex- 
pression of  what  might  have  happened  if  the 
play  had  been  for  45  instead  of  35  minutes 
are  necessary,  as  the  facts  remain  the  same, 
the  score  standing,  Princeton  one  touch  down, 
or  4  points,  to  Stevens  o. 

The  playing  of  all  the  members  of  the  team 
was  very  satisfactory,  and  the  experiment  in 
placing  the  men  was  fortunate.  Munkwitz 
with  practice  will  make  an  excellent  quarter 
back,  and  Dilworth's  place  is  certainly  centre 
rush.  One  of  the  weak  points  in  our  team 
was  the  way  in  which  the  Princeton  half  backs 
were  tackled.  Lower  tackling  and  following 
up  the  man  after  he  had  dodged  would  have 
been  more  successful  than,  after  having  been 
passed,  turning  and  watching  for  the  next  man 
to  do  the  work.  Otherwise  the  tackling  of 
the  team  was  excellent,  Campbell,  Adriance 
and  Cotiart  deserving  particular  mention.  The 
team  would  find  it  advantageous  to  practice 
passing,  so  that  the  work  in  a  game  may  not 
only  be  better  done  but  divided  more.  If  the 
end  rushers  can  get  the  ball  every  time  it  is 
thrown  to  them,  they  have  a  much  better 
chance  of  gaining  ground  than  the  half  backs, 
and  being  almost  on  a  line  with  the  original 
position  of  the  ball,  the  risk  of  losing  is  a 
minimum. 

If  players  who  are  not  on  the  team  will  give 
it  the  much  needed  practice,  we  may  make  a 
good  record  this  year  at  foot  ball. 


Suspenders  for  college  breeches  is  a  Junior's 
definition  of  faculty. — Dartmouth. 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


109 


siFyPFir^s  Bex. 


Where  is  our  Grand  Stand  ? 

Remember  !     "  Fen  collectin'  in  groups  " 
this  year. 

A  college  pin  is  one  bi  the  things  to  be  set- 
tled this  year. 

Has  Stevens  any  trustees — /.  ^.,  outside  of 
the  catalogue  ? 

Overwork  in  the  Chemical  Laboratory  is  a 
sore  question  with  '86. 

Let  the  subscription  to  the  Bartholdi  pedes- 
tal fund  be  a  liberal  one. 

The  Glee  Glub  promises  to  be  a  greater 
success  this  year  than  last. 

'86  thinks  Sir  William  Thomson  didn't 
thoroughly  appreciate  their  fine  work. 

Bass,  formerly  '86,  has  returned  from  South 
America,   and  is   continuing  his  studies  in 

•87. 

Membership  tickets  of  the  Athletic  Associ- 
ation will  be  changed  in  color  each  year  to 
avoid  confusion  at  the  gate. 

'86  lost  its  pet  watermelon,  didn't  it  ?  Too 
bad !  But  never  mind,  '85  enjoyed  it  and  re- 
turns many  thanks  for  the  treat. 

'88  numbers  fifty-three  men,  most  of  whom, 
even  this  early  in  the  year,  have  established 
their  reputation  for  "  unwashed  "  gall. 

The  bulletin  board  must  pay  a  large  per- 
centage to  some  one  (not  the  janitor,  of 
course),  for  those  "gentlemen's  apartments 
for  rent "  notices. 

"  Say,  fellows,  we  didn't  have  our  best  team 
at  Yale,  did  we  ?  But  when  we  played  Prince- 
ton, who  would  have  thought  Stevens  could 
have  braced  up  so  in  one  half  week." 

Where  is  the  waste  paper  basket  that  be- 
longs in  the  comer  of  the  sanctum  ?  It  can 
be  recognized  as  being  modern  and  more 
artistic  than  those   in  general  use  about  the 

Institute. 

Serrell,  *86,  had  a  severe  fall  from  his  bicycle 
early  in  the  summer,  breaking  his  arm  and 
cutting  and  bruising  himself  considerably.  He 
is  now  under  the  care  of  a  surgeon  and  is 
progressing  slowly. 


Politics  in  Stevens  show  a  large  Republican 
majority.  As  near  as  we  can  obtain,  the  total 
figures  amount  to  Republican,  105;  Democrat, 
d^  ;  and  there  are  still  to  be  deducted  several 
of  the  latter,  who  favor  protection. 

Some  one  informs  us  that  Prof.  Leed's  dog 
has  been  named  "  Donald,"  after  our  good 
janitor.  Now,  if  this  is  so,  we  editorially  sug- 
gest something  more  appropriate,  either 
"  Jersey  Lightning"  or  "  C,  H,  O." 

The  Freshmen  have  accomplished  that  all 
important  matter,  the  election  of  officers  : 
President,  McCoy  ;  Vice-President,  Whigham  ; 
Secretary,  Isaac;  Treasurer,  Echeverria  ;  Edi- 
tor for  The  Indicator,  H.  S.  Wynkoop. 

A  Freshman  wants  to  know  if  the  signs  "  To 
Let "  on  trees  along  Hudson  Street  mean 
that  roosting  accommodations  can  be  had 
there.  If  so,  he  would  like  to  rent  one,  where 
he  could  study  "  Fowler  "  to  advantage. 

Up  to  the  time  of  going  to  press  '86  has 
held  no  elections.  Probably  the  Juniors  are 
still  suffering  from  an  overdose  of  watermelon 
adminstered  during  the  Preliminary  Term, 
and  haven't  returned  to  things  earthly. 

This  year  a  touch  down  failing  goal  counts 
four  points  ;  but  a  goal  from  touch  down  six,  as 
last  season.  This  arrangement  gives  team  work 
the  larger  proportion  of  the  score  and  not 
individual  playing,  as  was  the  case  last  year. 

When  Penna.  University  played  here  last 
fall,  thirty-one  heavy,  broad,  long  and  thin  fel- 
lows passed  through  the  gate  as  "  Team."  We 
publish  this  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  ac- 
company our  team  on  November  8  to  Phila- 
delphia. 

'85  held  its  election  promptly  in  the  early 
part  of  the  term.  The  officers  for  the  ensu- 
ing year  are  as  follows:  Pres.,  H.  D.  Williams; 
Vice-Pres.,  W.  A.  Adriance  ;  Secretary,  J.  M. 
Rusby  ;  Treasurer,  A.  U.  Burchard  ;  Histo- 
rian, C.  A.  Pratt. 

The  two  changes  in  text  books  this  year 
are  Trigonometry  for  the  Freshmen,  they 
using  Wood's  edition,  and  a  revised  edition 
of  Shaw's  Literature  for  the  Sophomores.  O, 
happy  (?)  Sophs  !  Shaw  was  bad  enough  last 
year,  but  to  revise  him — 

A  member  of  the  Institute  received  a  very 
severe  blow  in  his  eye  while  playing  foot  ball. 
As  he  was  just  returning  to  consciousness,  his 


I 

L 


no 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


uppermost  thoughts  were  revealed  by  his  mut- 
tering :  "  Guess  I  can  work  this  on  the  Fac- 
ulty for  two  weeks.     Ah  !" 

A  stormy  meeting  of  the  Sophomore  Class 
resulted  in  a  general  change  of  officers.  The 
following  men  were  unanimously  elected  for 
the  year  '84-85  :  President,  R.  N.  Bayles; 
Vice  President,  J.  Day  Flack  ;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  Jas.  A.  McElroy  ;  Historian,  R.  M. 
Anderson. 

The  fence  at  the  athletic  grounds  is  in  sad 
repair  in  several  places.  It  suffered  consider- 
ably the  day  Smithson  was  allowed  the  use  of 
the  grounds,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  he 
should  not  be  made  to  share  the  expense  of 
repairing  it. 

Lord  Du  Asiplease,  known  in  the  United 
States  as  Smithson,  has  a  strong  tendency  to 
lord  too  much  at  the  grounds.  He  takes  his 
Christmas  present  and  "  free  days,"  probably 
forgets  about  them  next  day,  and  resumes  his 
role  of  potentate  of  "St.  George's  Field." 

Dr.  Everhart  has  taken  the  chair  of  Professor 
of  Chemistry  at  University  of  Texas.  We 
take  this  occasion  to  express  our  regret  in 
losing  so  pleasant  and  thorough  instructor,  and 
wish  him  the  good  share  of  success  in  his  new 
undertaking  which  he  so  richly  deserves. 

There  was  a  fence  built  near  the  High 
School,  presumably  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing the  Preps,  within  their  own  proper  bounds. 
But  the  Preps.,  like  all  animals  of  their  species, 
must  needs  roam  at  large  over  the  campus 
and  claim  most  of  this  part  of  the  globe  for 
a  pleasure  ground. 

A  bicycle  club  was  organized  last  year  ; 
but  this  year  there  is  no  club,  for  says  its 
chief  :  "  We  organized  last  year,  but  our  club 
requires  an  organize  each  year,  and  for  this 
reason  we  have  none.  Ed. — Organize  in  this 
connection  means  a  new  supply  of  collar 
bones,  legs,  arms,  heads,  etc.,  to  fill  vacancies. 

The  political  arguments  of  the  Hoboken 
Advertiser  are  truly  chilling,  especially  those 
in  which  the  sublime  effort  of  belittling  our 
voting  strength  in  the  eyes  of  the  people  of 
Hoboken  is  attempted.  Not  unlike  some 
sublime  efforts  of  like  order,  which  have  passed 
into  history,  they  assume  the  very  distinct 
shade  ridiculous. 

The  percentage  of  loss  in  the  different 
classes  tallies  very  closely  with  Prof.  Wood's 
estimate,  which  he  always  provides  the  Fresh- 


men with.  The  loss  in  '85  was  about  15  per 
cent.;  in  '86,  about  23  per  cent.;  in  '87,  about 
20  per  cent.  Now,  Freshies,  here  is  an  inter- 
esting table  to  examine  at  your  leisure,  but  it 
will  cause  no  alarm  if  you  have  courage  enough 
to  work  hard  and  faithfully. 

To  be  polite  and  not  cause  any  ill  feeling, 
we  ask  our  friends,  the  alumni,  to  turn  to  some 
of  our  back  numbers  and  read  over  our  re- 
quest for  alumni  contributions.  We  cannot 
reprint  the  request,  and,  therefore,  merely  ask 
that  they  duplicate  our  earlier  expressions  in 
regard  to  the  matter ;  it  may  suggest  to  some 
the  picture  of  an  empty  pigeon  hole  in  our 
sanctum  labelled  "  Alumni  Contributions.' 


»f 


The  foot  ball  team  has  not  been  definitely 
settled  upon  as  yet,  but  there  are  a  number  of 
candidates  for  positions  who  are  in  hard  train- 
ing. The  following,  if  not  exact,  may  show 
somewhat  who  are  to  represent  Stevens  this 
season  : 

Rushers  :  Burhom,  Kletzsch,  Hart,  Cotiart, 
Campbell,  Adriance,  McCoy. 

Half  Backs  :  Baldwin  (captain),  Brownell, 
Kletzsch  or  Campbell. 

Quarter  Back  :  Healey. 

Full  Back  :  Glasgow  or  Maury. 

The  average  weight  of  the  rush  line  is  170I 
lbs. 

Stevens  is  always  upward  and  onward,  pa- 
triotically speaking,  but  the  last  rise  in  the 
appearance  of  another  publication — "  The 
Eighty-Four** — is  surprising,  and  our  query  is, 
can  Stevens,  or  still  less,  can  one  class  support 
two  college  papers  ?  And  then  have  our 
friends  in  '84  so  soon  forgotten  that  the  life 
of  The  Indicator  depends  as  much  on  their 
contributions  as  any;  and  why  throw  them  into 
other  channels,  where  none  can  profit  but 
'84  ?  Selfish  is  the  most  suitable  word  to 
express  our  opinion.  Let  us  all  know  what 
you  are  doing,  for  you  may  rest  assured  we 
shall  never  lessen  our  interest  in  your  class. 

Scene. — Area  way  between  shop  and  labor- 
atory. A  Junior,  a  string  to  the  lecture  room 
in  the  second  story  of  the  laboratory,  and  a 
small  Hobokenite  comprise  the  principal 
actors. 

Junior — Now,  here  !  you  hold  on  to  the 
string  and  wait  until  I  pull  from  above.  Then 
you  go  right  through  this  side  door  and  stand 
on  that  yella'  dog's  tail  until  he  howls.    See  ? 

Hobokenite — I'm  your  size,  but  gimme  me 
cent  now  ! 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR, 


1 1 1 


Junior  completes  the  bargain,  calculating 
inwardly  :  Now  Prof,  can't  hear  a  recitation 
and  hear  his  dog  **  James  Donaldson  "  howl 
at  the  same  time  ;  so  if  I  get  stuck  I'll  pull 
the  string,  "  James  Donaldson  "  howls,  Prof, 
distressed  on  account  of  James  D.,  hesitates; 
then  comes  my  chance  to  use  those  golden 
moments  in  perfecting  my  imperfect  knowl- 
edge of  the  question  asked  ;  this  finished,  I 
pull  string  twice,  dog  stops  howling,  and  I  find 
myself  in  the  elysium  of  a  "  Correct,  sir,"  from 
Prof. 

The  Republican  Club  of  the  Institute  or- 
ganized early  in  the  fall  with  the  following 
officers  :  President,  McCoy,  '85  ;  Vice-Presi- 
dents, McLean,  '85,  Chester,    '86,  ,  '87, 

,  88  ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Adriance, 

'85  ;  Captain,    Hart,    '87.      The   club    made 
its  first  appearance  the  night  of  the  Repub- 
lican parade  in  Hoboken.     About  sixty  men 
turned    out,   and    through    the   exertions   of 
Capt.    Hart    made     a    very    creditable    dis- 
play.    The  Blaine  cheer  was  a  great  feature, 
and  was  received  with  a  becoming  overflow  of 
patriotism  all  along  the  line.  Our  friends,  the 
Fourth    Warders,   argued    persuasively   with 
bricks,  dirt  and  other  pointed  remarks,  but  we 
proved  to  their  entire  satisfaction  that  stout 
canes  were  preferable,  and  that   their  cause 
must  fail.     The  club  was  received  in  a  more 
warm  hearted  way  after  we  left  the  "  Fourth  " 
and  got   on   high  ground.     The  decorations 
about  the  town  were  profuse.     Prof.  McCord's 
house    was     brilliantly     illuminated.      Prof. 
Thurston  did  not  illuminate,  but  as  the  club 
passed  he  gave  suflftcient  evidence  of  his  sym- 
pathy. 


« ^  » » 


^eRS6I^AIlS. 


•76. 

Alfred  R.  Wolff,  of  the  firm  of  Weight- 
man  &  Wolff,  consulting  engineers,  is  now 
carrying  on  the  business  alone,  his  partner  re- 
tiring. 

'82. 

Addison  A.  Righter  is  situated  at  the 
Yantic  Woollen  Mills,  Connecticut. 

'83. 

Morgan  Brooks  is  now  with  the  American 
Bell  Telephone  Co.,  Boston. 


James  E.  Sague  is  with  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  R.  R.  at  Aurora,  111. 

'84. 

Wm.  S.  Aldrich  is  in  the  draughting  de- 
partment of  the  Ball  Engine  Co.,  Erie,  Pa. 

James  Beatty  is  Professor  of  Mechanical 
Engineering  and  Astronomy  at  Haverford 
College,  Penn. 

Wm.  H.  Bristol  is  still  teaching  in  New 
York  City. 

Samuel  P.  Bush  is  in  the  shops  of  the  Chi- 
cago, St.  Louis  &  Pittsburgh  R.  R.  at  Logans- 
port,  Ind. 

Richard  L.  Fearn  has  become  a  partner 
in  the  Atlanta  Engineering  Company,  At- 
lanta, Ga. 

E.  H.  Foster  has  a  position  in  the  testing 
department  of  the  Worthingion  Pump  Works, 
Brooklyn. 

H.  L.  Gantt  is  with  Poole  &  Hunt,  tur- 
bine manufacturers,  Baltimore,  Md. 

David  S.  Jacobus  is  assistant  instructor 
to  Prof.  Denton,  at  the  Institute. 

\  LViN  P.  Kletzsch  is  assisting  Prof.  Thur- 
ston in  the  Mechanical  Laboratory. 

Benj.  W.  Tucker  has  a  position  as  draughts- 
man in  the  Newark  Filtering  Company. 

John  Van  Vleck  is  draughtsman  for  the 
Edison  Electric  Light  Co.  for  isolated  light- 
ing. 

Chas.  W.  Whiting  is  in  the  engineering 
department  of  the  P.  &  R.  Coal  and  Iron  Co., 
Pottsville,  Pa. 


*^  »> 


jpiE  GeUliBSB  W0RII9. 


Columbia. — The  class  of  '86  have  added 
racing  to  their  other  accomplishments.  Last 
month  ponies  owned  by  two  members  of  '86 
came  in  respectively  first  and  second   at   the 

Morristown,    N.   J.,  races. Columbia    has 

lately  lost  two  of  her  trustees  by  death. 

The  old  crown,  which  in  the  time  of  George 
the  Second  surmounted  the  old  college  build- 
ings, has  been  placed  in  the  present  college 
library. It  appears  that  some  members  of 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


ihe  fool  ball  team  were  practising  during  the 

summer  at  Ihe  Catskills. No  students  have 

left  Columbia  to  join  other  colleges  this  year. 

The  trustees  of  the  Spectator  Publishing 

Company  having  just  declared  a  dividend  of 
ten  per  cent. 

Harvard. — The  Advoeate  has  an  editorial 
condemning  the  "  disgraceful  treatment  which 
certain  visiting  teams  experienced  last  year  at 
New  Haven."  The  editors  evidently  intend 
to  stand  up  for  the  '"lambs."  However, 
Yale's  conduct  was  not  what  it  should  have 

been    on     those     occasions. A     valuable 

collection   of  meteorites  has  been  added  to 

the  museum. Harvard  has   now   a  canoe 

club. 

Vale. — The    foot  ball  players  have  done 

some  good  work  in  practising  this  fall. 

James   G.    Blaine's    son  and  Grover    Cleve- 
land's father  are  graduates  of  Yale. This 

year's  Vale  choir   is   the  best  for  years. 

Vale  mourns  the  loss  of  many  athletic  spirits. 

Williams. — The  Blaine  and  Logan  Club  is 

in  a  flourishing  condition H.  A.  Garfield 

is  president  of  the  Class  of  '85  and  also  editor- 
in-chief  of  the  AihfmEum. Certain  members 

of  the  Faculty  have  signed  a  paper  pledging 
themselves  not  to  vote  for  Blaine  and   Logan. 

In  General. — It  is  estimated  that  nine- 
tenths  of  the  college  students  in  this  country 
are  Republicans.- — -The  Princeton  rush  re- 
sulted in  adraw, Prof.  Sylvester,  an  Amer- 
ican scholar,  lately  at  John  Hopkins  Univer- 
sity, but  now  at  Oxford,  is  declared  by  English 
men  of  science  to  be  the  greatest  living  mathe- 

, Lehigh  University  has  received 

s  additions  to  its  buildings  this  sum- 
mer.  The   new   gymnasium   at   Lafayette 

College  is  now  completed. 


BXCEflRSBS. 


During  the  summer  vacation  some  of  our 
engineering  exchanges,  all  of  which  are  highly 
appreciated,  have  appeared  regularly,  white 
others  have  favored  us  occa.sionaIly,  so  that 
the  examination  of  our  svimmer  mail  disclosed 
an  unexpectedly  large  amount  of  valuable 
matter.     Some  old  college  exchanges  we  have 


not  yet  received,  but  their  arrival,  the  renew- 
ing of  old  acquaintances  as  well  as  making 
new  ones,  of  which  we  hope  there  may  be 
many,  and  the  benefit  to  be  derived  from  mu- 
tual friendly  criticism,  are  anticipated  with 
pleasure. 

For  only  one  of  several  new  arrivals  have 
we  a  word  in  this  issue.  The  first  number  of 
a  paper  published  by  the  Class  of  '84,  and 
called  Tht  Eighty-Four,  was  received  a  short 
time  ago.  It  is  to  contain  as  its  main  feature 
*'a  letter  from  each  member  of  the  class  at 
each  issue"  and  abstracts  from  papers  de- 
livered by  members  of  the  class  before  the  so- 
cieties of  mechanical,  civil,  mining  and  elec- 
trical engineering,"  etc.,  as  secondary  fea- 
tures. The  latter  will  probably  be  quite 
secondary  for  some  time  to  come,  and  it  they 
should  deserve  prominent  mention,  we  fear  it 
■will  be  some  time  after  the  demise  of  "  The 
■Eighty- Fou  r. ' ' 

The  principal  feature  can  never  be  carried 
out;  not  even  tn  a  classical  college,  where 
much  attention  is  given  to  literary  worlc, 
could  such  a  plan  be  successful.  How  absurd, 
then,  in  a  college  tike  Stevens,  where  literary 
training  is  unfortunately  so  much  neglected, 
to  attempt  to  carry  out  any  such  plan.  The 
interest  in  the  Class  of  '84  and  in  the  College 
which  is  indicated  by  the  T/u  £.ighty-Four 
might  better  be  directed  in  some  other  chan- 
nel. 


GBIgPIl^ES. 


Full  muiij  a  roiid  luu  io;cii  vrith  kerosene. 

And  sailed  to  glory  in  a  gorgeous  glare  ; 
Full  mnnf  a  man  hm  poked  al  glycerine. 

And  flown  promiseuous  lluough  the  desert  .lir. 
Bs. 

Senior  asks  professor  a  very  profound  ques- 
tion. 

Prof.— "Mr.  W— ,  a  fool  can  ask  a  ques- 
tion that  ten  wise  men  could  not  answer. " 

Senior — "  Then,  I  suppose  that's  why  so 
many  of  us  flunk." — Ex. 

"  When  does  school  commence  again  ?" 
The  Freshman  turns  up  his  nose  and  says  he 
does  not  know.  The  Sophomore  laughs  up- 
roariously and  does  not  answer  at  all.  The 
Junior  smiles  politely,  and  explain-  ''-*■  -  - 
generally  say  college  here;  but 
answers  promptly,  'next  Thursd 
Record. 


^^^INIX^P 


fi^«- 


*  /yovembe|»,  1884.  *i 
CoRSE/^ISg. 


prConea    of    fHa    #£u3tj  of  httUroCun. 

m  Cfte  profaMion, 
,,    JJcjf, 


Ro.  8. 


nj  l/35tlUil".' 


THE  Sr^rs/^S  rifDrCATQR. 


I 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technologi 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

POUNDED   BV  THE   LATE   EDWIN   A.  STEVENS. 


HOBOKEN,  N,  J, 


HBMRY  MORTON,  Ph.  D. 
ALFRED  M.  MAYER,  Ph.  D  , 
ROBERT  H.  THU«STON.  A.  M 
DEVOLSON  WOOD,  C.  E,, 
C.  W  MeCOHO,  a.  M-.   , 
ALBERT  R  LEtl'.^,  'i'w.  'a 
CKAP.L  -   "   " 
HEV 
J,  E,  .■ 


Pfof.  &oile»-inui 
PniL  e[  Expcrincatal  Mecbaaitn  uid  Sliopwon 


in  lailituie  b  irf  fvu-  jein  ^untion    toil  coien  >I!  - 
J  '  meant  cJ  wurluliofit  pryildnl  vllb  aateUait  oi-uSiii.rr 
^  -.t><u,<t  .,•  (-joaK  ud  WHb  Ibn  Aanl  CiblicU  U  lulCnuD'^l*.  ciir;  " 
fniiUMl  uu)«HiA(s  it  kSofde^     Fm  faiUcc  psiti'mUi*  addtm  IIm'  L'k 


H.  MORTON.  Holjolsan,  N. 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 


THE    ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT  I 

— ftr   ntt —  i 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

SIVER  STREET,  bet.  3tk  and  6th.  HOBOKSN,  N.  J.. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER   17,  -1884. 

Exnmla«tlsaa  foe  Admlflelcn  aa  the  ISLb  ftni  16tb  of  SflpUmbb- 


flNSTRUCTION  SIVES  IK  THE  ANCIEMT  AND  MODERN  L4.NGUAGRS;  IN  FBE| 
HAND  AND  MKHAHKAL  DRAWING. 


JUNIOR    DEPARTMENT, 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT, 


seo.oo  PER  ANNUm. 

8IG0.00   PER  ANNWM. 


iDDludv  all  Cl,«  •,. 


Tn  CfttBiocuti  &ppty  u  uis  l,il}tftrua  01  suT«nt  liuutut*' 


^Uevefis  JndiGafeSF. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  NOVEMBER,  1884. 


No.  8. 


sphe  Stseve^s  FRdiQafeep. 


i   or   EACH   MONTH,   DURrNfi   THE   COLLEGE   YEXR. 


^Ven^  Institute  of  Tec^Dologi]. 

Skfitn. 

.       .        .     C.  R.  COLLINS,  'M. 
.    E.  P.  MOWTOH,  -U. 
■  EDrnw,.  .     NORTH  HcLBAN,  -Sj. 

i,etBl  SBitors. 

HSHRY  ABBEY,  'ts. 

ROBT.  O.  SMITH,  -Ij.  WALTER  S.  DIX,    '87. 

HUBERT  8.  WYNKOOP,  '8S. 


•  ft  Vmt,  I*  Mmkc*.     Single  Copy.  20  Cent). 


EMra  cefits  can  bt  oilaiiKti  at  Lulhin't  book  i, 
I/^MMt,  N.J. 

St^nrHcrj  vrii/  pltast  immediately  neli/y  us  of 
tia—ge  im  iMr  addreiut  er  failure  to  receive  the  fi 

Tlu  vrHtt't  fuU »ame,asvieU ai  his  mom  oe  Pl.t 


S-xt^aagti,  cimttiiuliMtt,  luitciipiiaits.advtrlittmeHll, 
*mil  all  iitkrr  commuMcalitHS  by  mail,  thsuld  be  addrtsstd 
If  The  Stevens  Indicatob,  SIcvem  Initilule,  Hobaken, 
A'.y. 


'*  TPH'^'^^^'^l^^NG  !■'  and  most  of  us 
1  will  take  the  few  days  given  us,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  without  giving  one  thought 
2s  to  the  sigoificance  of  the  day.  Why  cannot 
wc  be  thankful  ?  Have  not  we  reason  to  be  ? 
Let  us  sum  up  a  few  thanJt/uls.  To  those  who 
go  home,  it  means  a  grateful  change  of  diet, 
for  Hoboken  means  Geraian  (bad  quality), 
and  Hoboken  boarding  house  means  no  end 
of  mystery,  the  like  of  which  has  never  been 
lown  to  exist.  Besides,  we  are  thankful  that 
Faculty  and  ourselves  are  sii)!  on  speaking 
that  our  prospects  (or  slaying  are  bright; 
oar  janitor  has  taken  down  the  boarding 
1;  that  we  have  a  library  of  even 


fcttnwi 


questionable  usefulness,  and  thankful  to  over- 
flowing that  we  are  not  Preps. 

To  all  of  us  the  "days  of  grace"  will  be 
a  pleasant  relaxation  from  the  thoughts  of  tur- 
bine, complications  in  mechanics,  etc.,  etc., 
and  the  fact  that  we  can  talk  United  States  for 
three  days  at  least  ought  to  make  us  thankful. 
Is  it  not  truly  a  blessing  to  have  even  so  brief 


WE  are  sorry  to  part  with  our  fellow  edi- 
tor, Mr.  Ladd  Plumley,  who  has  been 
called  away  from  college  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Board  of  Editors  for  this  year.  He 
had  just  commenced  his  second  tenn's  work 
on  the  Board  when  he  was  obliged  to  leave; 
and  the  efficient  service  he  rendered  the  paper 
has  left  with  us  a  pleasant  remembrance  of  his 
abilities.  We  wish  him  success  in  whatever 
he  undertakes,  and  hope  to  meet  him  again. 


0UR  foot  ball  season  up  to  date  has  been, 
to  use  the  language  of  the  chronic 
growler,  "  a  miserable  failure."  And  why,  we 
ask.  "The  management  is  bad;  one  man 
wants  to  run  the  whole  association,"  and  so 
on  ;  these  complaints  are  as  varied  as  the  dis- 
satisfied has  minutes  to  pour  forth  his  griev- 
ances. Now,  friend  growler,  first  remember 
that  from  the  builders  of  a  steam  engine  down 
to  the  less  important  item  of  running  a  team 
formulis  won't  always  fit,  and  it  is  necessary 
frequently  to  use  what  is  known  as  practical 
experience. 

A  graduate  of  Stevens  tried  to  design  a 
valve  some  time  ago  from  formulae,  which  were 
guaranteed  not  to  fail,  but  his  engine  would 
not  run,  and  it  was  necessary  to  consult  with 
experienced  engineers  before  he  could  make 
any  progress. 


114 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


You  growl  at  the  inability  of  the  directors 
of  the  Athletic  Association,  and  feel  satisfied 
that  the  correct  way  to  bring  them  straight  is 
to  censure,  and,  like  the  small  boy,  "  if  you 
won't  do  my  way,  I  won't  play." 

Messrs.  Growler,  you  never  played  a  game  of 
foot  ball;  all  you  do  is  to  walk  around  the  edge 
of  the  field  and  theorize  as  to  how  and  where 
such  and  such  a  player  should  have  been  at  a 
critical  moment  in  the  game,  and  you  invariably 
prove  (to  yourself)  that  the  player  doesn't 
know  the  game,  and  that  some  one  else  should 
have  been  in  the  team  in  his  stead.  Satisfied 
with  this  course  of  reasoning,  you  begin  in 
your  head  to  remodel  the  whole  team.  You 
construct  probable  curves  and  no  end  of  im- 
probable ideas,  and  now  your  ideal  athletes 
are  ready.  Fortunately  the  genii  growler  is 
scarce  in  the  Institute;  but  still  he  is  there,  and 
we  want  to  say  to  such  that  the  proper  way  to 
improve  our  efforts  in  athletics,  in  anything,  is 
to  give  it  your  hearty  support. 

If  you  think  you  have  a  good  idea,  give  it  to 
those  who  can  make  use  of  it;  don't  hug  it  up 
and  suffocate  it  with  unreasonable  complain- 
ings. 

If  every  Stevens  man  would  stand  out  and 
support  the  officers  of  our  associations,  there 
would  be  no  lack  of  push  and  improvement. 


IT  would  seem  well  to  reiterate  some  of  our 
hints  and  suggestions  of  last  year,  not 
only  for  the  benefit  of  the  new  class,  but  for 
a  certain  possible  fact.  There  may  be  some 
who  have  been  nourishing  up  some  cherished 
plan,  suggested  by  the  wants  of  the  students, 
and  who  are  only  waiting  to  see  that  those 
wants  are  still  manifested.  We  doubt  not  that 
these  persons,  on  learning  that  we  are  really 
in  earnest,  will  immediately  do  for  us  that 
which  they  propose  for  our  benefit. 

Of  prime  importance  to  the  students  is  a 
gymnasium.  We  have  often  lain  awake  at 
night  thinking  of  the  grai  '  possibility  of 
Stevens  having  an  extension  to  one  of  the 
wings  of  the  building,  the  first  floor  of  which 


should  be  the  finely  equipped  gymnasium, 
which  we  have  so  long  thought  of.  This  could 
also  be  used  as  a  lecture  hall,  furnished  with  a 
piano,  where  we  could  have  meetings,  where 
our  Glee  Club  could  practice  and  give  us  the 
benefit  of  that  practice  ;  where,  also,  we  could 
have  occasional  lectures  by  noted  men,  for 
the  good  of  every  one  connected  with  the 
College.  Then,  on  the  second  floor,  we  would 
have  a  library  and  quiet  reading  room,  where 
no  loud  talking  would  be  allowed,  and  where 
there  would  be  every  facility  for  getting  at  and 
consulting  valuable  books  of  reference.  Now 
that  the  Treasurer's  office  has  been  moved 
into  the  Institute  building,  we  are  deprived  of 
the  reception  room.  Our  different  special 
committees  have  no  place  to  hold  their  meet- 
ings, so  that  on  this  second  floor  we  should 
provide  a  reception  room  to  fill  the  loss. 

There,  is  that  not  a  pleasant  picture  for 
contemplation  as  we  go  on  with  our  work  this 
year  ?  "  Yes,  but  a  useless  dream,"  some  one 
replies.  No,  not  so  much  of  a  dream,  either, 
for  we  are  sure  that  the  proposed  extension  is 
but  a  matter  of  time  in  such  a  place  as  Stev- 
ens. Neither  is  it  useless  to  think  of  it,  even 
if  only  a  dream  ;  there  was  an  old  proverb, 
"  Disappointment  sinketh  the  heart  of  man, 
but  the  renewal  of  hope  giveth  consolation  ;" 
especially  the  latter  clause  applying  to  our 
case.  And  as  to  the  renewal  of  the  hope, 
The  Indicator  will  continue  to  renew  it  at 
choice  intervals.  Students  of  Stevens,  as  you 
come  up  the  street  past  our  handsome  building, 
and  enter  at  the  side  door,  just  pause  a  mo- 
ment outside  and  try  to  imagine  how  our  pro- 
posed extension  would  look,  and  throughout 
the    day    try    to    appreciate    how  it  would 

fed  ! 

We  wish  that  the  students  would  appropri- 
ate our  columns  for  discussions  on  these  mat- 
ters. Comment  on  our  suggestions  and  tell 
us  what  you  think  of  the  plan,  and  how  it 
could  or  ought  to  be  brought  about.  It  will 
then  go  to  prove  to  every  one  that  the  exten- 
sion proposed  is  wished  for  and  needed,  not 
by  a  few,  but  by  every  one  at  Stevens. 


THE  STEVENS,    INDICATOR, 


115 


OUR  CATALOGUE. 


"  My  son,  I  did  not  know  that  you  had  been 
dropped  last  year.  I  don't  understand  it  at 
all.  Why,  did  you  keep  this  from  me  ?" 
**  Why,  father,  I  haven't  been  dropped.  I 
am  still  in  the  same  class."  "  My  dear  boy, 
do  not  add  a  lie  to  your  other  faults ;  if  you 
have  done  wrong,  there  is  lime  to  rectify  your 
mistake,  for  you  are  yet  young ;  but  do  not 
cover  up  your  misdeeds  by  lying." 

"  If  you  will  only  listen  a  moment  to  reason, 
I  will  explain  :  it's  all  a  mistake;  I  havetCt  been 
dropped  at  all.     Where  did  you  get  your  in- 
formation from  ?    Oh,  our  catalogue  !     Why, 
didn't  you  know  that  the  annual  catalogue  is 
always  printed  that  way  ?  Just  about  the  time 
when  a  student  gets  to  be  a  Sophomore  he  is 
printed  as  a  Freshman,  causing,  as  you  see, 
frequent  errors.    There,  as  you  perceive,  I  have 
explained  how  it  is  that  you  thought  me  still 
a  Freshman.     I'll  tell  you  a  funny  story  about 
the  way  that  catalogue  was  used  to  convince 
the  captain  of  an  opposing  team  of  foot  ball 
players  that   a   disputed    man   was   really   a 
Freshman.     You  see,  he  complained  that  one 
of  our  men  was  a  Soph.    *  Oh,  no  !'    said  we, 
*he  is  listed  in   the  annual   catalogue  as  a 
Freshie,  and  we  guess  the  Faculty  know  what 
they  are  about,  and  knows  who's  who.'     You 
see  he  could  not  go  behind  that,  and  therefore 
we  had  him." 

On  Time. 


-•-♦■ 


THE  IMPORTANCE   OF  THE  STUDY  OF 
LITERATURE. 


That  there  should  exist  in  the  mind  of  one 
who  seeks  a  high  place  in  this  world  the  be- 
lief, or  rather  the  idea,  that  there  is  little 
profit  in  the  study  of  Literature,  is  in  itself  an 
astonishing  thing.  That  one  who  is  striving 
to  reach  that  high  position  by  first  securing 
the  strong  foundation  of  a  good  education 
should  have  the  least  doubt  of  that  study's 
importance,  is  lamentable.  Why  is  it  an  im- 
portant thing  not  to  neglect  the  study  of  liter- 
ature? To  this  question  let  us  now  devote 
ourselves. 

The  literature  of  a  nation  is  the  speaking 
record  of  the  people's  life.  It  is  not  mere 
history,  which  lays  down  bare  facts  and  occur- 
rences ;  it  is  the  living  voice  of  a  people  who 
have  lived,  thought,  and  spoken  in  this  same 
world,  and  who  have  had  that  very  experience 


which  we  must  all  go  through  as  we  live.  Men 
who  succeeded  or  failed,  and  have  passed  away 
into  the  same  end — eternity — have  left  here 
on  earth  a  complete  representation  of  the  souls, 
the  bodies,  even  the  dresses  and  surroundings, 
of  those  who  lived  with  them.  They  have 
so  written  it  down,  that  we  seem  to  hear  and 
see  and  feel  a  living  people,  both  wise  and 
foolish,  gay  and  sad,  fortunate  and  unfor- 
tunate. Every  one  esteems  it  a  happy  lot  to 
become  acquainted  with  a  great  man,  to  con- 
verse with  him,  and  learn  his  ideas.  But  it  is 
the  privilege  of  the  student  of  literature  to  be 
brought  face  to  face  with  many  great  men,  to 
have  opened  to  him  their  whole  hearts  and 
minds,  and  he  is  profited  thereby  a  thousand 
times.  To  succeed  in  human  affairs,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  know  human  life.  How  can  this  be  done 
better  than  by  looking  at  the  past? — not  by 
simply  reading  what  man  has  done,  but  by 
going  back  and  personally  observing  what  he 
thought  when  he  did  it,  and  what  others 
thought  while  it  was  being  done.  The  soul  of 
man  needs  sympathy.  It  would  be  impossible 
for  one,  isolated  from  the  thoughts  and  opin- 
ions of  others,  and  ignorant  of  the  customs  and 
needs  of  humanity,  to  accomplish  anything  that 
would  make  his  life  a  success  and  give  his 
name  to  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 

It  is  presupposed  that  the  study  of  liter- 
ature is  of  prime  importance  to  one  who  in- 
tends to  lead  a  literary  life.  Though  not 
quite,  perhaps,  so  important  to  the  scientific 
student,  its  omission  is  not  for  one  moment  to 
be  thought  of.  First,  we  may  need  to  write  ; 
indeed,  if  we  attain  any  prominence  in  science, 
it  is  necessary  that  we  should  give  our  thoughts 
on  paper  for  the  benefit  of  those  around  us, 
and  those  who  shall  come  after.  Grammar, 
rhetoric,  and  logic  are  not  sufficient  for  this. 
We  too  often  hear  it  said  that  scientific  men 
cannot  describe,  to  the  satisfaction  of  their 
readers,  their  own  researches  and  inventions. 
By  seeing  how  others  before  us  have  written 
and  expressed  their  ideas,  we  may  learn  how 
to  shape  our  thoughts  into  presentable  form. 
When  Stevenson  invented  his  locomotive,  he 
did  nc^t  create  it  out  of  his  own  mind;  he  took 
Watt's  principle  of  the  double  acting  engine, 
Blackett  and  Medley's  smooth  driving  wheels, 
Seguin's  tubular  boiler,  and  so  made  his 
"  Rocket,"  the  parent  of  our  present  locomo- 
tives. So  it  was  with  Shakespeare:  he  pre- 
sented his  own  original  conceptions,  but  in 
the  form  by  which  many  others  had  profited. 
We  thus  learn  to  write  in  an  easy  way, — easy 
both  for  us  to  compose  and  for  others  to  read. 


ii6 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


In  our  later  years  literature  will  be  a  great 
source  of  pleasure  to  us.  In  conversation, 
one  who  is  able,  unassumingly,  to  quote  liber- 
ally from  literary  sources,  proves  himself  in- 
variably a  most  interesting  and  agreeable 
companion.  When  thoroughly  conversant 
with  literature,  he  can,  when  talking  to  those 
of  limited  literary  knowledge,  adapt  himself 
to  their  attainments  and  express  his  opinion 
equally  well  on  whatever  authors  they  may 
have  studied.  Then,  too,  most  of  us  hope, 
when  our  hard  work  has  merited  our  taking 
the  time,  to  enjoy  ourselves  by  reading.  Here 
it  is  that  a  knowledge  of  literature  points  out 
to  us  the  best  paths  to  pursue ;  for,  having 
travelled  the  highways  of  literature,  we  are 
-privileged  to  stroll  along  the  by-ways,  where 
are  to  be  found  hidden  wild  flowers,  rather 
than  the  more  showy  flowers  of  general  culti- 
vation. So,  having  dwelt  upon  the  greater 
writers,  we  learn  to  read  those  of  lesser  fame 
and  weaker  force,  how  to  pick  out  their  de- 
fects, and  where  to  find  their  special  beauties. 
But  some  may  wish  to  devote  their  reading 
hours  to  a  particular  branch  ;  one  of  us,  for 
instance,  desiring  to  follow  writers  on  some 
particular  science.  In  such  a  case  it  is  still 
an  advantage  to  have  studied  the  standard 
authors  on  all  other  subjects  ;  it  helps  us,  by 
comparison,  to  appreciate  our  chosen  authors 
and  their  themes.  This  does  not  mean  that 
we  thus  depreciate  any  of  the  others,  but  that 
we  learn  the  distinguishing  features  of  those 
which  we  have  selected,  and  the  position 
which  they  occupy  in  the  great  whole.  In 
here  we  might  bring  the  saying,  "One  can- 
not appreciate  home  until  he  has  travelled 
abroad." 

In  studying  the  subject  of  literature  in 
college,  it  is  not  expected  that  it  should  be 
learned  by  heart,  as  if  it  were  a  book  of  rules. 
We  are  not  to  memorize  what  is  contained  in 
a  given  text  book,  but  to  become  familiar  with 
its  contents.  To  know  the  history  of  a  na- 
tion's literature,  remember  the  names  and 
position  of  the  representative  authors,  the 
particular  events  of  their  lives,  their  chief 
productions  and  their  effect  on  the  language  ; 
to  do  this  is  the  principal  labor  connected 
with  the  study.  The  minor  writers  seem  to 
collect  themselves  around  these  great  lights, 
and,  with  little  effort,  these  also  can  be  re- 
membered and  rightly  placed  with  their  re- 
spective writings.  That  which  we  thus  learn 
in  college  gives  us  an  idea  how  to  take  up  the 
study,  in  a  more  extended  way,  at  some  future 
time.     It  suggests  to  us  the  works  which  it  is 


beneficial  for  us  to  read,  as  we  get  spare 
hours ;  it  also  shows  us,  by  the  various  suc- 
cesses and  failures  of  the  different  ones  about 
whom  we  learn,  that  we  must,  if  we  wish  to 
attain  any  literary  fame,  work,  as  in  everything 
else,  persistently  and  with  our  eyes  wide  open. 
Compositions  are  excellent  in  connection  with 
the  study  of  literature  in  college.  The  sub- 
jects, however,  should  not  be  on  anything 
outside  or  in  advance  of  what  has  so  far  been 
studied  ;  they  should  be  calculated  to  draw 
out  the  thoughts  of  the  student  himself  on  the 
ground  gone  over,  rather  than  be  a  mere 
summary  of  lectures  or  readings. 

Those  who  arranged  the  course  of  study  in 
Stevens,  wisely  saw  the  impostant  place  liter- 
ature holds,  and  so  gave  an  entire  year  for  its 
study.  This  length  of  time  is  absolutely 
necessary  in  order  to  obtain  good  results,  for 
it  is  not  a  subject  which  can  be  hurried  over, 
so  many  pages  at  a  time.  There  has  been 
some  hard  feeling  against  the  study  formerly, 
because  it  was  presented  in  so  unpalatable 
form,  in  the  text  book  then  used,  "  Shaw's 
Complete  Manual,"  which,  though  in  itself  a 
masterly  work,  is  too  "complete"  for  our 
purposes.  It  goes  too  far  into  detail  for  a 
general  study,  and  carries  on  some  discussions 
until  they  become  tedious  from  their  very 
length.  The  paper,  also,  and  especially  the 
print,  is  very  trying  to  the  eyes.  All,  how- 
ever, has  this  year  been  rectified  ;  the  use 
as  a  text  book  of  "  Shaw's  New  History  "  is 
an  established  success.  The  book  contains, 
by  a  rough  calculation,  a  little  over  one  hun- 
dred thousand  words  less  than  the  "  Manual," 
and  with  the  new  type  and  arrangements  of 
chapters  and  headings,  makes  an  attractive 
and  desirable  volume.  It  is  really  a  pleasure 
to  read  it,  and  therefore  can  hardly  be  much 
of  a  task  to  learn  its  substance. 

We  conclude,  therefore,  that  it  is  of  im- 
mense importance  for  us  to  study  English 
literature,  and  nothing  short  of  extreme  folly 
would  remove  it  from  the  curriculum  of 
Stevens  Institute,  or  encroach  upon  the  time 
given  for  it. 

Albitan. 


<  #  » » 


MY    INVENTION. 


Ever  since  electricity  became  an  important 
branch  of  science  I  have  had  a  great  fondness 
for  it  ;  and  lately  an  experience  which  I  had 
with  this  subtile  force  caused  me  to  become 
forcibly  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  state- 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


117 


ment  that  fortune  does  not  favor  inventors. 
I  have  spent  many  of  my  leisure  'hours  for 
the  last  eight  months  trying  to  devise  some 
way  of  preventing  the  frequent  burglaries  in 
these  New  Jersey  villages,  and  the  other  day 
success  seemed  to  have  crowned  my  labor. 

From  the  very  first  I  worked  upon  the  prin- 
ciple that  what  was  needed  was  a  preventive, 
not  a  cure ;  and  it  was  in  accordance  with 
this  belief  that  my  final  inspiration  was 
brought  about.  I  was  reading  the  paper  one 
morning,  when  my  eye  was  attracted  by  a 
notice  of  an  accident  the  day  before.  It 
seemed  that  a  broken  electric  lighting  wire  lay 
on  the  pavement  in  the  Bowery,  and  that  a 
horse,  in  passing,  happened  to  touch  both 
ends  at  once.  He  was  instantly  thrown  and 
seriously  lamed.  This  was  the  spark  in  the 
powder.  Seizing  a  sheet  of  paper,  I  rapidly 
sketched  out  a  diagram  of  my  invention.  My 
conclusions  were  quickly  reached.  If  I 
bought  a  small  dynamo,  run  by  a  gas  engine, 
and  laid  a  circuit  of  uncovered  insulated 
metallic  strips  around  each  window  casing,  no 
one  would  be  able .  to  enter  there  ;  but  when 
I  thought  of  the  doors  I  was  at  first  puzzled. 
However,  I  finally  decided  to  place  a  metallic 
mat  in  front  of  the  doors,  and  make  the 
other  wire  to  connect  with  the  door  knob. 

At  the  first  opportunity  I  took  a  vacation 
of  three  days,  and  remained  at  home  arranging 
my  circuits.  At  the  end  of  that  time  I  was 
ready;  all  that  could  be  desired  was  a  burglar 
to  experiment  on.  Feeling  secure,  I  grew 
careless.  My  watchman  was  discontinued ;  I 
neglected  to  repair  a  broken  catch  on  the  din- 
ing room  window. 

It  was  fully  a  week  before  I  had  any  chance 
to  test  my  "  Electric  Burglar  Proof  Attach- 
ment for  Dwellings,"   but  when  the  chance 
came,  it  came  in  a  manner  I  had  not  dreamed 
of.    It  so  happened  that  about  ten  days  after 
I  first  started  my  dynamo  I  had  occasion  to 
remain  late  in  New  York,  possibly  all  night. 
So  that  morning  I  took  my  wife  down  stairs 
and  explained  to  her  how  to  start  the  gas  en- 
gine, and  told  her  to  be  sure  to  have  every- 
thing as  she  wished  it  to  remain  during  the 
night  before  starting  the  dynamo.     Finding 
my  business  not  so  urgent  as  I  had  expected, 
in  the  course  of  the  day  I  sent  the  following 

telegram  to  my  wife  : 

••  Will  be  home  to-night,  late.— L.  S.  M." 

According  to  custom,  she  would  understand 
this  message  to  mean  that  she  should  leave 
the  front  door  unlocked  ;  but  I  had  not 
implied  enough,  as  you  shall  hear  presently. 


The  1 1. 10  express  had  left  me  at  the  station. 
There  was  no  moon,  and  the  air  was  chilly 
with  autumn.  The  house  was  cold  and  dark, 
and  as  I  walked  up  the  steps  my  thoughts 
were  far  from  my  invention.  I  stepped  for- 
ward and  stood  upon  the  mat,  searching  in  my 
pocket  for  the  key.  Then,  leaning  forward,  I 
put  the  key  in  the  lock  and  touched  the  knob 
with  the  other  hand.  Without  stopping  to 
turn  the  knob,  I  retreated,  took  a  flying  leap 
down  the  steps,  and  almost  broke  myself  in 
two  over  a  flower  urn.  I  was  almost  paralyzed; 
otherwise  I  should  not  have  remained  on  the 
damp  grass  as  long  as  I  did. 

In  my  extremity  I  bethought  me  of  the 
dining  room  window,  which  was  unlocked. 
I  persuaded  myself  that  with  a  little  care  I 
could  enter  that  way.  Cautiously  I  drew  my- 
self up  to  the  level  of  the  window  and  raised 
it.  But  here  came  a  difficulty — I  could  not 
possibly  get  in  without  touching  one  of  the 
strips.  Would  that  be  safe  ?  Hastily  recalling 
my  somewhat  limited  knowledge  of  electricity 
to  my  aid,  I  considered  it  sate  to  make  the 
attempt.  I  may  state  here  that  I  am  in  the 
habit  of  wearing  a  watch  chain  passing  around 
my  neck  ;  in  the  course  of  my  exertions  this 
had  slipped  up  until  it  lay  upon  my  bare  neck. 
Is  it  any  wonder,  therefore,  that  in  my  great 
care  lest  my  body  should  touch  the  other 
strip,  I  should  forget  my  watch  chain  ?  It  is 
needless  after  this  hint  to  say  that  I  fell  out 
of  that  window  with  a  large  initial  velocity, 
plus  the  acceleration  due  to  gravity.  The 
potential  energy  manifested  itself  in  the  form 
of  heat  and  light,  and  the  earth  acting  in  a 
line  directly  opposite  to  my  fall,  produced  an 
equilibrium  so  stable  that  I  made  no  attempt 
to  rise  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  Now, 
although  some  of  your  professors  may  doubt 
this  statement,  I  solemnly  affirm  that  two 
forces  acting  at  the  same  time  in  directly  op- 
posite directions  may  produce  rotary  motion — 
of  the  head.  I  heard  one  of  the  Stevens  boys 
make  such  an  assertion  once,  but  I  did  not 
believe  it  until  this  event  which  I  am  relating 
took  place. 

I  now  proceeded  to  wake  my  wife,  and  in 
a  short  time  I  heard  a  window  raised,  and  she 
stood  in  full  relief  against  a  black  background. 
In  her  hand  was  my  old  navy  revolver.  With- 
out making  any  attempt  to  ascertain  who  was 
below,  she  calmly  set  about  cocking  the 
weapon.  The  rusty  spring  proved  too  power- 
ful for  her  one  hand,  so  she  grasped  the  barrel 
firmly  in  both  hands,  catching  the  hammer  in 
the  moulding  of  the  window,  and  drew  the  ^^- 


ii8 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


volver  toward  her.  When  this,  for  her,  extraor- 
dinary feat  was  accomplished,  she  turned  the 
muzzle  in  my  direction  and  proceeded  to  take 
aim.  As  she  did  this  she  leaned  forward  in 
her  eagerness,  at  the  same  time  resting  her  left 
hand  upon  the  window  sill,  in  contact  with 
the  inner  strip  of  the  "  E.  B.  P.  A.  for  D." 
arrangement.  At  that  moment  the  ridiculous- 
ness of  the  situation  flashed  upon  me.  Here 
I  was,  kept  from  my  own  house  by  my  own 
contrivance,  and  mistaken  by  my  own  wife  for 
a  burglar.  I  began  to  laugh,  as  well  I  might, 
for  the  revolver  pointed  at  me  had  not  been 
loaded  in  four  years,  to  my  certain  knowledge, 
and,  furthermore,  I  knew  that  the  new  system 
was  giving  complete  satisfaction.  Finding 
that  the  weight  of  the  revolver  made  her  hand 
unsteady,  my  wife  rested  her  wrist  against  the 
side  of  the  window.  Immediately  there  was 
a  strange  sound,  and  the  figure  at  the  window 
disappeared,  while  the  revolver  rattled  on  the 
tin  roof  below. 

Finally  I  persuaded  my  wife  to  stop  the 
dynamo  and  let  me  in  ;  whereupon  I  went  to 
bed.  I  remained  in  bed  all  the  next  day, 
sending  word  to  inquiring  friends  that  I  had 
an  attack  of  rheumatism,  in  consequence  of 
exposure  to  the  night  air.  I  felt  ashamed  to 
tell  them  that  I  was  suffering  from  too  much 
electricity. 

Notwithstanding  the  severe  tests  to  which 
my  invention  was  subjected  on  that  eventful 
night,  I  consider  the  system  to  have  fully 
demonstrated  its  usefulness.  The  effects  of 
fear  upon  the  members  of  the  household  are 
marked.  The  servant  shudders  with  super- 
stitious awe  as  she  goes  to  open  the  door,  and 
the  cat  has  forsaken  his  accustomed  perch  on 
the  window  ledge,  while  my  wife  and  I  are 
in  continual  dread  lest  one  should  make 
known  the  other's  part  in  the  farce.  If  out- 
side parties  can  be  made  to  share  the  dread 
which  has  taken  possession  of  oiir  family,  we 
will  no  longer  be  disturbed  by  any  nocturnal 
visitations.  C. 


EDUCATIONAL  REFORMS  AND 
COLLEGE  STUDIES. 


[Alpha  Delta  Phi  Star  and  Crescent  for   May. — Abridged.] 

Conceding  all  that  may  be  claimed  for  the 
American  college  in  the  past,  there  is  a  grow- 
ing conviction  that  the  time  has  come  in  the 
development  of  the  country,  when  the  college 


must  move  forward  by  admitting  important 
reforms;  that  it  must  broaden  its  curriculum; 
relax  its  traditional  rigidity  and  surveillance; 
take  on  a  temper  and  life  more  modem  and 
scientific,  less  archaic  and  classical;  that  it 
must  carry  its  students  farther  on  in  their 
chosen  departments,  and  in  all  its  work  it 
must  have  constant  reference  to  utility  and  the 
practical  needs  of  the  world's  life. 

The  college  of  to-day  is  in  a  transition 
state.  It  is  neither  a  grammar  school  nor  a 
university.  It  occupies  a  position  between 
the  gymnasium  and  the  University  of  Ger- 
many, combining  qualities  of  both.  For  sev- 
eral decades  there  has  been  an  expansion  of 
the  curriculum;  the  requirements  for  admission 
have  been  increased;  the  course  of  study  de- 
mands more  maturity  of  mind,  and  the  aver- 
age age  of  students  is  higher  than  formerly. 

In  former  years,  when  the  curriculum  was 
simpler,  boys  entered  college  at  fourteen  and 
graduated  at  eighteen,  so  that  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  or  twenty-three  they  had  a  fair 
start  in  their  life  work;  whereas  under  the  pres- 
ent requirements  a  college  man  who  takes  a 
course  in  the  professional  school  reaches  his 
first  remunerative  work  at  twenty-seven  or 
twenty-eight,  at  least  six  years  later  than  he 
who  enters  the  professions  without  the  de- 
lay of  the  college,  and  ten  years  later  than 
the  young  men  who  enter  the  non-professional 
industries  of  life.  Artisans,  machinists,  agri- 
culturists, merchants  and  manufacturers  have 
already  given  ten  of  their  best  years  to  I  heir 
life  work  before  the  college  man  has  ventured 
from  his  cloister  upon  the  activities  of  the 
world. 

It  should  be  kept  in  mind  that  our  college 
system  is  a  heritage  from  the  sixteenth  century. 
It  came  down  to  us  from  what  is  known  as  the 
Humanistic  education,  which  the  Renaissance 
gave  to  England  and  Europe  after  the  Re- 
formation, and  which  still  has  control  of  the 
public  schools,  the  gymnasia,  and  most  of  the 
universities  of  the  old  world. 

The  groundwork  of  the  Humanistic  system 
is  language.  I^atin  was  the  substratum  and 
the  classic  the  substance  of  all  culture.  The 
curriculum  was  exceedingly  narrow.  A  little 
logic  and  rhetoric  were  taught;  the  sciences 
were  as  yet  unborn. 

It  was  a  real  revolution  at  Rugby,  and  al- 
most kindled  a  rebellion  when  Arnold,  as  late 
as  1830,  introduced  the  modem  learning. 
When  Stanley  was  a  pupil  at  that  celebrated 
school,  he  wrote:  "  Dr.  Arnold  has  reformed 
the   school  in  every  way;  he  has  introduced 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


119 


history,  mathematics,  modem   languages,  ex- 
aminations and  prizes/' 

When  Harvard  and  Yale  were  founded, 
there  was  reason  in  the  respect  shown  to  the 
da^cs,  for  it  was  a  system  fitted  to  the  times. 
Latin  was  then  the  learned  language  and 
vehicle  of  highest  thought  and  knowledge. 

But  all  this  has  since  changed.  The  clas- 
sical curriculum  is  part  of  an  order  of  things, 
which  in  other  departments  of  thought  has 
long  since  passed  away.  French,  and  more 
recently  German,  have  won  the  place  once 
held  by  Latin,  and  English  is  destined  to 
supersede  them  both.  We  are  in  a  different 
world  to-day.  The  ancient  world  is  going 
farther  and  farther  from  us,  while  the  world  of 
to-day,  through  the  wonders  of  electricity  and 
steam,  is  gathered  about  our  very  door. 

It  is  the  knowledge  and  mastery  of  this 
present  world,  and  the  times  in  which  we 
live,  that  is  indispensable  to  the  leaders  of 
the  thought  and  activities  of  to-day. 

It  is  not,  therefore,  to  be  wondered  at 
that  a  spirit  of  restlessness  has  got  hold  of 
our  colleges,  and  that  several  of  those  in 
the  first  rank  are  feeling  their  way  toward 
important  changes  in  their  methods  and 
studies. 

There  is  a  movement  in  favor  of  making 

science  the  basis  of  a  liberal  education  instead 

of  the  classics,  of  giving  more  place  to  social 

institutions  and  forces,  and  of  remodelling  the 

curriculum  so    that   the   students   may  have 

specific  references  to  their  life  work  through 

the  entire  course.     The  movement  includes, 

of  course,  the  system  of  college  electives,  in 

which  Harvard  led  off. 

A  conspicuous  defect  in  the  old  system  was 
its  failure  to  recognize  individual  tastes  and 
aptitudes.  The  curriculum  was  a  procrustean 
bed  to  whose  pattern  all  were  stretched.  In- 
dividuality of  character  was  sacrificed  to  that 
k^i  fatuus  called  mental  discipline,  as 
though  any  genuine  study  was  not  mental 
discipline.  A  fixed  curriculum  is  well  enough 
in  the  lower  schools,  where  mental  training  is 
sought  rather  than  information,  but  to  continue 
it  with  students  who  have  reached  manhood 
and  womanhood  is  like  stopping  soldiers  in 
the  conflict  of  battle  in  order  to  teach  them 
the  technicalities  of  military  drill. 

When  individuality  of  character  is  sacrificed 
we  are  fighting  against  nature  and  sealing  up 
the  sources  of  power. 

It  is  claimed  by  the  friends  of  the  new 
order  that  in  the  abundance  of  the  studies 
crowded  upon  the  student  in  these  times,  it 


is  the  sheerest  assumption  to  say  that  any 
particular  study  is  indispensable  to  mental 
discipline,  or  that  any  study  should  be  pur- 
sued with  exclusive  reference  to  mental  dis- 
cipline. 

They  claim  for  the  sciences  that  the  mastery 
of  one  or  two  departments  of  natural  science 
would  discipline  nearly  every  faculty  of  the 
mind,  the  memory,  observation,  the  judgment, 
the  logical  faculty,  the  powers  of  analysis  and 
classification  ;  and  that  if  to  these  be  added 
modern  languages,  social  and  political  sci- 
ence, literature  and  philosophy,  there  would 
be  no  occasion  for  devoting  the  labor  of 
eight  or  ten  years  to  the  languages  of  an- 
tiquity. 

(71?  be  continued.) 


<  #  » »- 


THE  BRITISH  RULE  IN  INDIA. 

In  1593,  as  history  relates,  an  English  mer- 
chant landed  on  the  western  coast  of  India. 
He  had  been  told  in  a  dream  that,  within  three 
centuries,  his  countrymen  would  become  pos- 
sessed of  a  territory  equal  to  the  continent  of 
Europe,  Russia  excepted.  He  regarded  this 
dream  as  the  result  of  a  disordered  imagina- 
tion. Nearly  three  centuries  from  that  time 
the  Queen  of  England  was  crowned  Empress 
of  India,  and  the  dream  was  proved  to  be  a 
prophecy. 

British  rule  in  India  has  been  characterized 
by  incompetency,  cruelty,  dishonesty,  treach- 
ery, fraud.  It  is  one  of  the  foulest  blots  on 
the  pages  of  English  history.  As  in  more  re- 
cent cases  of  unjustifiable  oppression,  it  was 
the  domineering  commercial  policy  of  Great 
Britain  —  the  notion  that  where  Englishmen 
could  gain  wealth  England  had  the  power  to 
rule — that  paved  the  way  to  the  subjugation 
of  the  unhappy  Hindoos.  In  the  last  year  of 
the  sixteenth  century  the  East  India  Company 
obtained  a  charter  from  the  crown  permitting, 
and,  in  fact,  authorizing  it  to  control  the  com- 
merce of  the  Indian  Ocean.  By  this  charter 
power  was  given  to  license  private  traders,  to 
punish  infractions  of  the  company's  laws,  and 
to  govern  the  whole  great  region  specified  in 
the  grant. 

The  company  went  to  work  as  a  trading 
corporation.  There  was  a  governor  and  a 
corps  of  clerks,  but  no  military  organization. 
It  was  not  until  after  sixty  years  that  the  idea 
occurred  to  subdue  India  and  add  it  to  the 
British  possessions.  Ill  order  to  carry  out 
this  plan,  soldiers  were  necessary.     A  smal' 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


number  of  troops  were  loaned  by  the  govern- 
ment and  sent  over  from  England.  It  was 
some  time  before  the  company  made  use  of 
the  sepoys  or  native  soldiers.  For  almost  150 
years  there  was  an  unbroken  succession  of 
petty  quarrels,  mutinies  and  massacres.  The 
ambition  of  Clive  and  the  avarice  of  Hastings 
are  examples  of  the  motives  that  for  a  century 
dictated  the  policy  of  the  company's  govern- 
ors. The  policy  of  Che  proprietors  in  Lon- 
don can  be  stated  in  one  word^dividends. 
Of  what  concern  was  it  to  the  gouty  capitalist 
who  heard  the  sovereigns  jingle  in  his  coffers, 
that  ten  thousand  starving,  half-c!ad  natives 
had  surrendered  those  sovereigns  only  with 
their  lives  ?  His  longing  for  the  plunder  was 
not  lessened.  The  governor  general  must 
furnish  the  funds.  He  singles  out  some  rich 
prince  and  boldly  demands  a  tribute.  If  this 
is  not  paid,  the  doomed  rajah  soon  finds  him- 
self involved  in  difficulties.  A  war  arises,  and 
the  craft  and  might  of  the  Englishmen  are 
triumphant.  The  unhappy  ruler  loses  his 
treasure  and  his  throne,  and  the  British  flag 
floats  over  one  more  conquered  state. 

As  is  always  the  ca^e  when  unscrupulous 
men  are  given  unrestrained  authority  over 
other  men  not  as  powerful  as  they,  so  these 
acts  of  oppression  grew  more  and  more  fla- 
grant, until  at  last  the  English  were  aroused, 
and  this  form  of  government  was  abolished. 

At  the  present  day  everything  is  changed. 
The  governor  general  is  appointed  by  the 
Queen,  and  each  residency  has  its  own  gov- 
ernor. The  administration  of  the  province  is 
now  well  conducted.  Under  a  humane  sys- 
tem of  government  the  Hindoos  are  becoming 
reconciled  to  British  rule. 

Thus  has  England  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century  brought  into  subjection 
the  vast  and  rich  territory  which  had  for  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  been  a  source  of 
anxiety  and  expense.  Long  since  did  she 
bow  her  head  in  shame  at  those  disgraceful 
proceedings,  and  then  repentant,  lifted  it  again 
to  atone  as  far  as  possible  for  her  former  re- 
missness. C, 


MEETING  OF  AMERICAN    SOCIETY  OF 
MECHANICAL   ENGINEERS. 

The  fifth  annual  mcelini;  .if  the  sucitty  was 
held  in  New  Vork,  November  5,  6  and  7.  The 
society  met  in  the  hall  of  the  New  York  Acad- 
emy of  Medicine,  la  West  31st  Street.     The 


opening  session  took  place  on  Wednesday. 
November  g,  at  8  p.  m.,  at  which  the  president 
delivered  an  address,  which  was  followed  by 
a  supper  and  social  reunion.  Thursday,  at 
10  a.  m.,  the  executive  session  opened,  when 
the  committees  reported  and  general  business 
was  transacted,  after  which  professional  papers 
were  read  and  discussed.  The  afternoon  was 
taken  up  with  further  reading  of  papers,  among 
which  was  one  by  Prof.  R.  H.  Thurston,  "  On 
Sliding  Friction  of  Rotation;"  another  by 
Wm.  Kent,  on  "  Factors  of  Evaporation  for 
Use  in  Boiler  Tests ; "  and  another  by  F,  W. 
Hatsey,  on  "A  New  Rock  Drill."  Friday,  the 
last  day  of  the  convention,  was  occupied  in 
an  excursion  to  Pateison,  N.  J.,  by  special 
train  furnished  by  the  D..  L.  &  W.  R.R, 

The  chief  points  of  interest  visited  were 
the  Passaic  Rolling  Mills,  the  various  locomo- 
tive works  of  Rogers,  Grant,  and  Cooke,  and 
the  silk  mills.  Returning  in  the  afternoon  to 
New  York,  tlje  society  was  invited,  through 
the  courtesy  of  the  trustees  and  faculty,  to 
visit  our  institute.  The  shop  and  labora- 
tories were  lighted  with  the  usual  electric 
lamps,  and  the  visit  made  as  enjoyable  as  pos- 
sible. Stevens  was  well  known  to  them  all 
by  reputation,  but  many  of  the  society  had 
never  before  looked  through  our  well  equipped 
college  under  such  a  favorable  opportunity, 
and  many  were  the  laudatory  comments  made 
upon  its  efficient  management. 

Mr.  Holloway,  of  Cleveland,  O.,  was  unan- 
imously elected  president  for  1885-6,  Among 
the  members  of  eminence  present  were  Messrs, 
C.  W.  Copeland,  C.  Sellers.  Henry  R.  Towne, 
W.  L.  Church,  Wm.  Hewitt  and  Wm.  H. 
Wiley. 

In  the  year  1400,  Joseph  Cook  says,  the 
population  of  this  country  will  be  3,200,000,000, 
Those  of  our  readers  who  contemplate  going 
to  the  circus  that  year  will  do  well  to  purchase 
tickets  at  the  down  town  office  and  avoid  the 
rush  at  the  wagon. — Burlington  Haivkeye, 


The  Amherst  Student  says  :  "  Last  Monday 
night  occurred  the  first  rush  of  the  season,  and 
for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  college 
there  could  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  result,  .\fter 
a  well  contested  rush  the  class  of  '49  bore 
away  the  cane."  The  joke  lies  in  ihe  fact 
that  President  Seelye  forced  his  way  into  the 
struggling  mass  of  student  flesh  and  walked 
off  with  the  cane.— 7»*  Lafayette. 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


12! 


TECHNICAL  EDUCATION. 


Technical  education  in  the  United  States 
has  improved  appreciably  in  the  last  ten  or 
fifteen  years,  not  on  account  of  any  substan- 
tial aid  from  the  government,  but  from  the 
exertions  of  private  citizens  and  corporations 
entirely.     It  is  a  subject  which  should  receive 
more  attention  from  Congress,  for  this  country 
stands  alone  almost  among  the  nations  as  the 
one  which  pays  the  least  heed  to  this  all  im- 
portant topic.     If  the  same  thoroughness  and 
supervision  were  exercised  in  this  country  as 
in   foreign    countries   for    the    education  of 
young  men  in  a  line  which  would  make  them 
useful  citizens,  there  would  be  less  heard  of 
the  miseries  of  the  people  of  our  great  cities. 
Mr.  Edward   T.  Steel,  of  Philadelphia,   has 
recently  returned  to  this  country  after  a  care- 
ful inspection  of  the  industrial  schools  in  Eu- 
rope.    His  visit  was  made  for  the  purpose  of 
studying  the  methods  of  instruction  in  foreign 
countries, with  the  view  of  adopting  some  of  the 
ideas  for  the  establishment  of  schools  in  the 
United  States.     He  was  very  much  impressed 
with  the  remarkable  care  manifested  by  the 
stronger  governments  for  the  education  of  the 
people,  the  earnestness  evinced  by  the  people 
in  securing  the  benefits  of  instruction,  and 
the  thoroughness  with  which  the  work  is  done, 
and  the  excellent  results  obtained.     In  Ger- 
many the  people   are  compelled  to  finish  a 
course  which  in  this  country  would  prepare 
them  for  what  we  call  a  "higher  education." 
These  extracts  from  his  report  will  be  found 
quite  interesting. 

TECHNOLOGY   IN    ENGLAND. 

"  England  in  the  last  twelve  years  has  devoted  her 
energies  very  largely  to  the  public  school  question.  But 
within  a  recent  period  she  has  in  addition  given  her  at- 
tention to  manual  education,  then  artistic  instruction, 
and  more  lately  to  technology.  But  in  fact  all  through 
Germany,  England,  France,  Belgium,  Switzerland  and 
Holland  there  has  been  great  work  done  for  industrial 
schools.  The  governments  of  these  countries  have  re- 
garded these  schools  as  an  essential  thing.  With  them 
industrial  education  is  no  longer  an  experiment,  a  plan, 
a  theory.  It  is  an  established  practical  reality.  The 
result  has  been  most  beneficial.  In  England  the  ten- 
dency has  been  principally  to  instruct  in  the  use  of 
tools,  or  to  teach  mere  manual  acquirements.  In  Ger- 
many it  has  been  both  manual  and  technical.  First, 
general  instruction  would  be  given,  then  it  would  be 
specialized." 

The  schools  in  Germany  were  first  under  the 
direction  of  individuals,  but  now  nearly  all  are 
'>tate  institutions.     The  pupils  pay  but  a  nom- 


inal fee  for  tuition,  and  are  exempt  from  all 
fees  if  unable  to  pay  them. 

•*  The  German  towns  have  schools  of  technology,  as 
well  as  the  cities.  Certain  towns  have  certain  indus- 
tries peculiar  to  their  own  localities.  The  schools  in 
those  towns  will  make  features  of  those  industries  in  its 
curriculum.  In  the  cities  the  course  of  study  will  be 
broad  and  comprehensive.  Drawing  is  everywhere  con- 
sidered the  basis  of  an  industrial  training.  It  is  the 
very  alphabet,  they  say,  of  a  technical  education. 
Among  the  largest  institutions  is  that  at  Munich, 
founded  privately  in  1868,  now  a  public  school.  There 
the  instruction  is  chiefly  in  ceramics  and  designing  tex- 
tiles. Workmen  go  out  from  this  school  to  large  busi* 
ness  houses,  and  the  head  positions  in  factories,  and 
meet  with  wonderful  success.  At  Nuremburg,  Dresden, 
Berlin  and  Vienna  there  are  well  equipped  state  schools, 
giving  training  in  the  use  of  tools,  ihe  trades,  and  in 
the  higher  industrial  arts.  The  boys  and  girls  like 
their  work,  and  those  who  were  once  in  the  schools,  but 
are  now  out,  are  doing  well." 

The  following  account  of  the  schools  in 
Paris  will  attract  particular  interest,  and  goes 
to  show  too  plainly  how  neglectful  our  govern- 
ment is  in  providing  schools  for  the  benefit  of 
the  people. 

THE  SCHOOLS  OF   PARIS. 

**  In  Paris  there  have  been  established  under  the 
present  republican  government  sixty  primary  schools  in 
which  manual  instruction  is  given.  These  have  made 
such  a  demand  for  higher  technical  education  that  the 
applicants  cannot  be  accommodated.  The  government 
intends  to  meet  this  demand  by  buildinfj  more  schools. 
In  the  *  Ecole  Rue  Tournefort,'  which  I  visited,  I  saw 
boys  between  the  years  of  six  and  ten  learning  the  use 
of  all  kinds  of  tools  and  working  most  intelligently  from 
their  drawings.  Boys  ten  and  eleven  years  old  were 
busy  at  drawing,  modelling  in  clay,  carving  in  wood, 
and  at  joiners'  and  smiths'  work.  Others,  twelve  years 
of  age.  were  engaged  in  special  branches,  each  boy  pur- 
suing that  for  which  he  had  a  special  bent  of  genius. 
The  school  on  the  Boulevard  de  la  Villette  is  a  similar 
institution.  In  each  one  there  are  several  hundred 
pupils.  There  are  many  other  schools  in  Paris  and 
other  parts  of  France,  and  the  instruction  given  com- 
prises all  branches." 

England  is  not  far  behind  Germany  and 
France  in  her  system  of  industrial  education. 
Schools  have  been  established  in  London, 
Manchester  and  all  the  principal  factory  towns, 
and  the  good  results  of  this  work  are  every- 
where apparent. 

*'  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  United  States 
ought  to  learn  from  the  experiments  of  the  European 
governments.  If  we  had  a  system  of  industrial  schools 
here  such  as  there  is  abroad,  the  result  would  be  most 
surprisingly  a  benefit  to  us.  It  would  be  a  fundamental 
protection  to  American  industry  and  would  mark  a  new 
epoch  in  our  national  progress." 


122 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


^e^BS  fpem  bhe  PRSFESSrSI^. 


The  American  Engineer^  in  a  recent  edition, 
criticises  Mr.  Edison's  intention  to  supplant 
the  steam  engine  by  electricity.  It  seems  that 
Mr.  Edison  hopes  to  devote  five  years  to  the 
perfection  of  his  plans,  the  main  point  of 
which  is,  of  course,  to  obtain  the  desired  elec- 
tricity directly  from  the  combustion  of  coal, 
instead  of  employing  as  intervening  mediums 
the  heat  of  the  coal  and  the  steam  engine. 
This  problem,  which  is  the  desideratum  of  all 
electrical  engineers,  is  hardly  one  which  can 
be  solved  within  so  short  a  period  as  ^\^ 
years.  The  solution  is  rather  the  work  of  a 
lifetime,  and  when  satisfactorily  developed 
would  prove  the  greatest  discovery  in  the 
world's  progress.  In  very  few  good  steam 
plants  does  the  steam  engine  give  out  avail- 
ble  energy  less  than  lo  per  cent,  of  the  total 
energy  df  the  fuel.  Those  now  employed  for 
furnishing  power  for  the  Edison  dynamos, 
give  out  as  high  as  15  per  cent,  of  all  the  en- 
ergy, thus  showing  that  in  the  best  steam 
engines  we  get  out  of  coal  about  one-tenth  of 
what  we  ought  to  get.  Now,  in  order  to 
lessen  to  any  considerable  degree  this  immense 
loss,  some  method  besides  that  now  employed 
must  soon  be  discovered,  and  it  has  been  con- 
ceded that  the  plan  which  Mr.  Edison  pur- 
poses to  investigate  is  the  best  which  has 
been  proposed.  Even  should  he  be  able  to  ac- 
complish, in  the  stated  time,  anything  which 
can  be  turned  into  practical  use,  will  the 
machine  so  constructed  develop  a  sufficient 
amount  of  energy  over  that  now  obtained  from 
steam  to  insure  its  success  in  an  economical 
point  of  view  ? 

The  Electrical  Engineer  in  its  review  of 
the  Electrical  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia 
which  closed  October  11,  among  other  in- 
teresting matter  makes  the  important  state- 
ment in  regard  to  the  comparative  practi- 
cability of  arc  lighting  and  incandescent 
lighting,  that  "  to  an  observer  attempting  to 
forecast  the  direction  of  the  future  develop 
ment  of  electric  lighting,  the  early  decadence 
of  the  arc  system  of  lighting  is  most  clearly 
apparent."  In  regard  to  the  subject  of  electric 
motors,  which  were  given  a  prominent  posi- 
tion at  the  exhibition,  the  Review  further 
states  :  "  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  there 
was  so  little  evidence  to  be  found  in  the  ex- 
hibition of  any  essential  progress  in  a  field 
which  affords  scope  for  a  wider  practical  util- 


ity than  even  that  of  electric  illumination — 
the  employment  of  electricity  for  transmission 
of  energy.  *  *  *  power  looms^  power  plan- 
ers, printing  presses  and  rotary  pumps  were 
driven  by  electric  motors.  Yet  we  did  not 
observe  any  attempt  to  transmit  more  than 
five  or  six  horse  power  at  the  most,  which  is 
hardly  a  step  in  advance  of  what  was  shown 
by  Gramme  at  the  Paris  exhibition  of  1878." 

Among  the  large  contracts  recently  finished 
and  those  in  progress  of  construction  are  noted 
the  following,  which  are  interesting  as  depart- 
ures from  the  ordinary  work  of  the  engineer. 
The  tunnel  under  the  Severn,  begun  in  1873,  is 
about  completed.  The  total  length  is  seven 
and  a  half  miles,  four  and  a  third  miles  of  the 
tunnel  being  under  the  Severn.  The  great 
bridge  over  the  Forth,  which  is  still  unfinished, 
will  cost  when  completed  ^^i, 600,000.  A  bridge 
to  connect  Cronstadt  and  Tamenlaume,  in 
Russia,  is  to  be  built.  The  bridge  will  be 
about  five  and  a  half  miles  long,  its  estimated 
cost  being  ;^2, 400,000. 

The  only  railroad  in  the  United  States 
which  has  been  equipped  throughout  its  entire 
length  with  automatic  electro  block  signals  is 
the  Providence  &  Worcester.  The  work 
has  been  done  by  the  Union  Switch  and  Sig- 
nal Co.,  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  the  characteristic 
feature  of  which  is  the  maintenance  of  a  con- 
tinuous electric  circuit  through  the  rails  of 
the  track,  from  one  end  of  each  block  section 
to  the  other.  When  a  rail  is  displaced  or  the 
circuit  broken  in  any  way,  the  signal  arm 
shows  "  danger,"  and,  also,  when  a  train  is  in 
the  block  the  "  danger"  signal  shows,  caused 
by  the  train  shunting  the  electric  current  from 
the  electro-magnet. 

The  new  Cunarder,  "  Umbria,"  launched 
last  June,  has  made  h^r  first  trip  across  the 
Atlantic,  and  made  very  satisfactory  time  con- 
sidering it  was  her  first  voyage.  The  Iron 
Age  gives  the  following  interesting  description 
of  the  new  steamer.  The  trial  trip  of  the 
"  Umbria  "  took  place  on  the  Clyde,  October 
4,  the  vessel  steaming  thirty  miles  at  a  speed 
of  twenty-one  nautical  miles  an  hour.  She  is 
the  largest  vessel  afloat  with  the  exception  of 
the  Great  Eastern.  Her  dimensions  are  520 
ft.  long,  57  ft.  3  in.  breadth  of  beam,  and  41 
ft.  depth  of  hold,  and  measures  over  8,000 
tons.  The  "  Umbria  "  was  built  at  Fairfield- 
on-Clyde,  at  Elders'  yard,  where  most  of  the 
fast  steamers  have  been  built.     The  electric 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


123 


light  is  used.  The  saloon  measures  79  ft.  in 
length,  the  steamer  accommodating  720  first 
class  passengers.  The  engines  of  this  magnifi- 
cent work  of  marine  architecture  are  said  to  be 
the  most  powerful  in  the  world.  The  centre  high 
pressure  cylinder  is  71  inches  diameter,  and 
the  two  low  pressure  cylinders  are  each  105 
in.  diameter,  with  a  6  ft.  stroke.  The  screw 
is  made  of  manganese  bronze.  The  quality 
of  manganese  bronze,  combined  with  the  de- 
velopment in  practice  of  the  true  proportion 
of  the  screw  propeller,  are  computed  to  add 
upward  of  a  knot  an  hour  to  the  performance 
of  the  old  fashioned  cast  iron  blades.  The 
vessel  is  fitted  for  the  Admiralty  service,  and 
can  carry  coal  for  16  days  when  running  con- 
tinually at  a  speed  of  18  knots  per  hour. 

Speaking  of  the  utility  of  storage  batteries 
for  practical  purposes,  Mr.  Edison  says  that 
he  has  spared  neither  time  nor  money  in  the 
effort  to  perfect  a  battery  that  can  be  of  prac- 
tical use,  but  without  success ;  and  that  the 
storage  battery  can  never  be  used  to  any  ex- 
tent except  for  scientific  purposes. 


<  ♦  » » 


sspyBFr^6  Bex. 


The  forgings  for  the  Eccentric  and  Bolt  are 
under  way. 

Has  anybody  ever  seen  the  Stevens  Insti- 
tute library — in  operation  ? 

W.  S.  Dix,  '87,  has  been  elected  editor  for 
The  Indicator,  in  place  of  Ladd  Plumley, 
resigned. 

And  we  still  continue  to  be  unarrested  for 
"illegal  voting"  (just  think)  and  "perjury." 
(What  a  merciful  deliverance.) 

"  Professor" — this  is  a  Junior  speaking — **  as 
I  understand  it,  you  say  the  body  has  no 
weight.  Well,  then,  it  seems  to  me  you  ought 
to  take  gravity  into  account." 

The  reception  room  is  now  a  thing  of  the 
past,  and  we  may  expect  to  see  the  tables  in 
the  hbrary  well  filled  with  Sophomores  and 
Freshmen.  These  are  the  only  seats  left  now 
for  the  students. 

The  prudent  and  conscientious  man  re- 
frained all  election  week  from  celebrating^  for 
lear  that  in  his  efforts  to  "  toot "  for  the  can- 
didate of  his  choice  he  might  be  celebrating 
for  the  other  fellow's. 


'86  !  The  Indicator  is  just  to  all,  and  we 
have  ascertained,  not  without  some  effort,  that 
'85  paid  for  the  watermelon  they  took  from 
you,  in  preference  to  spending  the  night  in  a 
latticed  room  at  the  lower  end  of  town. 

The  treasurer's  office,  being  located  in  the 
Institute  building,  will  probably  insure  the 
more  prompt  payment  of  bills.  It  generally 
took  weeks  to  arrive  at  the  proper  humor  to 
climb  up  to  the  H.  L.  and  I.  Co.'s  office. 

The  men  who  voted  Nov.  4  had  no  difficulty 
whatever.  The  **  bluffing  "  programme  of  the 
Democrats  was  ably  carried  out  by  themselves, 
but  it  did  not  hinder  some  twenty  or  thirty  of 
the  students,  Republicans  and  Democrats,  from 
voting. 

Some  of  the  classes  still  exhibit  that  spirit 
of  recklessness  for  the  feelings  of  others,  which 
was  supposed  to  have  been  left  behind  in  the 
Prep.-ery.  The  Sophomores  make  enough 
noise  in  the  halls  of  the  Institute  to  cause  even 
Preps,  to  blush  with  shame. 

The  foot  ball  suits  this  year  are  more  ser- 
viceable than  the  fancy  uniform  bought  last 
year  ;  and,  right  here,  we  don't  understand 
why  the  Athletic  Association  are  so  reckless 
with  the  clothes  belonging  to  the  teams.  We  see 
men  playing  foot  ball  in  last  year's  base  ball 
suits.     Is  this  right  ? 

Through  the  kindness  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements  of  Columbia  College,  who  pre- 
sented us  with  tickets,  about  forty  of  the 
students  went  to  the  Blaine  meeting  at  the 
Academy,  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Col- 
umbia Republicans.  The  speakers  were  all 
prominent  men,  the  meeting  being  a  highly  in- 
teresting one. 

An  individual  writes  to  Prof.  Morton  to 
know  if  he  cannot  borrow  "those  lanterns" 
the  students  used  for  a  Democratic  parade  ? 
Well,  now,  the  man  is  entirely  too  backward 
and  retiring.  Why  not  ask  for  the  fellows, 
too;  probably  they  are  better  looking  than 
his  own  crowd.  Political  license,  some  say  ; 
we  say  political  cheek. 

The  game  at  Princeton  was  not  as  satisfac- 
tory as  our  games  away  from  home  generally 
are.  The  score  was  56  to  o  in  favor  of  Prince- 
ton. The  Princeton  team  played  hard  to  win 
22  of  the  56  points,  and.  the  referee,  a  Prince- 


124 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


ton  man,  to  be  sure,  for  they  were  not  going 
to  run  the  risk  of  another  small  score  going  to 
Yale,  supplied  the  remainder,  and  then  looked 
dissatisfied  to  think  he  hadn't  done  better. 

Translated  from  the  German,  as  a  specimen 
of  the  kind  of  jokes  they  like  in  the  Father- 
land : 

Little  Fritz  :  **  O,  pap,  may  I  for  me  not 
from  thy  beard  a  pair  of  locks  off  cut  ?  " 

Father:  "What  wilt  thou  therewith  my 
child  ? " 

Little  Fritz  :  "  My  rabbit  mend  from  whom 
has  the  Emma  the  tail  out  snatched." 

'88  deserve  a  great  deal  of  praise  for  the 
interest  that  has  been  shown  for  foot  ball  in 
their  class.  At  the  practice  games  at  the 
grounds  there  have  been  as  many  Fresh- 
men as  any  other  class  playing  against  the 
team,  and  all  doing  well.  Neither  '86  nor  '87 
did  as  well  in  their  Freshmen  year,  and  if  the 
lower  class  this  year  will  only  work  on,  the 
prospects  for  next  year's  college  team  will  be 
brighter. 

A  young  man,  apparently  a  stranger,  asks  a . 
Freshman,  at  work  in  the  drawing  room,  if  a 
certain  professor  is  in  the  building.  Fresh- 
man says,  "  he  doesn't  know,  but  can  tell  him 
where  his  office  is,"  and  just  commences  to 
tell  him  how  many  flights  of  stairs  to  descend, 
where  to  turn  and  where  not  to  turn,  besides 
expatiating  upon  the  subject  of  the  intricacies 
of  the  building  in  general,  when  he  is  inter- 
rupted with  :  Oh,  never  mind  all  that ;  I 
graduated  here  in  '79." 

Maury,  '84,  has  left  Prof.  Thurston  and  in- 
tends going  to  Texas,  where  he  expects  to  en- 
gage in  copper  mining.  Gen.  McClellan  is 
largely  interested  in  the  project,  and  through 
him  Maury  has  been  able  to  secure  a  very  good 
position.  His  outfit  when  he  left  Hoboken 
consisted  chiefly  of  a  Winchester  repeater  and 
a  couple  of  seven  shooters  ;  whether  he  expects 
to  mine  with  these  instruments  or  not  we  are 
unable  to  say,  only  we  hope  he  will  strike  a 
rich  vein,  no  matter  whether  with  repeater  or 
pick. 

Those  who  growl  about  the  results  in  foot 
ball  are  generally  fellows  who  are  not  able  to 
play,  and  are  therefore  not  capable  of  judg- 
ing fairly.  It  is  a  difficult  thing  to  arrange 
a  team  and  so  manage  your  own  duties  at  the 
Institute  as  not  to  fall  behind  in  your  work. 


If  the  growlers  would  exercise  their  self  con- 
scious ability  to  run  a  foot  ball  team  success- 
fully in  climbing  up  on  a  box  and  ventilating 
themselves  as  to  their  method  of  running  an 
eleven,  it  undoubtedly  v/ould  be  more  to  the 
purpose.  Help  the  teams !  Don't  hinder 
them ! 

The  Republican  Club  of  the  Institute  turned 
out  for  the  last  time  in  the  campaign  in  the 
large  parade  in  New  York,  Oct.  31.  Through 
the  kindness  of  Mr.  Edison  the  club  held 
fourth  position  in  the  line.  The  arrangements 
were  that  the  club  should  march  with  Mr. 
Edison's  command  ;  but  when  they  reached 
New  York,  it  was  only  to  find  that  the  insur- 
ance men  had  crowded  everything  else  out  of 
Edison's  lines.  The  storage  batteries  which 
the  club  proposed  to  carry  could  not  be  used, 
the  necessary  shaking  of  the  cells  in  marching 
rendering  the  scheme  impracticable.  Although 
without  any  lights,  the  fellows  did  well  enough 
to  occasion  considerable  applause.  The  idea 
of  carrying  hammers  was  a  good  one,  and 
made  an  attractive  novelty.  After  passing  Mr. 
Blaine,  who  gracefully  acknowledged  the 
head  splitting  yells  fired  at  him,  the  club  took 
up  a  position  along  Fifth  Avenue  and  cheered 
one  continuous  cheer  until  after  twelve  o'clock. 
There  were  ninety  men  in  line,  making  five 
companies,  with  the  following  officers  :  Major 
B.  T.  Hart,  '87;  aides,  C.  J.  Field,  *^(i\  C.  R. 
Collins,  '86  ;  Captains,  E.  Munkwitz,  '85;  W. 
A.  Adriance,  '85;  W.  R.  King,  'U\  C.  A. 
Healey,  Zd. 


4-^  »  » 


flSF^UElIGS. 


WESLEY  AN  VS.  STEVENS — OCT.  25,  AT  MIDDLE- 

TOWN,  CONN. 

Besides  the  disadvantage  of  playing  on 
strange  grounds — grounds  so  peculiar  that  a 
thorough  acquaintance  with  them  was  almost 
a  necessity — our  team  was  weakened  by  the 
absence  of  Campbell:  Cotiart,  Brownell,  Hart, 
Dil worth,  McCoy,  Burhorn  and  Greenebaum 
playing  in  the  rush  line  ;  Munkwitz,  quarter 
back  ;  Baldwin  and  Kletzsch,  half  backs,  and 
Adriance,"full  back.  Wesleyan's  players  were: 
Rushers,  Thompson,  Hamlin,  Blaine,  Suther- 
land, Pike,  Hawkins  and  Wilcox  ;  Q.  B.,  Up- 
ham  ;  H.  B.,  Saxe  and  Judd  ;  F.  B.,  Scott. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


125 


The  toss  was  won  by  Wesleyan,  and  Stevens 
opened  the  game  at  3.15.  Superior  kicking 
and  good  work  by  the  rushers  carried  the  play 
past  Stevens*  25  yard  line,  where  the  ground 
was  hotly  contested  for  several  minutes.  Good 
runs  by  Baldwin  and  Kletzsch  took  the  ball 
again  to  the  centre  of  the  field,  and  shortly 
afterward  Saxe,  by  a  long  punt,  sent  it  nearly 
to  Stevens'  goal  line,  where  Kletzsch  caught 
it,  but  was  tackled  and  lost  the  ball.  Wesleyan 
improved  the  opportunity  and  made  a  touch 
down,  but  did  not  succeed  in  kicking  a  goal. 
On  being  kicked  from  the  25  yard  line,  the 
ball  was  stopped,  and  in  the  next  scrimmage 
Stevens  was  forced  to  touch  down  for  safety. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  half,  Wesleyan 
was  put  on  the  defensive,  Baldwin  and  Kletzsch 
carrying  the  ball  twice  nearly  to  their  goal 
line,  where  trials  for  goal  were  unsuccessfully 
made. 

In  the  second  half  the  play  was  quite  close, 
most  of  the  time  the  ball  being  near  the  centre 
of  the  field.  Once,  when  the  play  was  a  little 
in  Wesleyan *s  favor,  some  good  passing  and  a 
quick,  long  kick  increased  her  score  by  a 
goal  from  the  field,  making  it  11  points  to 
Stevens'  o. 
Wesleyan  played  a  much  harder  game  than 

Stevens  and  was  also  superior  in  weight.     A 

noticeable  feature  of  the  game  was  the  punting 

of  Saxe. 
Umpire   for   Wesleyan,    Mr.    Beattys ;    for 

Stevens,  Mr.  Schultz.      Referee,  Mr.  Cutler, 

of  Yale. 

PRINCETON    V5,    STEVENS — NOVEMBER    I,    AT 

PRINCETON. 

Princeton — Rushers:  De  Camp,  Wannama- 
ker,  Harris,  Adams,  Bird,  Irvine  and  H.  Hodge; 
Q.  B.,  R.  Hodge  ;  H.  B.,  Lamar  and  Baker  ; 
F.  B,  Toler. 

Stevens — Rushers  :  Cotiart,  Kletzsch,  Glas- 
gow, Dilworth,  Hart,  Burhorn  and  Greene- 
baum ;  Q.  B.,  Munkwitz  ;  H.  B.,  Baldwin  and 
Campbell ;  F.  B.,  Adriance.  Umpire  for 
Princeton,  Mr.  Conners  ;  for  Stevens,  Mr. 
Rice.    Referee,  Mr.  Moffatt,  of  Princeton. 

Stevens*  players  became  so  discouraged 
shortly  after  the  beginning  of  the  game  by  the 
decisions  of  the  referee,  that  they  moved  about 
as  fast  as  they  had  to  and  no  faster.  Both 
Baker  and  Latmar  made  several  good  runs, 
Princeton  scoring  four  goals  and  one  touch 
down  in  each  half,  making  a  total  of  56  points 
to  Stevens*  o. 

The  men  who  can  impartially  referee  a  game 
of  foot  ball  between  their  own  and  some  other 


college  are  very  few,  and  this  case  was  not  an 
exception,  as  the  referee  ably  seconded  Prince- 
ton's umpire.  He  had  a  way  of  using  his 
cane  with  considerable  vigor,  tapping  Stevens' 
rushers  on  the  back  as  a  means  of  impressing 
upon  their  minds  some  decision,  warning 
or  remark.  When,  after  showing  more  than 
ordinary  patience,  one  of  Stevens'  rushers  re- 
monstrated, he  was  told,  "  Shut  your  mouth  ; 
I  am  managing  this  game." 

On  another  occasion,  the  referee  must  have 
thought  he  was  playing  on  the  Princeton  team 
as  of  old,  for  he  went  into  the  rush  line  and 
pushed  a  Stevens  man  "on  side." 

As  referee,  Mr.  Moffat  is  undoubtedly  of 
more  value  to  Princeton's  team  than  he  ever 
was  as  a  player. 

RUTGERS    vs.    STEVENS — NOV.   4,    1 884,    AT 

NEWARK. 

When  time  was  called  a  light  rain  was  fall- 
ing, and  after  fifteen  minutes'  play  the  ground, 
the  ball  and  the  players  were  so  wet  that  the 
referee  stopped  the  play,  and  decided  the 
game  as  drawn. 

Both  sides,  however,  had  succeeded  in  scor- 
ing. A  run  of  more  than  half  the  length  of  the 
grounds  and  a  good  kick  yielded  Stevens  a 
goal  from  the  field,  and  one  of  about  25  yards 
by  Patterson  gave  Rutgers  a  touch  down, 
from  which,  however,  the  trial  for  goal  failed. 

ADELPHI  ACADEMY  V5,  STEVENS — NOV.  6,  1 884, 

AT    HOBOKEN. 

The  visitors,  although  playing  with  consid- 
erable pluck,  were  rather  light,  and  were 
outplayed  in  two  twenty  minute  innings,  58 
to  o. 

UNIVERSITY    OF    PENNSYLVANIA  VS.    STEVENS — 
NOV.  8,  1884,  AT  PHILADELPHIA. 

Pennsylvania's  players  were  : 

Rushers :    Smith,   Beck,    Mitchell,    Tunis, 
Houston,  Thompson  and  Bell. 
Quarter  Back  :  Lindsey. 
Half  Backs  :  Moffley  and  Thayer. 
Full  Back:  Noble. 

Stevens — Rushers  :  Greenebaum,  Burhorn, 
McCoy,  Dilworth,  Hart,  Glasgow  and  Cotiart. 

Quarter  Back  :  Munkwitz. 

Half  Backs  :  Baldwin  and  Campbell. 

Full  Back  :  Adriance. 

Umpire  for  Stevens  :  Mr.  A.  P.  Kletzsch. 

Referee :  Mr.  Remak,  of  University  of 
Pennsylvania. 


126 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


The  Pennsylvania  rushers  did  very  good 
work,  getting  down  on  the  ball  very  well 
when  it  was  kicked  by  their  half  backs.  Stevens* 
play  from  beginning  to  end  was  weak  and  very 
loose,  errors  of  all  kinds  being  numerous. 
Pennsylvania  kicked  the  ball  off,  and  their 
rushers  prevented  Baldwin  from  returning  it. 
A  wild  throw  took  the  ball  back  of  Stevens 
goal  line,  where  Adriance  was  forced  to  touch 
down  for  safety.  Pennsylvania  made  four 
touch  downs  during  the  first  half,  from  only 
one  of  which  was  a  goal  kicked.  In  the  second 
half  a  goal  and  a  touch  down  were  added  to 
her  score,  leaving  it  2  goals  and  4  touch 
downs  to  I  safety  for  Stevens ;  or,  in  points. 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  30;  Stevens,  o. 

On  the  loth  inst.,  the  Class  of  '87  defeated 
*86,  with  a  score  of  '87,  20  ;  '86,  o. 

Stevens,  *88,  played  C.  C,  N.  Y.,  '88,  on  the 
Central  Park  grounds.  New  York,  on  Novem- 
ber II,  and  won.  Stevens,  *88,  8,  to  C.  C,  N. 
Y.,  '88,  o. 


^■^  »» 


PERSe^AUS. 


•76. 

Adam  Riesenberger  has  been  appointed 
Treasurer  of  Stevens  Institute,  his  office  being 
the  room  opposite  the  President's,  in  the  In- 
stitute building. 

Alfred  R.  Wolff  is  associate  editor  of  the 
American  Engineer^  published  at  Chicago,  111. 

'82. 

HosEA  Webster,  with  the  Worthington 
Pump  Co.,  is  now  in  charge  of  the  Chicago 
offices  of  that  company. 

•83- 

E.  DuQUE  Estrada,  having  returned  from 
Cuba,  is  at  present  with  Prof.  Thurston. 

Malcom  McNauohton  is  at  his  home  in 
Mumford,  N.  Y. 

F.  K.  Irwin  is  with  the  Wisconsin  Central 
R.R.,  experimenting  with  improved  air  brakes. 

'84. 

Harvey  Mitchell  is  instructor  of  shop 
work  in  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York. 


G.  M.  Sinclair  is  with  the  Midvale  Steel 
Works,  West  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  deducing  laws 
for  the  different  tools  by  which  the  maximum 
amount  of  work  can  be  obtained  in  the  least 
time. 

C.  L.  Gately  is  general  superintendent  of 
the  Patent  Cane  Umbrella  Works,  at  New 
London,  Conn. 

Edward  B.  Renwick  is  at  the  Brooks 
Locomotive  Works,  Dunkirk,  N.  Y. 

Charles  W.  Thomas  has  a  position  as  as- 
sistant superintendent  of  the  Dixon  Lead 
Pencil  Works,  Jersey  City. 

Frank  Van  Vleck  is  pursuing  his  studies 
at  Johns  Hopkins  University. 

D.  H.  Maury  is  at  Gen.  McClellan's  cop- 
per mine  in  Northwestern  Texas. 

William  L.  Lyall  is  ill,  and  has  with- 
drawn from  Hanover  University  for  a  time. 

L.  D.  Carroll  is  with  the  New  Orleans 
Exposition,  where  he  will  remain  until  it 
closes. 


BXGSA^SBS. 


As  our  first  number  of  this  year  went  to 
press  very  few  of  our  college  exchanges  had 
arrived,  probably  owing  to  the  difference  in 
time  at  which  the  various  colleges  open.  How- 
ever, they  have  all  come  to  hand  now,  as  well 
as  our  valuable  professional  exchanges,  and 
we  shall  endeavor  to  give  a  synopsis  each 
month  of  the  most  important  subjects  dis- 
cussed in  the  current  journals  of  the  day. 
The  exchange  department  of  The  Indicator 
has  had  a  most  phenomenal  growth.  The 
present  editor,  looking  back  over  the  files, 
finds  that  as  late  as  last  May  we  counted  about 
ten  college  journals,  and  to-day  such  papers 
as  The  American  Engineer ^  Van  NostrancT s 
Engineering  Magazine^  The  Electrician  and 
Electrical  Engineer^  American  Machinist^ 
and  many  others  grace  the  files  in  our  office, 
together  with  a  vast  stock  of  college  monthlies 
and  bimonthlies.  It  will  be  the  aim  of  this 
column  to  direct  the  attention  of  its  readers  to 
such  articles  on  engineering  and  electricity 
which  appear  in  these  magazines  as  will  be  of 
the  most  interesting  and  important  character. 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


127 


In  Tke  American  Engineer,  for  several  weeks 
pasi,  has  appeared  a  continued  address,  read 
Iwfore  the  British    Association    at    Montreal, 
on  the  "  Forth  Bridge,"  by  B.  Baker.       The 
site  of  this  bridge  is  between  South  Queens- 
ferry    and    North    Quecnsferry,   on    opposite 
sides   of    the    Firth    of    Forth,    twelve    miles 
above  Edinburgh,  and  will  be  the  largest  girder 
bridge  yet  built,  when  completed.     The  Firth 
at  this  point  is  about  a  mile  wide,  the  inter- 
mediate points  of  support  for  the  bridge  being 
granite  piers  and  a  natural  rock  island  that 
esists  at  about  midway    between  the  shores. 
The  piers  are  about  completed  now,  and  the 
steel  portions  of  the  structure  have  been  in 
process  of  construction  for  some  time  past,  at 
the  works  near  by,  so  the  completion  of  the 
enterprise  will  be  rapid.     The  bridge  is  of  the 
cantilever  type,  the  two  longest  spans  of  which 
will  be  1,700  feet  each,  being  100  feet  greater 
ihm  the  distance  between   the  piers  of  the 
Brooklyn  Bridge.     The  completion  of  a  steel 
girder  bridge  of  this  magnitude  will  be  looked 
foniard  to  as  a  grand  triumph  in  engineering. 
The  address  by  Mr.  B.  Baker  is  well  worth 
looking  up    and    reading.     The    number    for 
Oct.  34  gives  a  sketqh  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Chas. 
Brash,  the  electrician,  as  "The  Lesson  of  the 
Time."  It  shows  the  triumph  of  a  well  trained 
sciemific  man,  highly  skilled  in  shop  practice. 
The  number  for  Oct,  31  contains  a  rather 
gloomy  account  of  the  outlook  for  the  Panama 
Cinal,  including  some  discouraging  testimony 
by  Commodore  Schufeldt,  U.  S.  N.,  who  has 
hielv  returned    from  the  isthmus.     He   esti- 
miies  that  (400,000,000  will  be  necessary  to 
compjeie  it,  and  he  thinks  it  will  be  impossi- 
bieioraise  sufficient  funds.    Capt.  Pim,  R.  N., 
«ho  has  also  just  returned  to  New  York  from 
PaDama,  slates  the  death  rate  there  from  yel- 
low fever  at    109    per    1,000.     4,000    of   the 
wmpany's  men  have  already  died,  and  enor- 
"logs  hospitals  accommodate  the  patients. 

In  Van  Nostraad's  Magasine  for  November 
welinij  the  essence  of  Messrs.  Gantt  and  Mau- 
ry's thesis  written  last  year  on  "  The  Efficiency 
(^Fluids  in  Vapor  Engines."  The  fluidscon- 
sideied  are  water,  alcohol,  ether,  carbon  di- 
snlphide  and  chloroform.  The  subject  is 
(i:vided  into  five  cases,  each  case  having  a 
different  set  of  conditions  under  which  the 
KlioB  of  the  fluids  are  considered.  The  final 
conclusion  reached  is  that  "All  the  apparent 
advantages  of  the  non-aqueous  vapors  may  be 
fained  in  the  steam  engine  by  an  increase  of 
initial  pressure,  and  as  the  tendency  of  mod- 


ern practice  is  in  that  direction,  it  seems  cer- 
tain that  none  of  the  non-aqueous  vapors  will 
ever  sueeess/ully  compete  with  steam."  They 
show  a  gain  of  3  per  cent,  efficiency  in  the 
case  of  chloroform,  using  a  cylinder  three- 
fourths  the  volume  of  that  of  steam,  but  its 
high  cost  excludes  it  as  a  comperitor. 

The  Eiectrkian  and  Electrical  Engineer  con- 
tains articles  of  interest  to  that  profession, 
among  which  are  "The  Brooks  Underground 
Telegraph  System,"  "  Electric  Lighthouse 
Experiments  in  England,"  and  "Progress  of 
Electric  Railroad  Signalling  in  the  United 
States." 

We  are  pleased  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  a  new  exchange,  The  Haverfordian. 
It  is  a  neat,  iwenty-four  page  paper,  and  one 
of  the  brightest  college  journals  we  have  seen. 
After  the  usual  editorials  pertaining  to  affairs 
of  the  college,  and  which  show  that  the  edi- 
tors are  decidedly  literary  in  their  tastes, 
several  pages  are  taken  up  with  an  interesting 
article  entitled  "On  and  Off  the  Lancaster 
Turnpike,"  The  article  is  well  written,  and  the 
board  of  editors  should  be  proud  of  having 
one  of  their  number  show  such  pleasing  de- 
scriptive talent.  We  understand  the  author 
of  it  is  preparing  for  a  literary  profession,  and 
we  venture  to  predict  for  him  a  brilliant  suc- 
cess. The  local  column  is  sparkling  and 
witty.  ,\  notable  feature  is  the  illustrations, 
which  would  dojustice  to  the  highest  class  of 
magazines.  Haverford,  we  congratulate  you 
upon  having  such  a  worthy  journal. 

Just  before  going  to  pres.s  we  received  The 
American  Engineer  for  November  7.  We 
would  call  the  attention  of  all  to  a  most  sub- 
stantial article  by  Prof.  J.  E.  Denton  on  the 
fundamental  questions  as  to  energy  of  steam. 
This  is  a  subject  that  all  should  familiarize 
themselves  with,  and  the  main  points  in  this 
article  are  put  in  the  professor's  terse  and 
comprehensive  style. 


IFBB  SeUUESB  WSRUS. 


Yale. — Theodore  Thomas  has  invited  the 

Yale  and  .\mherst  glee  clubs  to  give  a  series 
of  joint  concerts   in  the    large    cities  of   the 

West. Those  who  love  order  and  discipline 

are  in  agony  over  the  attempt  which  the  polit- 
ical clubs  made  at  military  tactics. The 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Senior  debating  society  has  decided  that  pri- 
vate morals  have  no  place  in  the  political 
canvass. The    yearly    examinations    have 

given  place  to  semi-yearly  ones. 

Princeton. — The  foot  ball  learn  is  not  so 
strong  as  we  were  led  to  believe  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  season. CymnascicR  ace  compul- 
sory in  the  Freshman  and  Sophomore  classes. 

Rutgers. — Every  week  a  part  of  one  of  the 
Senior's  recitations  with  Prof.  Gates  is  de- 
voted to  general  discussion.  The  class  is 
divided  into  three  committees,  with  a  chair- 
man at  the  head  of  each.  It  is  the  duty  of 
the  members  of  one  section  to  ascertain  the 
principal  facts  of  interest  in  current  literature  ; 
a  second  furnish  reports  of  the  most  impor- 
tant scientific  discoveries,  while  the  third  post 
themselves  in  regard  to  the  important  events 
transpiring  in  the  political  world. —  Tar- 
gum. Prof.  Hasbrouck  has  left  the  college 

and  gone  to  the  Adelphi  Academy,  Brooklyn. 

AuHERST. — Arrangements  have  been  made 
by  the  college  authorities  by  which  the 
weather  reports  of  the  Washington  Signal 
Bureau  will  be  sent  to  Amherst  each  day. 

In  General. — The  recent  boat  race  be- 
tween the  Freshmen  and  Sophomores  of 
Columbia  resulted  in  a  victory  for  the  Sophs. 

Of  two  hundred   and  sixty  students   at 

Johns  Hopkins  University,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  are  college  graduates  pursuing  post  grad- 
uate   courses.  ('aise,    of    VVilhams,    has 

broken  the  ball  throwing  record  by  a  throw  of 

373  feet. The  University  of  Virginia  is  to 

have  a  new  chapel,  costing  Jio,ooo. The 

laboratories  of  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology  have  been  greatly  enlarged  dur- 
ing the  past  summer. The  Adelphi  Acad- 
emy has  now  a  professor  of  gymnastics. 

On  account  of  the  serious  results  attending 
the  late  cane  rush  at  Cornell,  the  officers  of 
the  classes  have  been  summoned  before  the 

Faculty. Two  of  the  editors  at  Dartmouth 

have  been  suspended  for  a  too  free  expression 
of  their  views. A  new  department,  of  en- 
gineering, has  been  established  at  Michigan 
University. 


it.  Pal  replied  :  "  Faith,  and  I  obeyed  ord 
If  the  man  had  fallen  off  the 
broken  his  neck,  1   should  i 
ported  it." — Ex. 


An  Irish  soldier  went  to  his  station  with  the 
order  to  report  anything  remarkable  that 
should  happen  during  the  night.  A  drunken 
fellow  fell  of[  the  wall  and  broke  his  neck,  and 
no  report  was  made.     When  questioned  about 


GBIPPIfiSS. 


Dr.    Keems   says :     "  Kissing    is    ; 
American  habit."     Let  us  remember  this,  d 
brethren,  and  ever  liberally  patronize   home 
industry." — Sibyl. 

Smart  Youth — "Jim,  do  you  know  why 
white  sheep  eat  more  than  black  sheep  ?" 

Scientific  Companion — "  No ;  do  they  ?  ' 

S.  v.— "Yes;  it's  a  fact." 

S.  C.^"WeIl,  perhaps  the  chemical  con- 
stituents of  white  wool  require — " 

S.  Y. — "  Oh,  nonsense !  they  eat  more  be- 
cause there  are  more  of  'em." — Tech. 

A  lecture  was  delivered  at  Cornell  last  year 
on  "  New  Jersey  ;  or,  the  Mysteries  ol  an 
Unknown  Land."  The  lecturer  being  a 
graduate  of  that  institution. — Sibyl. 

It  is  an  old  story,  but  perhaps  will  beat 
repetition  for  the  present  generation  :  A 
mother  sent  her  promising  boy  out  to  saw  up 
some  old  logs  that  had  once  been  used  on  the 
railroad.  After  some  time  the  mother,  upon 
going  out,  found  her  boy  sitting  in  a  rather 
dejected  mood,  and  she  said  :  "  Why,  what's 
the  matter,  my  son?"  The  boy  replied: 
"  Mother,  I  find  it  hard,  so  hard  to  sever  old 
ties."  — Norlhtveitern, 

Thomas  Hood,  driving  in  the  country  one 
day,  observed  a  notice  beside  the  fence  ;  "  Be- 
ware the  dog."  There  not  being  any  signs  of 
a  dog,  Hood  wrote  on  the  board  ;  "  Ware  be 
the  dog  ?" 
1   want   to  be  a  cojichman,  and  with   the  coacbmen 

Brass  buUons  f.n  my  livery  nni!  whipslock  in  my  hand  ; 
To  sit  upon  a  carringe  box — this  is  my  brighlesl  hope — 
And   with   the  pretty  daugUtet  plan  the  best   ■ 


Vol. 


3K  J>ecemlse|*,  1884.  m 


^ 


-ConSE/Vig.- 


||.,6ommunicaCion*, 

9ora«C  of   Sson,     ... 
Qoma   3ccr<*   afiouC  CRa   ■' Jfpcdfin^   M061" 

SsWbenafAj 
c»c8an0a*,    - 


sage 

I 


*  /kev**!}^  iD^tibit*  of  SMiznolofy. 


THE   STEVENS  tNDrCATOR, 

THE 

Stevens  Institute  of  Technology, 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOUNDED   BY   THE  1.ATB  35DWIN    A.  STEVENS, 

— .AT 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 

HEHRV  MOarON,  Ph.  D PtMWtat 

ALFRED  M.  UAVER,  Plu  D^  .  P»L  Plijr»Ja 

HOOERT  H,  THURSTON,  A-  W.,  C.  E,  Prpf.  Mrdi.  Enginwiriin 

DE  VOUSON  WOOD.  C.  B..  .  Prof.  Mklfa.  «n«l  Mechanica 

C,  W.  McCORD.  A.  M.,      .  .  Frol.  Meeh.  Dr«wlii« 

ALBERT  R.  LEEDS,  Pb.  O ,  .  .  .    Ptof.  Cbeuilrtrr 

CHARLES  F.  KROEH,  A.  M..     .  ,  Ptof.  L»aK<»C«> 

REV.  EDWARD  WALL.  A- M-. Prof.  BeJto -let ttw 

J.  E.  DENTON.  M.  E,       .                                           PrnL  aS  EvperitDenUl  Mutunlu  and  5)iop«niric 
A.  mESENSERGER.  M.  E., Ia>UuctM  ta  Mtch.  Dnwlnc 

C.  A.   flAHi^    Ai--.  P.oe'rU    S.  N.,  Prof,  pf  Manor  EOBlawriaei'tii  lr»tn.r1t.r  m  MathfnjBtiCl 

W.  t;  ■      ■  .         .         .         ■       ■  !--y 

■  i«M  Ictliviie  U  irf  ftiur  Jcth  <lunJion.  nod  cxiTcif  .. 
ofn  II;  BCInt  »•  wnrVifar^  ^IterLlvJ  «l|t<  luud kst  III  i  <' 

»li[-  ■'    ■  .!■,  anul|  nil'l  wi'li  ';.r  nn.'.:   (Jalnia^*  llf  ItM:rucliniI>>,  n     .      ,  ■  ^ 

'Of  llMi>m;-!i  iitil  ji.^c'Knl  knal>](il|[c  i       '  '       .nt  p«tli:ulln  sddiVM  llif  I',-<-_.nli'r.i 

K.  MOTITON.  Hoboli-  t  i 

STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 

THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 
— oj-  rn*. — 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

RIVER  STREET,  bst.  Bih  and  eth.  HOBOKEN.  N.  J.. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER  17,  1884. 

ZtvainvJOM  tor  Admlaolon  oa  th«  ISth  aaA  16th  of  Sap^mbar- 

iNSTHUCTlON  GIVEN  IN  THE  ANCIENT  AMD  MODERN  LANGUAGES;  IN  FREE- 
HAND AND  MECHANICAL  DRAWING, 

JUNIOR   DEPARTMENT,      ■       ■       ■        .      ■OO.OO  PER  ANNUM. 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT,      ■       ■       ■        -    SISO.OO   PER  ANNUM. 

rbiwa  t.i-m.  ludladw  kU  the  .MidliM. 

f^r  Cfit&lOKUM  Bppiy  ts  tbs  Ltbrarlsn  zt  Sbsvaoa  Icstl'.atc. 


TSfi 


^Uevefi^  JpidiQaIsp'. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  DECEMBER,  1884. 


No.  9. 


n7>U*UaD  ON  TUI 

■k  SF   UCH   MONTH,   DURIIIQ   THE  COLLEGE   YEIR, 
BY  THE  STUDENTS   OF 

_^Vbd^  Injffeitate  of  Tec^oologj. 

fibCtOTB, 

.     C.  R.   COLLINS,  '8S. 
■  Ekto*.  -    B.  p.   MOWTON,  '». 

■  Bocnw,      ....     HENRY  ABBEY,  'Bj 

Kocxl  SBitors. 

NORTH  Hcl-KAN.  'Si. 
.  SMITH,  ->7.  WALTER  S.  DIX,     B? 

ttUBBRT  S.  WYMKOOP.  'BS. 

M  i-«.N  ft  Vtt,  in  IMmmb*.     >insl*  Copir,  20  Cenli. 


i^T/." 


I  i<  ebtaintd  at  Luthin 


^wrUn't  fmlt  namt,<uvieU  at  kit  nou  db  flume, 
-.  '~Hp'  lib  mrtiele,  ai  aimratue  cf  food  /ailh 
r;  haitmUnelttpMtlhktd,  unkti  diiired. 
.  eamlrihtlUiu,  jiiiserifiliaiis,  oJvtrliitminls 
rreammKHuatioHi  bfmail.  should  bt  addrtssed 
K  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Imliluli,  Hoiokin, 


tmabml  1 


I884  draws  to  a  close  and  the  Chri&t- 

i  holidays  loom  up  before  us,  it  is 

I  to  look  back  and  consider  for  a 

:n[s,  and  then  plunge  into  our  race 

1  Time  again,  and  continue  with  the  same 

.  resolutions  that  we  made  at  the  same 

jE  lut  year.     Though,  for  some  reason,  we 

:_liot  remembered,  or  at  least  have   not 

Kljbeiii  this  year,  so  nearly  finished,  yet  we 

liat  we  have  cause  to  believe  that  we 

B  more  successful  in  our  endeavors  the 

BM  ;  bat  who  knows  ? 

V  are  we  going  to  spend  this  vacation  ? 

if  n%  giMDg  home,  will  get  solid  enjoy- 


ment out  of  those  great  sports  furnished  by 
nature,  skating  and  sleighing.  For  some,  this 
pleasure  will  be  enhanced  by  the  presence  of 
that  some  one  from  whom  frequent  daintily 
addressed  letters  arc  seen  in  our  letter  rack. 
Others,  more  "practical"  or,  rather,  less  ap- 
preciative, will  find  plenty  of  enjoyment  alone 
or  with  chance  companions.  However,  each 
one,  according  to  his  tastes,  and,  in  whatever 
way  he  may  spend  the  time,  will  feel  that 
we  have  deserved  all  thi..  luxurious  feeling  of 
rest  which  we  can  enjoy  to  our  satisfaction  for 
two  weeks  at  least  ;  first,  because  we  have 
finished  a  hard  term's  work  and  have  passed 
creditably  through  all  our  examinations,  with- 
out any  dread  "  conditions  "  dragging  at  our 
heels  ;  second,  by  being  another  year  with 
our  professors  we  have  only  increased  the 
good  opinion  which  they  had  of  us  from  the 
first. 

Thus,  The  Indicator,  rejoicing  in  the 
same  good  fortune,  presents  its  compliments 
to  its  subscribers,  with  a  Merry  Christmas 
TO  All  ! 


WITH  this  number  of  The  Indicator 
closes  the  first  year  of  its  struggle  for 
existence. 

The  struggle  has  been  more  successful  than 
was  anticipated,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year 
The  Indicator  is  not  only  out  of  debt  but  has 
a  small  balance  remaining.  Financially,  the 
paper  has  succeeded  ;  but  as  to  its  filling  the 
ideas  of  every  one  as  to  what  a  college  paper 
should  be,  wc  cannot  say  ;  only  this,  that  if 
the  students  would  but  make  themselves  per- 
sonally interested,  as  they  ought  to  be,  in  the 
college  journal,  there  would  be  less  reason  for 
doubt.  The  year  has  been  full  of  experiences 
chief  among  them  the  fact  that  the  students 


i^o 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


will   not   contribute  as  they  ought  in  order 
to  make  the  paper  an  established  success. 

The  Indicator  knows  no  politics;  it  is  (as 
the  Constitution  reads)  "  published  by  the  stu- 
dents," and  welcomes  all  contributions  which 
will  be  of  interest  to  the  college  and  its  friends. 
We  hope  to  continue  our  friendly  intercourse 
with  other  colleges,  and  shall  soon  be  able 
to  report  a  full  list  of  exchanges.  Vassar  we 
still  have  to  negotiate  for,  and  we  hope  our 
efforts  will  not  be  unavailing. 

Having  passed  the  first  year  with  fair  suc- 
cess, we  shall  consider  our  paper  as  one  of  the 
fixtures  of  the  Institute,  and  will  be  more  crit- 
icising whenever  occasion  demands.  There 
are  many  subjects  that  The  Indicator 
has  still  to  discuss,  and  we  hope  with  effect ; 
so,  before  opening  fire,  we  would  suggest  that 
the  just  shall  continue  to  merit  the  fair  name 
of  the  just,  and  that  the  unjust  will  mend  his 
paths  and  make  them  straight,  for  if  The  In- 
dicator sees  a  weak  point,  and  the  subject 
needs  a  talking  over  for  the  good  of  the  In- 
stitute, we  will  open  the  conversation. 

The  year's  run  is  finished,  and  the  card  re- 
cently taken  shows  both  good  points  and 
weak  ones.  During  the  holidays  The  Indica- 
tor will  be  taken  apart  and  thoroughly 
cleaned  and  burnished.  The  chief  defect  in 
the  readings  indicates  that  a  change  of  fuel 
is  necessary,  and  as  we  reckon  fuel  by  dollars 
and  cents,  we  earnestly  recommend  that  each 
one  subscribes  one  dollar  and  a  half's  worth 
of  fuel  for  the  coming  year. 


« ^  » » 


IN  answer  to  an  appeal  from  the  "  Twilight 
Club,"  made  through  Prof.  Kroeh,  the 
patriotism  of  the  students  was  stirred  up,  and 
they  responded  with  a  subscription  of  one 
hundred  dollars  toward  the  pedestal  fund  for 
the  Bartholdi  Statue  of  Liberty.  Through  the 
efforts  of  Prof.  Kroeh,  a  stone  has  been  se- 
cured in  the  pedestal,  on  which  is  to  be  an 
inscription  of  the  Stevens  Institute  of  Tech- 
nology. This  stone,  in  addition,  is  to  be  on 
that  side  of  the  pedestal  facing  the  Institute, 


and,  though  Stevens  will  always  remain  cele- 
brated on  her  own  merits,  the  stone  will  stand 
in  the  greatest  statue  in  the  world  as  a  fitting 
place  for  a  memorial  of  the  first  technical 
school  in  the  country. 


TTTHE  Inter-Collegiate  Foot  Ball  Association 
X  can  make  rules  regarding  the  individual 
player's  conduct;  but  the  rules  will  fail  in  some 
cases,  and  then  the  question  of  honor  comes 
in. 

We  speak  of  the  unwarranted  backing  out 
of  an  engagement  of  one  team,  after  a  game 
had  been  definitely  arranged. 

We  have  noticed  that  we  are  not  the  only 
ones  who  have  suffered  from  this  evil,  but  have 
heard  complaints  from  other  colleges,  and 
strange  to  say,  all  are  against  the  same  team. 
Rutgers  has  long  been  establishing  the  reputa- 
tion of  "  play  when  we  have  a  strong  team, 
but  don't  make  engagements,  or  else  back  out 
when  we  have  reason  to  think  we  will  be 
beaten." 

Teams  outside  of  the  Association  have  no 
redress,  and  all  we  have  to  rely  on,  and  all,  pre- 
vious to  this  season,  that  was  necessary,  was  the 
honor  of  the  individual  teams. 

We  negotiated  with  Rutgers  for  two  games 
early  in  the  season,  but  no  dates  could  be 
settled  upon,  until  appearances  seemed  to 
point  to  the  fact  of  Stevens  team  being  weak, 
then  Rutgers  asked  for  a  game  and  fixed  Nov. 
22,  at  Hoboken,  as  the  date.  Believing  the 
game  would  be  a  close  one  and  interesting, 
the  Athletic  Association  advertised  exten- 
sively and  made  all  the  necessary  arrangements. 

In  the  meantime,  our  team  met  the  Gradu- 
ates and  defeated  them.  This  was  Tuesday. 
Well,  we  felt  encouraged,  and  had  no  doubt 
whatever  but  that  we  would  win  with  Rutgers^ 
and  as  the  game  was  to  be  played  the  following 
Saturday,  we  felt  sure  of  no  disappointment. 

Thursday  before  the  game  Rutgers  refused 
to  play,  and  we  immediately  supposed  the 
Times'  account  of  our  game  with  the  Graduates 
had  influenced  them,  and  a  committee  was 


THJB    STEVENS    tNDtCAtOR. 


15* 


sent  to  New  Brunswick.  But  even  this  reason- 
able excuse  they  did  not  make  for  backing  out, 
but  the  all  important  one  that  ''two  of  the 
team  expected  to  preach  on  Sunday,"  and 
could  not  risk  being  stiflf^ied  up. 

They  absolutely  refused  to  play,  and  left  us 
but  one  day  to  make  other  arrangements  for 
filling  a  Saturday  that  had  been  kept  open  for 
them  for  a  week.  We  could  do  nothing  on 
such  short  notice,  and  consequently  lost  one 
of  our  Saturdays. 

This  we  mildly  call  dishonorable;  and  if 
politeness  would  permit,  we  have  a  smaller 
word  that  will  fit  more  exactly. 

To  try  and  arrange  a  game  of  foot  ball  with 
Rutgers  is  a  waste  of  time,  paper,  ink  and 
postage  stamps. 


Gefflffly^iGA^Fie^s. 


To  the  Editors  of  The  Indicator: 

I  was  delighted  to  see  the  subject  of  our 
long  wished  for  and  much  needed  gymnasium 
brought  up  again  in  your  columns. 

I,  for  one,  believe  in  repetition  in  order  to 
gain  the  ear  of  every  one;  indeed,  it  seems  to 
me  that  it  would  be  a  good  plan  to  put  in  large 
letters  on  the  bulletin  board,  GYMNASIUM, 
and  leave  it  there  for  the  rest  of  the  year.  It 
vas  a  happy  thought  to  bring  into  conjunction 
^ith  the  first  all  important  matter,  the  Library, 
not  to  supply  the  old  one,  for  we  never  had 
one,  but  because  it  is  an  essential  part  of  a 
lugh  educational  institute  like  ours.  Having 
been  one  of  a  committee  who  have  been 
obliged  to  meet  where  they  could,  in  a  room 
in  the  basement,  for  instance,  since  the  loss  of 
our  reception  room,  I  heartily  indorse  such 
a  room  in  the  extension  you  propose.  May 
vesoon  have  it  in  our  possession! 

Student. 


To  the  Editors  of  The  Indicator: 

I  thought  your  suggestion  of  inserting  Polit- 
ical Economy  as  a  study  a  very  good  one. 
I  hardly  liked,  however,  the  idea  of  doing 
away  with  part  of  our  time  for  Literature, 
considering  the  subject,  with  a  good  text  book, 
very  valuable.  Now,  I  think  the  following 
would  be  a  good  plan: 


The  Freshman  class,  at  present,  have  their 
course  in  Belles- Let tres  arranged  as  follows: 
First  term.  Fowler's  English  Language;  second 
term.  Deductive  Logic;  third  term.  Inductive 
Logic.  My  suggestion  is  that  Logic  be  taken 
in  one  term,  and  Political  Economy  take  its 
place  the  third  term.  I  think  that  all  those 
who  have  passed  through  our  course  in  Logic 
will  agree  with  me  that  it  is  too  extended  for 
our  purposes,  and  that  it  is  not  so  beneficial  as 
to  merit  so  much  of  our  time;  a  term's  study 
of  the  subject  would  suffice.  A  better  plan, 
perhaps,  would  be  to  take  up  English  Litera- 
ture the  Freshman  year,  and  the  other  three 
the  next.  The  latter  do  not  necessarily  come 
before  the  former;  the  more  one  considers 
this,  the  more  apparent  it  becomes. 

Another  word  in  favor  of  Political  Economy: 
In  the  Eccentric  for  1878  the  following  ap- 
pears: In  speaking  of  the  "  History  of  Civili- 
zation," which  they  tlien  studied,  they  say, 
"  Now,  with  all  due  deference  to  the  judg- 
ment of  our  learned  Professor,  we  would  sug- 
gest that  the  substitution  of  *  Political  Econ- 
omy *  would  be  followed  by  good  results. 
The  former  subject  is  important,  we  admit, 
and  the  knowledge  of  it  we  here  obtain  is 
valuable;  but  how  much  more  consistent  it 
would  be  to  have  here,  in  Stevens  Institute, 
the  study  of  the  laws  of  exchange,  of  trade,  of 
commerce,  and  of  values!  Is  it  not  more  in 
the  direct  line  of  our  subject,  and  would  it  not 
be  more  important?  ♦  ♦  ♦  Let  us  have 
Political  Economy;  the  spirit  of  our  course 
demands  it." 

Let  this  last  sentence  be  re-echoed  in  1884! 

P. 


EDUCATIONAL    REFORMS   AND 
COLLEGE    STUDIES. 


[Alpha  Beta  Phi  Star  and  Crescent  for  May— Abridged.] 

(Conclndtd.) 

It  would  be  difficult,  I  apprehend,  even  for 
a  professor  of  Greek,  to  point  out  special  ad- 
vantages in  mental  gymnastics  derivable  from 
the  study  of  Greek,  that  may  not  be  also  de- 
rived from  an  equally  scientific  study  of  Ger- 
man; and  if  it  be  a  question  of  the  relative 
wealth  of  the  two  literatures,  or  of  their  utility 
in  the  activities  of  life,  comparison  becomes 
contrast.  There  are,  however,  but  few  re- 
formers in  education  who  would  discourage 
the  study  of  Latin. 


iji 


THE    STEVENS    IXDICATOIL 


td  riu/Aj  mart 

tcardb^  judd  tW  cukofe  of  natklj  diarKtrr, 
are  tlie  bi^beit  jrineveoMrms  of  cx41c^  traiB- 
Mif ;  jad  dbe  tea  vort  of  tl»e  f/rofeMor  is  ooi 
imtia4€mn%  to  recitatioDf^  boverer  vefl  coin- 
mmtiiA^  but  in  ^w^umn%  the  corioittf  of  the 
»l<t4ept»  and  %uySm%  their  tniretligitioftt. 

|»i(nictaoo  bf  mvrvtication  thoold  be  tbe 
key  fftote  of  untrtrmj  ItUr,  tbe  key  note  in  all 
itHtkutvjtH  wh0:rt  tbe  ftvdenu  arera|;e  above 
eiffbtem  or  tventy  yeart  of  afe> 

What  n»o«t  pef*on>  vonld  regard  as  an  on- 
wife  extension  of  thi*  Islxtty^  h^  recently  been 
inirod4i/;ed  at  Harvard.  The  »tudent»  are  not 
r<M\mrtd  Uj  \je  prc%ent  at  recitations  or  lec- 
ture*. Attendance  i*  voluntary^  and  the  ex- 
^minMumn  zrc  the  only  test  as  to  whether  the 
student  has  d^/ne  his  work.  Hut  even  this 
doul/tful  lil^erty  has  its  advantages^  and  the 
trend  of  ftitnm  %etm%  likely  to  lead  to  it  in 
the  highest  institutions.  How  much  time  is 
wasted  in  the  humdrum  of  the  recitation  room, 
where  the  student  who  knows  his  lesson  labor- 
iously pares  his  nails  while  he  listens  to  the 
blunderings  or  extem[x>rizings  of  dull  or 
careless  men!  Besides,  would  it  not  bean  ex- 
cellent spur  to  the  teai:her?  If  students  pre 
Ut  attend  his  t%tu:\%c%  he  must  make  it  worth 
while  that  they  do  so,  and  indisj^en sable  to  their 
|>a*sing  the  examinations. 

Reformers  in  <rduration  have  generally  con- 
demned the  tra/litional  method  of  language 
tea/:hing  by  grammar  and  lexicon.  They  claim 
that  it  is  unnatural,  laborious,  an  immense 
waste  of  time,  and  that  for  the  average  student 
it  docs  not  lead  Uf  KJght  reading. 

The  study  of  cvcrv  language  should  be 
cAtried  to  the  point  where  it  throws  open  the 
literature;  anything  short  of  this  should  be  re- 
garded as  failure,  and  all  work  and  methods  of 
work  should  be  adopted  with  reference  to  this 
specific:  result. 

Hut  by  the  methods  of  language  study  now 
employed  in  our  schools  and  colleges,  there  is 
not  enough  of  any  lanj^uage  read  to  make 
sight  readmg  an  accomplishment;  and  this,  not 
alone  because  the  time  given  to  it  is  too  limited, 
but  because  too  much  time  has  been  spent  on 
grammar  rules  and  details  of  trivial  impor- 
tance— on  philology  and  the  history  of  words. 
Our  colleges  attempt  to  make  philologists  and 
grammarians  before  they  have  made  linguists. 

The  natural  order  is  the  quickest  order.  It 
begins  with  words,  phrases.  It  first  masters 
vocabulary.     It  associates  names  with  objects 


€K 


\ 

of  srhk 

ncrer  be  Bsod. 

Ib  odfter  dtparoborrs  oi  ssdr  the  b 
is  from  tbe  ounucic  to  die  alKixact — in 
to  tbe  flcnenl;  bet  bere  the  s 


of  the  langna^  t»  tzi^^  before  tbe  ba 
itself.  So  one  wii^iikg  to  kzm  French 
begin  by  connittiBig  to  ^^Bkorr  a  roh 

rules  and  fomnlc 

Tbe  aim  of  every  teacher  of  languages  I 

be  si^t  reading  for  that  is  tbe  point  at 

the  language  becomes  ci  real  service;  a 

it  will  be  ^knitted  that  comparatiTely 

our  cc^ege  graduates  attain  to  it,  either 

ancient  or  modem  languages 

Emerson  said  that  he  did  iK>t  know  u 
sons  who  could   read  Greek  at  forty; 
would  be  interesting  to  inquire  wbethe 
is  one  person  in  this  assembly  who^  ann 
personal  acquaintances,  knows  ten  der 
who  can  read  the  Greek  Testaments  as 
an  average  child  of  eight  can  read  his  I 
Testament     And  when  we  recall  the  b 
of  years  and  laborious  teaching  spent 
classics,  it  suggests   some  vital  blunder 
methods  employed. 

The  advantages  of  a  system  of  max 
prizes  are  so  great,  that  few,  even  of  the  1 
institutions,  are  without  them.  Wlien 
are  based  on  examinations,  the  attendaj 
are  few  ;  but  it  has  been  questioned  wh 
system  of  marks  based  on  daily  reci 
from  a  text  book,  under  conditions  of 
for  reward,  tends  to  promote  broad  and 
some  scholarship  or  to  exalt  character. 

On  the  contrary,  it  is  said   that   such 
tern    discourages   independence  of  mir 
dampens   that   grand    curiosity    which 
lead  a  student  to  wide  and    original  re 
The  text  book  and  lecture  would  be  ma 
at  least  by  the  hopeful  few  who  press 
the  mark  of  the  prize,  but  at    the  exp 
those  habits  which  are  indispensable  to 
success.     The  prize  man  under  such  a 
is  not  necessarily  the  truest  scholar.     It 
tainly  significant  that    Sir  William    Th« 
Clifford  and  Clerk  Maxwell  all  failed  t( 
the  honor  of  Senior  Wrangler  at  Cam 

Nothing  is  more  important  in  a  uni 
than  to  keep  up  the  dignity  of  let 
nothing  more  indispensable  than  an  in 
ual  tone;  but  these  can  hardly  dwell  in 
mosphere  where  there  is  competition  ov< 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


133 


minor  details  as  verbal  accuracy  in  text  book 
recitations,  and  where  the  generosities  of  youth 
are  exposed  to  ignoble  motives.  Surely  for 
motive  we  might  trust  to  the  stimulating  power 
of  good  instruction,  to  the  spur  which  is  found 
in  the  love  of  learning,  and  the  esprit  du  corps 
of  a  genuine  university. 

Whether  these  suggested  changes  are  true 
reforms,  which  will  win  their  way  till  a  reno- 
vated curriculum  is  established  everywhere, 
or  whether,  after  the  experiments  of  a  few 
generations,  men  will  say  that  the  "old  is 
better,"  are  questions  for  the  future;  but  one 
thing  is  certain,  the  cause  of  education  will 
prosper  more  and  more,  and  the  race  of  men 
will  rise  higher  and  higher. 

"Yet  I  doabt  not  through  the  ages  one  increasing  pur- 

p>ose  runs, 
And  the  thoughts  of  men  are  widened  with  the  process 

of  the  suns." 

The  majestic  generalizations  in  theroretical 
science  which  have  characterized  our  time;  the 
discoveries  and  applications  in  electricity  which 
have  created  the  illusion  that  we  are  living  in 
an  enchanted  world;  the  rigorous  historical 
criticism  which  is  laying  bare  the  quivering 
life  of  all  ancient  institutions;  the  unmatched 
material  prosperity  of  the  age;  yea,  the  very 
challenge  which  philosophy  and  scholarship 
are  giving  to  supernatural  faith,  all  combine  to 
make  ours  one  of  the  critical  epochs  of  the 
world's  life — the  morning  of  a  day  of  marvels 
in  progress  and  of  benedictions  for  mankind. 

"This  fine  old  world  of  ours  is  but  a  child  yet  in  the 

go-cart  ; 
Give  it  time  to  learn   its  limbs  :     There  is  a  Hand  that 

guides." 


FOREST  OF   DEAN. 


Have  any  of  you  heard  of  Forest  of  Dean  ? 
I  think  not,  so  it  is  my  intention  to  describe  a 
visit  there  last  summer.  To  begin  with, 
Forest  of  Dean  is  a  little  out-of-the-way  place 
in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  about  five  miles 
back  from  the  Hudson.  Its  principal  occu- 
pations are  farming  and  mining.  With  this 
information,  you  are  prepared  to  proceed. 

Half  of  the  summer  had  gone  by,  and  I 
found  myself  at  Montrose,  a  small  place  just 
below  Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  my  geological  outfit  as 
yet  untouched.  So  one  morning  it  came  about 
that  I  amused  myself  by  sitting  on  the  string 
piece  of  the  steamboat  dock  at  Verplanck, 
wailing  for  the  fog  to  lift,     In  a  short  time  the 


"  Emeline "  came  along  and  I  embarked, 
"  overcoat  rolled  and  slung  U.  S.  army  style, 
one  day's  rations  in  haversack."  The  little 
steamboat  slowly  made  her  way  northward, 
until  Ft.  Montgomery  was  reached.  Here,  after 
crawling  over  the  piles  of  iron  ore  which 
covered  the  dock,  Mr.  Macy,  weigh  master  of 
the  Forest  of  Dean  iron  mine,  received  me.  He 
led  me  to  his  little  office  beside  the  West  Shore 
Railroad  track,  and  gave  me  all  required  infor- 
mation regarding  my  trip.  Half  an  hour  later 
I  found  myself  in  an  ore  wagon  (without 
springs)  ascending  a  very  steep  incline.  The 
driver,  a  tall,  lank  fellow  in  hickory  shirt,  cor- 
duroy trousers  and  No.  17  boots,  immediately 
opened  fire. 

"  Be  you  a  city  dude  ?**  he  asked,  at  the  same 
time  eyeing  me  doubtfully.  I  informed  him 
that  my  place  of  residence  was  the  city,  but 
that  I  did  not  correspond  to  the  last  idea. 

"  This  is  fine  weather  we  air  hevin*.  I 
s*pose  ye  air  a — a — one  of  them  fellers  what 
goes  around  pickin'  up  rocks  ?"  (This  interrog- 
atively.) **  Well,  yes;  I  admit  I  am  a  geologist 
in  embryo."  At  this  statement  he  gazed  at 
me  in  a  dreamy,  bewildered  way,  and  I  was 
bounced  about  so  by  the  running  of  the  wheels 
over  chunks  of  ore,  that  I  had  no  desire  to 
continue  the  conversation.  He  recovered 
sufficiently,  however,  to  fire  one  more  remark 
at  me  before  I  bade  him  good  bye. 

"  That  there's  Bear  Mountain  ;  ye  hed 
oughter  see  it  when  the  leaves  is  turnin*."  After 
a  two  mile  ride  we  reached  the  **  dump," 
where  a  train  of  six  cars  was  discharging  its 
load  into  chutes,  which  ran  down  to  a  platform, 
whence  the  ore  was  loaded  on  the  wagons. 
Seating  myself  upon  the  cleanest  looking  car,  a 
few  moments  only  elapsed  before  the  entire 
train,  drawn  by  five  mules,  harnessed  tandem, 
was  rapidly  ascending  the  grade.  Here  I  was 
destined  to  be  surprised  and  pleased,  for  the 
road  wound  through  a  broad,  fertile  valley 
beside  a  rushing  brook.  Meadow  land  was 
abundant,  and  near  at  hand  the  forests  rose 
step  after  step  up  the  mountain's  side. 

During  this  ride  I  had  occasion  to  question 
the  train  men  in  regard  to  the  time  table  at 
the  mine.  Their  answers,  involving  the  use 
of  the  words  "  day  time  "  and  **  railroad  time," 
bothered  me  considerably.  Without  giving 
their  explanation  of  the  terms,  I  will  state  the 
facts  :  For  some  reason  (which  I  could  not 
find  out)  the  clocks  at  the  mines  are  an  hour 
faster  than  at  the  railroad  stations  on  the 
other  side  of  the  mountains.  That  is,  the 
miners  go  to  work  at  6  o'clock,  but,  as  they 


134 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


reckon  time,  7  o'clock.  Thus  their  hours  are 
7-12  and  1-5  "day  time/'  or  6-11  and  12-4 
railroad  time."  Even  after  the  explanation 
it  was  necessary  for  me  to  stop  and  think  the 
matter  all  over  before  making  a  calculation. 

When  the  cars  stopped  at  the  mine,  I  made 
my  way  to  the  "  head  house,"  and  was  waiting 
for  the  next  car  to  take  me  seventeen  hundred 
feet  into  the  mine,  when  two  four  seated 
wagons  drove  up  and  dumped  a  load  of  city 
boarders  by  my  side.  In  five  minutes  they 
had  undergone  a  great  change.  Every  girl 
was  enveloped  in  a  huge  waterproof,  with 
cape  and  hood,  and  each  boy  had  produced 
an  old  coat  and  dilapidated  hat.  Their  in- 
tention was  obvious,  so  I  concluded  not  to 
risk  my  life  with  that  gang.  Finally  one  of 
the  foremen  shovelled,  metaphorically  speak- 
ing, them  into  a  car,  and  they  descended  into 
Plutonian  darkness.  I  went  out  and  began 
prospecting  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

After  the  dinner,  which  the  men  ate  at  1 1 
a.  m.,  the  blacksmith  approached,  and  offered 
me  a  piece  of  tin,  "  just  as  it  comes  from  the 
furnace."  Talking  with  him,  I  found  he  had 
been  a  miner  in  southern  England  before 
coming  to  America,  and  that  he  had  obtained 
abetter  education  than  most  of  his  class.  He 
was  not  busy  just  then,  so  we  wandered  off 
into  the  "  wheel  house."  The  motive  power 
for  the  machinery  comes  from  a  pond  a  couple 
of  miles  back  in  the  mountains,  and  runs  the 
large  wheels,  one  for  pumping  and  hoisting 
and  the  other  for  ventilating.  Although  it 
was  noon  of  a  hot  August  day,  I  shivered  in 
the  wheel  house,  and  gladly  came  out  when 
my  inspection  of  the  machinery  was  completed. 

Stopping  to  look  in  at  the  door  of  a 
little  house,  about  30  x  25,  I  heard  a  cheery 
"  Good  day  ;  won't  you  come  in  ?"  The 
speaker,  a  man  of  fifty  or  so,  rose  and  wiped 
off  an  empty  powder  box  for  me  to  sit  on.  I 
thanked  him,  and  began  to  take  in  the  sur- 
roundings. On  the  farther  side  of  the  room 
were  piled  boxes  labelled,  "Atlas  Powder ; 
explosive ;  handle  carefully,"  while  on  the 
other  side  was  a  carefully  guarded  stove.  Mr. 
Anderson — he  told  me  his  name  in  the  course 
of  our  conversation — was  at  work  preparing 
fuses  for  the  next  day's  blast. 

"  Did  you  see  that  crowd  from  Stock- 
bridge's  ?"  he  asked.  "  They'll  get  hurt  down 
in  the  mine,  tripped  by  the  cable  or  something 
of  the  sort.  If  the  boss  was  here  they  couldn't 
go  down  all  at  once."  He  reached  for  the 
coil  of  fuse  and  cut  off  a  dozen  or  twenty 
pieces,  each  a  yard  long,  then  he  opened  a  box 


containing  triple  blasting  cartridges,  and  slip- 
ped one  on  one  end  of  each  fuse,  where  he 
nipped  it  fast. 

**  Why  don't  you  hammer  them  on  ? "  I 
asked.  He  looked  at  me  for  a  moment  to  see 
if  I  were  in  earnest  and  then,  in  response  to  an 
inquiry,  he  explained  the  method  of  blasting. 
We  drill  the  holes  and  then  put  in  an 
ordinary  charge  of  giant  powder.  Then  we 
take  a  prepared  fuse  and  force  it  home  upon 
the  powder,  and  the  thing  is  ready  to  be  ex- 
ploded." Scraping  aside  some  sawdust,  he 
took  from  an  open  box  of  Atlas  powder  a 
cylindrical  shaped  package,  an  inch  or  more 
wide  and  several  inches  long.  "  This  is 
called  *  Atlas  powder,*  but  it  is  a  powder  only 
in  name.  You  see  it  looks  like  a  grease;  a 
glycerine  absorbent,  I  think  you  scientific  men 
would  call  it.  I  make  a  hole  in  it  by  means 
of  this  punch,  and  force  a  fuse  in,  so.  Now 
this  package  fits  the  drilled  hole  closely  and 
serves  as  a  wad.  We  can  set  off  thirty  or 
forty  blasts  in  a  single  morning.  No  blasting 
is  done  in  the  afternoon." 

The  talk  went  on  until  it  was  time  to  return 
home.  Making  my  way  to  the  ore  cars,  I 
thoughtlessly  seated  myself  on  the  forward  car. 
The  train  was  running  slowly,  and  time  after 
time,  when  my  eye  espied  some  desirable  speci- 
men, I  jumped  off  and  got  it.  When  the  mules 
had  lazily  dragged  their  load  over  two  thirds  of 
the  distance,  the  boy  on  the  leading  mule  dis- 
mounted and  detached  the  whole  string  of 
mules.  At  first  I  did  not  realize  what  was  to 
occur,  but,  as  the  cars  began  to  move,  I  sang 
out: 

"  Hold  up  till  I  can  get  on  the  tail  end  of 
this  concern.  If  you  are  going  to  coast  down 
this  grade  I  don't  want  any  prominent  posi- 
tion." I  took  up  my  station  on  the  rear  car, 
and  the  train  of  six  cars,  each  having  a  load 
of  two  and  a  half  tons,  started  down  the 
grade.  The  cars  were  old  and  rotten,  the 
track  narrow  gauge,  the  rails  crushed  and 
broken,  and  the  road  bed  uneven.  When  the 
thing  had  got  a  good  move  on  it  I  was  pleased, 
but  soon  I  unslung  my  bag  and  strapped  the 
hammer  on  it.  Then,  as  the  speed  was 
rather  too  considerable,  I  lay  down  upon  the 
bag  of  minerals,  dug  my  toes  into  the  crevices 
in  the  corners  of  the  car  and  grasped  the  cross 
beam  with  both  hands.  Then  the  cars  fairly 
ricocheted  along  the  track. 

"  Do  -  you  -  ever  -  run  -  off  -  the  -  track  -  eh  ? "  I 
grunted  out  after  enduring  the  torture  for  ^st 
minutes.  "  Oh,  yes  ;  we  run  off  two  or  three 
times  a  week."   By  practice  the  man  could  talk 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


135 


quite  well  under  this  process.  "  Did-you-run- 
off-yesterday  ? "  "  No."  **  Nor  Tuesday  ?  "  A 
shake  of  the  head.  "  Nor  Monday  ?  '*  Another 
shake.  "  Gosh  gerockkity  !  '*  thought  I,  "  I'm 
in  for  it,  sure  !**  The  expected  catastrophe 
did  not  take  place,  and  we  came  up  the  home 
stretch  in  fine  style.  It  was  my  great  pleas- 
ure (?)  to  have  the  opportunity  of  walking 
down  to  the  river,  as  there  was  no  wagon  in 
sight.  Talking  with  Mr.  Macy  until  the 
"  Emeline  "  came  along,  I  found  him  a  very  in- 
teresting talker.  His  extensive  reading  on 
the  subject  of  mining  did  him  good  service  in 
the  absence  of  more  exact  scientific  knowledge. 
He  is  always  glad  to  see  visitors,  and  gives  them 
all  the  information  in  his  power. 

The  trip  was  a  very  enjoyable  one,  and  my 
attempts  at  conversation  were  met  with  great 
politeness  and  a  desire  to  assist  me  from  all 
hands.  I  think  that  for  those  who  have  no 
friends  engaged  in  mining  and  who  wish  to 
be  shown  the  workings  of  a  mine,  the  Forest 
of  Dean  mine  is  the  spot  to  visit.  C. 


SOME  FACTS  ABOUT  THE   "  HOWLING 

MOB/' 


Those  of  our  friends  in  and  out  of  college 
life  who  have  read  the  account  of  the  game 
between  the  graduate  team  and  the  Stevens, 
published  in  the  TimeSy  must  have  noticed  the 
great  difference  between  the  first  and  last  part 
of  the  article. 

It  is  quite  plain  that  the  two  parts  were  not 
written  by  the  same  person,  and  it  is  also  quite 
evident  to  those  who  witnessed  the  game  and 
had  the  honor  of  composing  the  "howling 
mob"  spoken  of  in  the  TimeSy  that  the  first 
half  of  the  account  was  undoubtedly  sent  to 
the  Times  by  one  of  the  opposing  team,  and 
evidently  by  one  who  "  wound  himself  up  in  a 
fight."  The  latter  part  of  the  article  gives  a 
sportsman  like  account  of  the  game,  and  not 
a  whining  lamentation,  as  the  first  half  reads. 

In  the  very  first  play  of  the  ball  three  of  the 
graduate  team  made  themselves  conspicious 
by  mean  playing,  and  continued  it  throughout 
the  game.  With  the  exception  of  the  playing 
of  these  three  and  the  very  just  rough  hand- 
ling which  they  received  from  the  Stevens 
men,  the  game  was  a  good  one,  and  played 
without  any  display  of  ill  nature  on  the  part  of 
either  team.  The  mistake  was  in  having  a 
referee  who   did  not  know  the  present  foot 


ball  rules  thoroughly.  The  referee  refused  to 
warn  the  men  for  offside  playing  and  foul 
tackling  and  as  a  consequence  each  man  had 
to  take  care  of  his  own  rights,  which  led  to 
frequent  quarrels.  Foot  ball  with  a  good  and 
efficient  referee  is  a  capital  game,  but  it  re- 
quires a  man  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  game  to  keep  the  players  in  subjection,  and 
only  such  a  one  can  prevent  the  unnecessary 
squabbling  among  the  players. 

The  day  after  the  game,  the  Tribune^  Times 
and  Hoboken  Advertiser  all  published  accounts 
of  the  game  and  with  the  exception  of  the 
Times  the  criticism  of  the  playing  was  fair  to 
both  teams.  We  publish  an  extract  from  the 
Hoboken  paper's  account  of  the  game,  which 
shows  the  opinion  of  disinterested  outsiders 
and  which  lacks  the  spitefulness  of  the  Times 
article  (first  half)  : 

VETERANS   VANQUISHED— THE  STEVENS   INSTITUTE 

FOOT   BALL  TEAM   PLAY   A   STRONG  GAME 

AND  BEAT  THE  GRADUATE  TEAM. 

About  the  roughest  and  most  exciting  game  of  foot 
ball  that  has  been  played  in  Hoboken  for  a  long  time 
took  place  on  the  St.  George  Cricket  Grounds,  Tuesday 
afternoon,  the  contestants  being  Stevens  Institute  Team 
and  the  Graduate  Team  composed  of  veteran  players 
from  Yale,  Princeton  and  Harvard.  The  Stevens  boys, 
who  were  on  an  average  much  smaller  and  many  pounds 
lighter  than  their  opponents,  expected  defeat,  but  de- 
termined to  make  the  graduates  work  as  hard  as  possible. 
They  played  with  such  indomitable  pluck  and  skill  that 
instead  of  being  badly  used  up  they  forced  the  playing 
throughout  and  won  a  splendid  victory  over  the  veteran 
giants,  who  showed  clumsiness,  conspicuous  lack  of 
training,  and,  in  a  few  instances,  much  bad  temper. 
Three  of  them.  Beck,  Mcintosh  and  Harding,  began 
a  bulldozing  game  at  the  start,  and  were  the  instigators 
of  all  the  roughness  in  the  game.  Two  or  three  incip- 
ient fights  were  prevented  by  the  other  players  inter- 
fering, after  blows  had  been  struck  on  both  sides. 

The  Stevens  boys  never  played  better,  either  individu- 
ally or  as  a  team,  and  the  result  was  a  surprise  not  only 
to  the  graduates  and  spectators,  but  to  the  victors  them- 
selves. 


^^ 


LECTURE 

DELIVERED     BEFORE     THE    SENIOR     CLASS    OF 

STEVENS    INSTITUTE    OF     TECHNOLOGY, 

HOBOKEN,    N.  J.,  NOV.    18,   1881. 


{jContinned.) 

Mr.  Allen  was  then  shown  a  set  of  rules  as 
to  the  care  of  boilers,  on  which  he  commented 
as  follows  : 

The  first  refers  to  lighting  fires.  That  is  a 
very  important  direction.  That  [after  reading 
further,]  is  one  of  the  most  important  pieces 


136 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


of  advice  that  could  be  given.  And  yet  I 
have  found,  in  cases  where  men  thoroughly 
understood  their  business,  and  had  lighted 
their  fires  hundreds  of  times,  relying  on  the 
fireman  having  filled  the  boiler  the  day  before, 
they  have  started  their  fires  and  burned  and 
twisted  their  boilers,  through  their  omission  to 
examine  the  water  gauge. 

"  Make  sure  [reading,]  that  all  the  valves 
and  cocks  below  the  water  line  are  shut,  and 
open  the  safety  valve  when  convenient,  and 
keep  the  man-hole  lid  off  until  the  water  is 
nearly  boiling,  in  order  to  let  the  air  out,  and 
to  keep  the  boiler,  if  internally  fired,  as  cool 
above  as  possible  until  the  bottom  is  heated." 
That  is  an  all  important  piece  of  advice. 
These  directions  are  new  to  me;  I  had  not 
seen  them.  But  a  number  of  explosions  are 
occurring  every  year  from  an  accumulated 
pressure  in  the  boiler  and  an  inoperative  safety 
valve.  Safety  valves  are  lowered  to  their 
places  when  the  boilers  are  put  out  of  service 
for  some  length  of  time  for  cleaning  or  repair- 
ing or  something  of  the  kind  ;  and  when  the 
steam  is  got  up,  no  care  is  taken  to  see  that 
the  safety  valve  is  raised  from  its  seat,  and 
under  such  circumstances,  perhaps  the  man 
being  called  away  to  some  distant  part  of  the 
building,  the  safety  valve  refuses  to  perform 
its  functions  ;  it  is  set  fast  in  its  seat,  and  the 
pressure  is  raised  to  a  point  at  which  explosion 
occurs.  It  is  remarkable  how  many  explo- 
sions occur  from  such  causes.  It  is  an  excel- 
lent precautionary  measure  each  time  a  boiler 
is  put  out  of  service,  before  all  the  pressure  is 
off  the  boiler,  to  raise  the  safety  valve  off  its 
seat  and  tie  it  up,  if  there  is  a  pulley  line  lead- 
ing from  the  fire  room,  or  block  it  up  if  there  is 
not  such  a  contrivance,  until  you  get  up  steam 
again,  and  that  will  give  you  an  indication 
of  the  formation  of  steam  in  the  boiler,  and 
then  the  valve  may  be  lowered  to  its  place.  I 
think  these  directions  are  very  good.  I  should 
be  disposed  to  indorse  them  to  the  fullest  ex- 
tent. Touching  the  rule  as  to  cooling  boilers 
down,  that  advice  is  excellent,  especially  in 
regard  to  those  boilers  which  are  set  in  brick 
work.  A  great  many  boilers  are  injured  every 
year  through  not  having  been  fired  up  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time,  and  it  has  been 
the  practice  quite  recently  in  some  parts  of 
the  country  to  blow  down  the  boilers  under 
the  pressure,  empty  them,  and  the  heat  of  the 
brick  work  is  communicated  to  the  boiler  and 
distorts  it,  and  there  is  immense  strain  on  the 
riveted  seams.  The  boiler  is  put  out  of  shape, 
and  whatever  sediment  or  deposit  in  a  soft 


state  there  may  be  in  the  boiler  is  baked  hard 
like  pottery,  on  its  sides,  so  that  the  sharpest 
kind  of  a  tool  is  required  to  get  it  off.  The 
blowing  down  of  boilers  under  pressure  is  one 
of  the  most  injurious  things,  and  does  more, 
perhaps,  tq  shorten  the  lives  of  boilers  than  any 
other  one  thing.  The  idea  of  all  this  is  to 
cool  the  boiler  gradually.  By  doing  that  you 
will  avoid  any  rapid  contraction.  Sudden  ex- 
pansion and  contraction  are  two  of  the  great- 
est sources  of  difficulty  that  we  have  to  con- 
tend with  in  boilers. 

As  to  the  direction  respecting  incrustation 
remedies  and  priming,  the  overheating  due  to 
the  use  of  boiler  scale  compositions  is  prob- 
ably through  the  carelessness  of  the  attend- 
ants who  neglect  opening  the  boiler  and  clear- 
ing out  such  deposits  as  may  be  flaking  off 
from  the  tubes  or  the  sides  of  the  shell.  It 
accumulates  in  j^juantity  on  the  fire  sheets  and 
prevents  the  contact  of  water  with  the  plate, 
and  bulging  and  overheating  occur.  Incrusta- 
tion compounds  are  largely  sold,  and  they  are 
recommended  by  a  great  number  of  people  all 
over  the  country,  who  claim  to  find  them  ex- 
cellent things  for  removing  scale  and  sedi- 
ment deposit.  So  far  as  I  know,  the  boiler 
solvents  are  doing  their  work  to-day.  There 
are  a  great  many  cases,  like  patent  medicines, 
in  which  people  certify  to  the  wonderful  re- 
sults achieved  by  certain  preparations,  but  it 
is  very  doubtful.  In  the  City  of  New  York, 
for  instance,  and  in  our  large  cities  where 
aqueduct  water  is  used,  the  water  is  compara- 
tively pure.  There  is  but  little  lime  in  it  or 
anything  that  will  form  a  lime  scale.  What  is 
needed  there  is  frequent  opening  of  the  boilers 
to  remove  incrustation,  and  the  neglect  of 
engineers  to  do  that  allows  accumulations  on 
the  shells  and  flues,  and  boiler  compositions 
are  introduced  for  the  purpose  of  freeing  the 
boiler  from  incrustations.  It  could,  in  most 
cases,  be  done  very  well  if  men  were  allowed 
sufficient  time  to  attend  to  it.  Oftentimes 
they  are  not  given  sufficient  time. 

Questions  of  corrosion,  incrustation  and 
such  matters  as  are  generally  understood  to 
be  largely  open  questions,  are  treated  more  in 
detail  in  Mr.  Wilson's  book  on  boilers,  than  in 
others.  I  think  his  book  is  as  reliable  in  that 
respect  as  could  be  expected  from  publications 
touching  these  subjects.  I  have  regarded 
it  in  my  own  case,  and  I  have  heard  it  highly 
spoken  of.  I  regard  it  as  the  most  reliable 
book  on  boilers  that  I  have  any  knowledge 
of.  It  is  a  treatise  which  is  the  result  of  Mr. 
Wilson's  experience,    I   believe   that,   for  a 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


137 


number  of  years,  he  was  the  chief  inspector  of 
the  Manchester  Steam  Users*  Association,  and 
what  he  treats  of  in  his  book  are  largely  matters 
that  came  within  his  own  experience. 

There  is  nothing  better  for  general  purposes 
than  a  horizontal  tubular  boiler,  where  the  water 
is  sufficiently  pure.  There  are  localities  where 
such  a  boiler  cannot  be  profitably  used.  Scale 
will  accumulate,  and  the  arrangement  of  tubes 
inside  the  boiler  is  such  that  it  is  a  difficult 
matter  to  clean  it,  and  the  plain  cylinder  boiler 
will  last  longer  under  such  circumstances. 
The  Washington  University,  St.  Louis,  has  just 
put  in  a  pair  of  horizontal  tubular  boilers,  and 
they  sent  me  a  sample  of  the  water  that  they 
use,  which  is  so  impregnated  with  earthy 
matter  that  they  first  let  it  go  through  a  settling 
pan,  and  then  force  it  through  about  forty  feet 
of  hay  to  strain  it  for  their  use.  All  that  ex- 
pense must  be  put  against  what  they  could 
do  with  the  same  water  in  a  flue  or  a  plain 
cylinder  boiler. 

In  most  cases  where  the  water  has  appeared 
to  be  objectionable  on  account  of  such  reasons 
as  have  been  described,  it  is  customary  to  have 
a  tank  or  some  receptacle  where  the  water  can 
settle,  and  have  the  feed  drawn  off  from  the 
upper  part  so  that  a  settling  will  occur,  and  that 
is  cleaned  out  from  time  to  time.    Where  they 
use  river  waters,  along  the  great  rivers,  the  Miss- 
issippi, Missouri,  and  those  rivers  where  the 
water  is  very  muddy  nearly  all  the  time,  great 
care  has  to  be  taken. 

When  well  built  and  taken  care  of,  a  hori- 
zontal tubular  boiler  in  any  of  our  large  cities 
hereabout  should  last  twenty  years.  It  would 
be  necessary,  perhaps,  to  renew  a  number  of 
the  tubes,  but  the  shell  and  head,  and  other 
parts  would  be  safe  to  use,  if  properly  designed 
and  constructed,  and  properly  managed  and 
used,  for  twenty  years,  and  boilers  have  been 
used  for  a  period  much  longer  than  that. 

I  think  very  important  information  can 
be  obtained,  and  the  proper  remedial  agents 
applied  to  neutralize  the  effects  of  waters  that 
would  injure  the  boiler,  by  analyzing  the 
waters  and  finding  out  what  in  them  is  in- 
jurious. The  company  have  believed  that 
to  such  an  extent,  that  they  have  included  in 
their  business  a  laboratory,  and  have  invited 
the  insured  from  all  over  the  country  to  send 
samples  of  Vater  that  scales  injuriously,  so 
that  they  may  take  the  necessary  precautions 
to  prevent  the  great  accumulation  of  this  scale 
and  any  injury  that  may  result  from  it.  They 
regard  it  as  enough  of  an  open  question  to  set 
to  work  and  accumulate  systematically  the 


1 


analysis  of  waters  in  connection  with  the 
known  performance.  Water  is  being  sent 
from  the  different  parts  of  the  country,  and 
I  think  that  by  the  analysis  of  the  water  its 
general  conditions  are  obtained.  That  in- 
formation, however,  is  not  given  to  the  public  ; 
it  is  given  to  the  parties  insured.  They  are 
told  whether  the  water  contains  ingredients 
that  would  be  likely  to  injure  their  boilers ; 
and  in  many  cases  the  report  returned  has  in- 
duced them  to  abandon  promptly  wells  that 
they  put  down  to  save  the  water  tax.  The 
company  make  no  charge  for  the  analyzers 
where  the  parties  are  insured.  They  assume 
that  their  interest  is  more  fully  protected  by 
giving  this  advice,  and  that  the  safety  of  the 
boiler  is  better  assured. 

( To  be  continued.) 


-#-^ 


II^8IGA^9R  GARB. 


It  seems  a  great  pity  that  the  Freshmen  and 
Sophomores  cannot  prohibit  others  from  in- 
truding into  their  coat  room.  The  greater 
part  of  last  year  the  state  of  affairs  was 
the  same.  Even  for  a  few  days  at  the  be- 
ginning of  this  term  a  good  lock  was  placed 
upon  the  door  and  everything  was  supposed 
to  be  all  right  ;  but,  after  it  had  remained  that 
short  time  it  was  observed  to  have  changed 
localities — having  exchanged  its  former  posi- 
tion for  one  at  the  window  sill,  with  whose 
assistance  we  know  not.  Should  it  prove  to 
be  owing  to  the  Sophomores  and  Freshmen 
themselves— and  the  Sophomores  are  rather 
a  noisy,  destructive  crowd,  while  the  Fresh- 
men are  always  supposed  to  be  rough  by 
reason  of  their  very  greenness  and  ignorance  of 
**  what's  what," — then  we  might  just  as  well  say 
nothing  and  let  them  find  out  for  themselves 
that  it  is  for  their  interest  not  to  kick  the 
door  open  or  rush  against  it  six  or  a  dozen  at 
a  time.  If  it  isn't  their  fault,  then  we  would 
respectfully  draw  to  it  the  attention  of  the 
one  whose  business  is  to  see  that  such  things 
are  kept  in  proper  trim.  We  notice  that  both 
the  Junior  and  the  Senior  coat  rooms  are  safe 
from  the  invasions  of  intruders,  and  we  ask 
why  such  could  not  be  the  condition  of  things 
in  the  Sophomores'  and  Freshmen's  room. 
One  idea  which  we  wish  to  suggest  is  to  have 
lockers — each  student  his  own  locker.  This, 
for  many  reasons  which  are  obvious  to  all 
students,  would  be  a  great  convenience.  The 
lockers  should  be  placed  in  the  coat  room  ; 


L 


t38 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


and  to  have  them,  say,  five  feet  high  or  long 
(in  case  they  shodld  be  made  like  drawers), 
one  and  a  half  broad  and  one  deep  (such  as 
would  accommodate  an  overcoat),  would  be 
plenty  large  enough.  Then,  in  this  case,  one 
could  put  his  T-square  away  for  the  summer  or 
for  the  short  vacation,  and  it  would  thus  be  pro- 
tected from  the  dust  and  dampness  which  is 
quite  necessary  to  do  in  order  to  keep  a 
T-square  in  anywhere  near  good  order.  Then, 
again,  hats  would  not  be  knocked  about, 
neither  would  they  nor  overcoats  be  taken  by 
another,  in  mistake,  of  course.  Staples  having 
been  fastened  securely,  each  student  would  be 
required  to  furnish  his  own  padlock,  thus 
making  himself  alone  responsible  for  the  secu- 
rity of  his  own  effects.  This,  we  think,  would 
be  a  cheap  and  effective  plan  ;  and,  if  thought 
advisable,  a  small  rent  could  be  charged,  which 
would  soon  compensate  for  the  original  out- 
lay. Any  action  in  this  matter  would  please 
the  students.  At  least  let  us  have  the  lock  on 
the  door  ! 


« ♦»» 


R85FBS  fren?  the  i>R0PBSSI0I^. 


An  electric  headlight  for  locomotives  has  been 
lately  invented,  and  after  a  test  of  six  months, 
during  which  it  has  given  great  satisfaction,  a 
company  has  been  formed  at  Akron,  O.,  to 
manufacture  it.  A  three  horse  power  rotary 
engine,  placed  directly  in  front  of  the  cab  of 
the  locomotive,  is  supplied  with  steam  from 
the  boiler.  This  furnishes  power  to  a  small 
dynamo  fastened  to  the  foot  board  of  the 
locomotive  at  the  left  side,  supplying  the  cur- 
rent for  the.  light,  which  is  equal  to  2,000 
candles.  The  mechanism  of  the  lamp  is  kept 
a  secret. 

The  London  and  Northwestern  Company 
has  made  a  progressive  step  in  regard  to  rail- 
way lighting  in  their  Liverpool  and  Man- 
chester line.  The  carriages  are  lighted  by  20 
candle  Swan  incandescent  lamps,  the  current 
being  supplied  by  a  dynamo  run  by  a  Brother- 
wood  engine  on  the 'tender,  the  steam  supply 
coming  from  the  locomotive  boiler.  Each 
compartment  has  a  duplicate  lamp,  which  is 
lighted  immediately  should  the  other  meet 
with  accident  ;  a  regulator  and  lamp  on  the 
foot  plate  places  the  train  lights  under  control 
of  the  engine  driver.  The  American  Engineer 
suggests  that  the  system  is  a  clumsy  arrange- 
ment, and  that  it   remains  for  American  in- 


genuity to  supply  some  device,  as  compact 
and  self-contained  as  the  Westinghouse  air 
brake  pump,  to  be  attached  directly  to  the 
locomotive.  It  also  claims  that  the  details  of 
a  system  of  electric  train  lighting  ought  to 
present  less  difficulties,  in  their  working  out, 
than  those  encountered  in  the  development  of 
the  air  brake,  and,  as  a  measure  of  con- 
venience and  safety,  it  is  of  next  importance. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  American  saloon 
coaches  offer  special  facilities  for  electric  light- 
ing as  compared  with  compartment  car- 
riages. 

The  model  of  Capt.  James  B.  Eads'  pro- 
posed Tehauntepec  ship  railway,  on  exhibition 
in  New  York,  has  been  visited  and  duly 
admired  by  a  number  of  the  students  from  the 
Institute.  The  model  is  in  itself  a  beautiful 
thing,  and  the  arrangement  is  both  interesting 
and  simple.  A  car,  resting  upon  a  great  num- 
ber of  wheels,  is  run  out  upon  a  pontoon  with 
three  pairs  of  rails  which  fit  exactly  to  those 
on  the  land.  The  pontoon  is  then  submerged 
by  admitting  water  into  it  through  sluice 
gates,  regulated  from  the  top  of  two  towers 
attached  to  the  deck  of  the  pontoon,  and  be- 
tween which  there  is  sufficient  width  to  allow 
the  ship  to  pass.  The  vessel  to  be  trans- 
ported is  then  brought  over  the  pontoon 
and  held  in  the  correct  position  over  the 
cradle  on  the  car.  A  system  of  hydraulic 
rams,  forming  part  of  the  cradle,  is  brought 
up  against  the  ship  and  fitted  exactly  to 
her  shape  ;  in  this  position  the  water  valve 
admitting  pressure  to  the  rams  is  locked,  so 
that  her  weight  is  evenly  supported  from  stem 
to  stern.  The  pontoon  is  now  pumped  out 
until  the  level  of  the  rails  on  deck  corresponds 
to  that  of  the  rails  on  land  ;  locomotives  are 
then  backed  down  and  fastened  to  the  car, 
and  all  is  ready  for  the  journey  across  the 
land.  Of  course,  curves  of  short  radius  would 
be  impracticable  in  the  railroad,  the  minimum 
radius  of  curvature  allowed  by  the  engi- 
neers being  15  miles.  Where  the  nature  of 
the  country  requires  sharp  curves,  floating 
turn  tables  are  to  be  provided  ;  in  the  survey 
of  the  proposed  line  five  such  points  have 
been  found.  These  turn  tables  consist  of 
pontoons,  somewhat  similar  to  those  used  in 
raising  the  ships,  placed  in  segmental  basins 
sufficiently  large  for  the  pontoons  to  rotate 
around  several  degrees  of  a  circle,  according 
to  the  amount  of  deviation  the  direction  of 
the  road  may  require.  The  proposed  pon- 
toons as  designed  are  450  feet  long,  75  feet 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


139 


wide,  and  15  feet  deep.     The  total  len^  of 
the  railway,  according  to  the  survey,  is  160 

miles. 

For  the  last   two  years  experiments  have 
been  making  toward  the  warming  of  cars  by 
means  of  a  heat  giving  liquid,  which  continues 
for  several  hours  to  throw  out  heat  with  ap- 
proximate  regularity,  for  a  time,  depending 
upon  the  original  degree  of  heat  imparted  to 
the  liquid.     The  cars  of  the  De  Kalb  Avenue 
line,  in    Brooklyn,  seventy    in  number,    have 
been  heated   by  this  system    during  the  last 
winter  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  company,  and 
presumably  to  that  of  the  public.     A  large 
iron   pipe   containing  the   compound  passes 
under  each  seat  of  the  car ;  through  the  cen- 
tre of  the  pipe  runs  a  smaller  pipe,  through 
which  steam  is  passed  when  it  is  desired  to 
heat  the  compound.     When  heat  is  applied  to 
the  pip>es  from  a  steam  boiler  in  the  station, 
the  crystals  in  the  acetate  of  soda  used  are 
liquefied,  and  remain  so  until  the  temperature 
begins  to  fall  perceptibly.     Then  the  crystals 
begin  to  form  and  the  liquid  throws  out  an 
increased  heat.      A  thermometer  taking  the 
temperature  of  a  pipe  of  the  heated  compound 
shows  that  during  the  first  hour  or  two  there 
is  a  slight  fall  of  temperature,  then  a  sharp  rise 
while  crystallization  takes  place,  and  then  a 
gradual  fall.     A  record  of  the  temperature  of 
one  car  kept  during  twenty  days  showed  that, 
»fler  each  run  of  sixteen  miles,  the  temperature 
in  the  car  was,  upon  an  average,  less  than  one 
degree  lower    when  the  car   returned  lo  the 
station  than  when  it  started  out.     The  cost  of 
beating  cars  by  this  system  is  said  by  the  com- 
pmy  which  controls  the  patents  to  be  no 
■nore   than    for    stoves,   while    the    heat    is 
pleasanter  and    the  atmosphere  is  free  from 
gas  and  smoke.     The  compound  in  the  pipes 
will  last  for  an  indefinite  number  of  years,  for 
ill  that  is  known  to  the  contrary,  being  her- 
metically sealed. — Mtnir^  and  Sdentific  Press. 

Mi.  L.  T.  Goff,  in  an  article  on  this  subject 
published  in  a  recent  number  of  i^t.  American 
Railroad  Journal,  holds  that  "  railway  "  is  a 
better  term  than  "  railroad,"  "  locomotive  " 
more  exact  than  "engine,"  "station"  than 
"depot,"  "  car  "  preferable  to  "  carriage,"  and 
"conductor"  to  "guard;"  that"driver"  is 
better  than  "  engineer,"  and  "  stoker  "  better 
than  "  fireman." 

We  find  the  following  in  the  Mechanical 
l^inter  for  Jnne  28  :  "  The  English  govern- 


ment recently  appointed  a  commissioner  to 
visit  this  country  and  report  upon  the  tech- 
nological institutions,  and  after  visiting  them 
personally  the  commissioner — Mr.  William 
Mather — says  of  the  Stevens  Institute;  'My 
inspection  of  the  school  convinced  me  that, 
for  mechanical  engineering  alone,  I  had  never 
seen  its  superior.  The  theory  and  practice  of 
the  science  are  never  separated  through  the 
four  years'  course.  The  name  of  Professor 
Thurston  is  well  known  in  the  engineering 
profession  in  England,  and  the  fact  that  he 
has  charge  of  this  department  is  a  guarantee 
for  the  training  of  the  students  in  the  princi- 
ples of  science,  as  well  as  in  their  application 
lo  mechanical  construction.'" 

The  announcement  to  the  effect  that  the 
officers  of  the  New  York  Elevated  Railway 
were  ready  to  consider  electricity  as  a  motive 
power  for  their  trains,  has  excited  much  in- 
terest among  inventors  and  scientitic  men. 
The  design  seems  to  be  to  investigate  what 
claims  electricity  in  a  financial  as  well  as  a 
mechanical  point  of  view  has  for  locomotion, 
andby  experimental  trials  of  different  designs 
to  promote  the  development  of  the  electric 
motor.  There  are  a  great  many  complaints 
against  the  elevated  roads  at  present  in  re- 
gard to  noise,  smoke  and  steam,  dropping 
water  and  falling  ashes,  all  of  which  would  be 
entirely  corrected  by  use  of  electricity.  We 
think  that  here  is  an  excellent  opportunity  for 
bringing  before  the  public  mind  the  subject 
of  electricity  as  a  power  in  locomotion,  just  as 
the  popular  interest  has  been  awakened 
in  regard  to  electric  lighting.  It  electricity  is 
to  be  the  motive  power  of  the  future,  the 
sooner  inventors  are  engaged  to  perfect  their 
ideas  and  let  others  have  the  results  of  their 
investigations,  the  sooner  will  the  problem  be 
solved. 

A  master  key  has  been  exhibited  at  the  Wol- 
verhampton Exhibition,  England,  which  is 
capable  of  opening  22,600  patent  lever  locks. 
Each  lock  may  be  different  in  its  wards  and 
combinations.  The  key  .weighs  three  ounces, 
and  is  nickel  plated.  It  has  taken  the  inven- 
tor three  years  to  complete  the  drawings  of 
the  different  wards  and  combinations,  which 
enabled  this  extraordinary  product  of  human 
ingenuity  to  be  made.  Master  keys  capable 
of  opening  100  ditTerent  locks  have  been 
known  to  the  trade  for  manyyears,  but  nothing 
has  approached  this  key  before, — Ex. 


140 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


P^^UeSFIGS. 


LAFAYETTE  VS.    STEVENS —NOV.  15,  1884,  AT 

EASTON,  PA. 

Lafayette's  players  were  : 

Rushers  :  Frey,  Young,  Reeder,  Rohrbach, 
Wiley,  Zerr  and  Wells. 

Quarter  Back  :  Hannue. 

Half  Backs  :  Pridgeon  and  Updegrove. 

Full  Back :  Beatty. 

Captain  Baldwin  tried  an  experiment  in 
placing  his  men,  and  many  errors  and  much 
loose  playing  was  the  result,  due  principally 
to  the  lack  of  practice  of  the  players  in  their 
new  positions.  Campbell  played  in  the  rush 
line,  Cotiart  and  Kletzsch  half  backs,  and 
Baldwin  quarter  back,  the  other  places  being 
filled  as  usual.  Both  Kletzsch  and  Cotiart 
made  several  good  runs,  but  the  ground  gained 
was  almost  immediately  lost  by  errors. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  sun  was  in  the 
faces  of  their  opponents  and  that  Stevens 
played  down  hill,  Lafayette  succeeded  in 
scoring  and  Stevens  failed.  When  the  ball 
was  near  Stevens*  goal  line.  Wells  made  a 
touch  down,  but  the  trial  for  goal  failed.  When 
time  was  called,  the  ball  was  within  ten  yards 
of  Lafayette's  goal,  having  been  carried  there 
by  Cotiart  and  Kletzsch. 

In  the  second  half  Healey  played  quarter, 
Baldwin  and  Campbell  half,  Cotiart  and 
Kletzsch  going  into  the  rush  line.  After 
several  short  runs  by  Baldwin,  Kletzsch 
caught  the  ball  a  little  back  of  Lafayette's 
twenty-five  yard  line  and  made  a  fine  long 
kick,  scoring  a  goal  from  the  field.  Runs  by 
Glasgow  and  Kletzsch  took  the  ball  within  ten 
yards  of  Lafayette's  goal  line,  and  Baldwin 
forced  it  through,  made  a  touch  down  and 
kicked  a  goal.  Forcing  by  Kletzsch  and  Bur- 
horn  and  a  short  run  by  Glasgow  again  took 
the  ball  in  front  of  Lafayette's  goal  posts  and 
Cotiart  made  a  touch  down,  Baldwin  kicking 
the  goal  from  it.  Wiley  kicked  the  ball  from 
the  centre  of  the  field,  behind  Stevens'  goal 
line,  where  Adriance  touched  it  down.  It  was 
set  in  play  with  a  short  kick  by  Dilworth. 
Healey  caught  it  and  ran  to  Lafayette's 
twenty-five  yard  line,  when  time  was  called. 
Score:  Stevens,  17  ;  Lafayette,  4. 

LAFAYETTE   VS.    STEVENS  — NOV.    27,    1884,    AT 

HOBOKEN. 

The  teams  were  composed  as  follows  : 
Lafayette— Rushers  :  Frey,   Young,  Wells, 
Rohrbach,  Zerr,  Iverton  and  Reeder. 


Quarter  Back :  Hannue. 

Half  Backs  :  Pridgeon  and  Davidson. 

Full  Back  :  Beatty. 

Stevens — Rushers  :  Cotiart,  Burhom,  Dil- 
worth, Kletzsch,  Hart,  McCoy  and  Greene- 
baum. 

Quarter  Back  :  Healey. 

Half  Backs  :  Baldwin  and  Campbell. 

Full  Back  :  Adriance. 

In  the  second  half  Baldwin  took  Healey 's 
place  as  quarter  back,  and  Johnson  played 
half  back. 

Stevens  had  much  the  best  of  the  game, 
making  twelve  touch  downs,  from  five  of  which 
goals  were  kicked — 58  points  to  Lafayette's  o. 
Greenebaum  made  2  of  the  touch  downs, 
Healey  i,  Kletzsch  3,  Hart  i,  Baldwin  2, 
Johnson  2  and  Cotiart  i.  Baldwin  and 
Kletzsch  did  good  forcing,  Johnson  and 
Cotiart  made  several  good  runs,  and  the 
rushers  got  down  on  the  ball  better  than  usual. 
The  only  time  the  ball  was  near  Stevens'  goal 
line  Cotiart  caught  it,  when  it  was  thrown  to 
Lafayette's  end  rush,  and  passing  the  half 
and  full  back,  ran  the  whole  length  of  the 
field  and  made  a  touch  down.  Mr.  Schultz, 
of  Yale,  was  referee.  Mr.  Swift  acted  as 
umpire  for  Lafayette  and  Mr.  Munkwitz  for 
Stevens. 

On  Tuesday,  Nov.  18,  at  Hoboken,  Stevens 
played  a  team  consisting  of  graduates  of  Yale, 
Harvard  and  Princeton,  and  proved  too  much 
for  the  veterans  who,  besides  not  being  posted 
in  the  changes  which  the  game  has  undergone 
since  most  of  them  graduated,  lacked  training 
and  team  practice  ver)'  much.  Two  or  three 
of  their  players  commenced  a  bulldozing 
game,  and  if  later  on  they  were  used  rather 
roughly  they  have  only  themselves  to  blame. 
The  referee,  Mr.  Brown,  of  Yale,  was,  like  the 
members  of  the  graduate  team,  very  much  be- 
hind the  times,  as  his  decisions  and  failure  to 
warn  men  for  offside  play  indicated.  In  the 
first  half,  Stevens  made  11  points,  a  goal  from 
the  field  in  fine  style  by  Campbell,  and  a  touch 
down  by  Cotiart,  from  which  Baldwin  kicked 
a  goal.  In  the  second  half,  Healey  scored  a 
touch  down  for  Stevens,  and  one  for  the 
Graduate  team,  the  final  score  being  Stevens, 
15  ;  Graduate  team,  4. 


The  alumni  resident  in  and  about  Baltimore 
are  considering  the  idea  of  forming  a  Stevens 
Alumni  Association  of  Maryland,  and  of  having 
a  meeting  and  banquet  each  year,  at  som.* 
time  during  the  winter. 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


141 


SIPUFBII^6  Bex. 

Junior  shop  work  is  at  a  discount. 

Our  waste  paper  basket — where  is  it,  please  ? 

You  can't  read  a  French  fable  out  loud  and 
eat  chewing  gum  at  the  same  time. 

"  Reddish  red,"  a  new  shade  suggested  by 
a  Junior  for  a  substance  in  chemistry. 

Don't  buy  your  books  for  next  term  until 
the  Faculty  announce  the  vacancies. 

Why  don't  the  Freshies   do  something   to 
distinguish  (or  extinguish)  themselves? 

"  Continuosity  "  is  the  last  straw  that  broke 
the  Campbell's  back.     Send  him  a  dictionary. 

Perpetual  Motion — "  Well,  sir,  now,  sir,  I 
can  tell  you,  sir,  all  about  perpetual  motion. 


SIT, 


"  Perpetual  Motion "  thinks  of  buying  a 
whitewash   brush  to   line   in   his   "eclipses" 

with. 

Birdsall,  '86,  has  been  taking  some  very  good 
photographs  of  his  class.  Other  classes  need 
not  apply. 

The  new  skating  rink  will  be  a  great  feature 
this  winter  to  the  unconditioned.  Be  sure 
and  get  season  tickets. 

Why  do  Engineer  Roebling  and  "  Jack 
Frost "  resemble  each  other  ?  Because  they 
are  both  bridge  contractors. 

A  friend  of  one  of  the  editors  exclaimed  : 
"Did  you  really   go  up   town    last   evening 

to  see  Miss in    those  knee  breeches  of 

yours  ?" 

We  hope  the  holidays  will  be  a  season  for 
refreshing  exhausted  brains,  and  that  there 
^  be  more  contributions  to  The  Indicator 
when  college  reopens. 

Freshmen  !  The  Faculty  will  be  **  at  home  " 
for  one  week  commencing  Dec.  11.  Food  for 
thought  will  be  furnished  during  the  day 
from  9  a.  m.  to  4  p.  m. 

The  course  in  moulding  has  the  one  great 
feature  of  giving  those  so  inclined  an  oppor- 
tunity to  play  in  the  sand — the  other  advan- 
tages will  be  referred  to  when  noted. 


Our  worthy  janitor  has  kindly  furnished  the 
Board  with  a  neat  P.  O.  Box.  This  is  a  great 
help  to  us;  it  acts  as  a  home  for  our  exchanges 
which  otherwise  would  wander  indiscrimi- 
nately among  the  students. 

Why  does  not  '87  petition  the  Faculty  for 
something  ?  The  class  is  fast  losing  the  repu- 
tation of  Sophomores.  Try  a  petition  for  a 
gymnasium.  It  wo;i*t  amount  to  anything,  of 
course,  but  just  petition  at  any  rate. 

A  member  of  *88  extinguished  himself  the 
other  day  by  telling  the  Prof,  that  language 
originated  in  the  "owld  counthry."  Notice 
of  wake  hereafter.  Whiskey  and  tobacco 
promised  as  inducements  to  attend. 

Scene — Prof.  C.'s  room — Monday  morning. 
T.  K.,  at  the  blackboard,  gets  problem  right 
by  mistake.  When  told  of  it  he  staggers  and 
winks  both  ears.  Falls  into  a  chair,  lost  in 
wonder.     (Sneaky  music  by  the  class.) 

A  man  who  wanted  trains  on  an  Illinois 
railroad  to  stop  near  his  farm,  put  up  a  sign, 
"  Run  Slow,"  on  a  culvert.  This  worked  very 
well  for  four  years,  until  some  one  got  tired  of 
running  slow,  and  discovered  the  fraud. 

**  Jumbo,"  the  Black,  our  janitor's  constant 
friend,  who  held  a  large  place  in  our  affec- 
tions, has  gone.  We  suppose  "  James  Donald- 
son," the  yellowish  yellow  dog,  has  been 
substituted  to  take  the  wire  edge  off  our 
grief. 

'87  feels  that  it  is  much  honored  by  the 
presence  of  Vanderbilt  among  its  number?. 
He  matriculated  under  the  pseudonym  of 
Bandaret,  but  his  incognito  has  at  last  been 
disclosed  by  our  professor,  who  "  is  curious 
about  names.'* 

It  was  in  the  Literature  class  : 

Prof. — "  Mr.  Blank,  was  there  any  other 
species  of  poetry  during  this  period  ?  " 

Mr.  Blank  (who  was  out  the  previous  even- 
ing and  has  gotten  things  somewhat  mixed) — 
"  Oh,  yes  ;  there  were  ballets  !  " 

"Gouging  and  biting"  are  the  only  exer- 
cises prohibited  by  foot  ball  rules,  and  they 
ought  to  be,  too,  because  when  you  hit  a  man 
you  only  knock  a  tooth  out  or  break  a  collar 
bone,  but  to  bite  or  gouge  is  ungentUmanly 
and  rough.  Next  year's  team  will  probably 
wear  brass  knuckles. 


I4i 


THE  STEVE  MS  INDICATOR. 


The  college  pin  subject  is  in  the  hands  of  a 
committee,  some  few  of  which  are  working  up 
designs  In  *86  one  committeeman  apparently 
is  doing  all  the  work,  and  we  would  recommend 
that  one  of  the  inactives  be  replaced  by  Mr. 
King,  who  was  the  originator  of  the  idea  for 
having  a  college  pin. 

"  Everlastings,"  otherwise  known  as  Per- 
petual Motion,  completed  an  eclipse  the  other 
day,  of  which  he  was  very  proud.  Some  kind 
friend  stole  it,  and  being  unable  to  get  the 
keys  of  the  bulletin  board,  posted  the  paper  in 
a  conspicuous  position,  to  the  infinite  amuse- 
ment of  the  rest  of  the  class. 

Isn't  it  strange  ?  By  beating  a  poor  team 
composed  of  graduates  from  several  colleges 
who  had  never  played  together  before,  and 
some  of  whom  had  not  played  within  four 
years,  Stevens  has  made  more  stir  this  season 
than  any  other  college  except,  perhaps,  Yale 
and  Princeton  in  their  big  fight  Thanksgiving 
day. 

It  is  a  delightful  sensation  of  doubtful 
pleasure  and  satisfaction  which  comes  over  one 
in  the  Chemical  Laboratory  when  he  takes  a 
bottle  labelled  "  dilute  acid  "  and  pours  a  few 
drops  of  the  dilute  acid  on  a  filter  and  sees  the 
paper  and  substance  he  is  working  with  both 
disappear.  Such  things  occur  in  the  labora- 
tory, and  a  whole  afternoon's  work  is  lost 
through  some  one's  carelessness. 

The  Glee  Club  has  organized,  with  Mr. 
Camp  of  Wesleyan,  as  leader,  and  with  the 
following  members:  First  Tenors — Cotiart,'86; 
Fuchs,  '86;  Smith,  '87;  McElroy,  '87.  Second 
Tenors— Baldwin,  '85;  Lilly, '86;  Morton, '86; 
Crisfield,  '87;  Flack,  '87.  First  Basses— E.  Bur- 
horn,  85;  Coker,  '88;  Fuller,  '88;  McLean,  '88. 
Second  Basses — N.  McLean,  '85;  Clerk,  '85; 
Hart,  '87;  H.  Hubbard, '88. 

A  new  branch  of  engineering  is  being  inau- 
gurated with  the  Freshmen  in  Prof.  Mac- 
Cord's  department.  It  is  the  laying  out  of 
race  courses.  The  designs  produced  are  ex- 
cellent ;  indeed,  it  is  acknowledged  by  fre- 
quenters of  the  turf  that  courses  of  elliptical 
form  are  the  best.  Such  is  the  conclusion  that 
one  arrives  at  after  seeing  some  ellipses,  so 
called,  constructed  by  Freshmen  evidently 
unsparing  of  ink. 

The  prevailing  fashion  this  winter,  accord- 
ing to  one  in  authority,  is  thus  disclosed  during 
a   conversation.      Scene — High    Life.      First 


Young  Lady  (criticising  friend's  taste,  empha- 
tically)— "  Well,  I  shall  wear  nothing  but  linen 
collars  and  cuffs."  Second  Young  Lady — 
"  Well,  I  expect  to  use  nothing  but  lace  this 
winter."  And  the  weather  prophets  all  pre- 
dict "  cold  winter"  too.  Can't  the  Legislature 
interfere  ? 

We  have  all  enjoyed  Thanksgiving,  every- 
one of  us,  including  our  worthy  janitor.  His 
turkey  must  have  grown  in  richer  fields  than 
those  of  Jersey,  for  it  has  left  unmistakable 
marks  behind  that  would  lead  us  to  suppose 
the  turkey  had  tried  to  eat  our  worthy  janitor. 
Still  we  are  in  error,  for  o.  w.  janitor  states 
that  his  turkey  positively  was  "cooked  brown," 
and  that  "  a  stone  fell  up  from  the  roof  and 
hit  him  in  the  face."     Strange  ! 

It  is  reported  that  the  students  will  be  pro- 
hibited from  taking  machines  apart,  and  that, 
from  this  time  on,  all  machine  sketches  will 
have  to  be  made  from  patterns  and  from 
models.  This,  we  fear,  will  take  away  that 
interest  which  is  always  invested  in  a  machine 
if  we  know  it  is  a  real  one,  and  which  mere 
"mummies"  cannot  sustain.  Then,  too, 
patterns  are  always  made  purposely  a  trifle 
too  large,  hence  accuracy  of  proportions  could 
not  be  attained. 

The  Sophs  are  very  much  pleased  with 
Prof.  Kroeh's  final  French  examination,  since 
they  become  quite  proficient  as  copyists  in 
transcribing  from  the  Comptes  Rendus  that 
which  each  one  is  to  translate.  We  think 
greater  satisfaction  would  result  if  students 
were  allowed  to  take  any  books,  except  those 
which  could  not  be  replaced,  from  the  library, 
to  be  returned  within  a  given  time,  for  our 
library  is  not  what  a  library  should  be;  it  is 
simply  a  thoroughfare,  and  a  dimly  lighted 
one  at  that,  even  for  this  purpose,  not  to  speak 
of  the  former. 

We  do  not  understand  why  the  building  should 
be  flooded  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen.  Of 
course,  we  are  rather  fond  of  the  pleasing  odor, 
but  to  the  uninitiated  entering  our  halls  it  would 
seem  to  be  a  needless  waste  of  "  fragrance." 
We  are  not  allowed  the  use  of  th  e  gas  genera- 
tor in  the  basement,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  in- 
adequate to  the  demands  of  difew  students,  yet 
the  whole  building  can  be  surcharged  with  the 
soothing  mixture,  and  the  generator,  when 
visited  after  the  lower  rooms  had  signified  a 
plenty  and  the  upper  floors  were  receiving 
their  share,  was  as  lively  as  -ever,  and  showed 
a  willingness  to  force  the  roof  off  if  given  time. 


TH£    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


Hi 


FBRSe^AUS. 


'8 1 

A.  C.  Humphreys  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  American  Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers 
at  their  recent  meeting  held  in  New  York. 

'84. 

W.  S.  Aldrich  had  charge  of  the  Ball  En- 
gine exhibit  at  the  recent  Electrical  Exhi- 
bition in  Philadelphia. 

J.  A.  Bensel  is  with  the  Engineer  Corps  of 
the  Pennsylvania  R.  R.  in  the  Maintenance  of 
Way  Department  at  Jersey  City. 

A.  Faber  du  Faur,  Jr.,  is  with  Van  Sant- 
vobrd  &  Hanff,  patent  attorneys,  41  Park 
Row,  N.  Y.  City. 

R.  C.  Fearn  will  have  charge  of  the  ex- 
hibit of  the  Atlanta  Engineering  Co.  at  the 
New  Orleans  Exposition. 

W.  H.  Pierce,  Jr.,  is  with  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  &  Baltimore  R.R.  at  Wilmington, 
Del. 

Kenneth  Torrance  is  in  the  Testing  De- 
partment of  the  Worthington  Pump  Works,  in 

Brooklyn. 

W.  S.  TuTTLE  is  with  the  Ferracule  Ma- 
chine Co.  at  Bridgeton,  N.  J. 

Lyall,  Morris,  Rea  and  Wurts  are  in 
Germany,  and  have  constituted  Hanover  as 
their  place  of  rendezvous. 


-♦-♦■ 


exGgB^SBS. 


The  American  Engineer  of  Nov.  21  has 
a  comprehensive  discussion  of  the  "  New 
Standard  of  Horse  Power  of  Boilers,"  which 
all  should  familiarize  themselves  with.  In  the 
time  of  Watt,  the  figure  was  one  cubic  foot  of 
water  evaporated  per  hour,  that  amount  being 
fully  adequate  to  develop  a  horse  power  in  the 
steam  engine  of  that  time.  Since  that  date, 
however,  engines  have  been  greatly  improving, 
until  at  the  present  time  about  thirty  pounds 


of  steam  per  hour  per  horse  power  only  is 
needed  in  a  good  non -condensing  engine.  The 
standard  since  1876  has  been  the  evaporation 
of  thirty  pounds  of  water  with  dry  steam  from 
feed  water  at  100  degrees  Fahr.,  and  under  a 
pressure  of  seventy  pounds  per  square  inch 
above  the  atmosphere. 

The  standard  recommended  by  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers 
on  Boiler  Trials,  is  the  equivalent  of  an  evap- 
oration of  34i  pounds  of  water  from  feed 
water  at  212  degrees  Fahr.'  into  steam  at  the 
same  temperature. 

In  the  same  journal  is  given  an  abridged  re- 
port of  U.  S.  Testing  Board,  Prof.  R.  H. 
Thurston,  Chairman,  on  alloys  of  copper,  zinc 
and  tin.  The  original  report  contains  sixty 
printed  pages  covered  with  tables  of  the  tests 
of  each  alloy. 

The  Amateur  Mechanics,  a  London  ex- 
change, is  a  thirty-five  page  journal  full  of  in- 
teresting and  instructive  matter  in  language 
intended  to  be  understood  by  all.  Its  nu-. 
merous  illustrations  are  a  sign  of  enterprise 
and  prosperity. 

Among  the  college  journals  the  exchange 
editor  finds  a  large  mass  of  books  of  various 
forms  and  colors,  and  of  variable  merit.  The 
stock  of  personals  and  locals  are,  of  course, 
little  intended  to  interest  those  outside,  so 
they  are  hastily  scanned.  Occasionally  a  good 
article  is  hit  upon. 

The  Amherst  Student  has  a  funny  man  who 
had  discovered  a  way  to  encourage  contribu- 
tors to  the  paper.  He  offers  two  dollars  for  the 
funniest  article  handed  to  him  before  the  next 
issue.  We  fear  it  will  come  to  this  before  The 
Indicator  gets  many  contributions  from 
alumni  or  students. 

Another  Chronicle  tells  us  all  about  affairs 
at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 


-•-♦♦►•^ 


G6UUB6B  WeRUB. 


Harvard. — A  new  club,  called  the  Shakes- 
peare Club,  has  recently  been  formed. All 

the  studies  are  now  elective. The  question 

of  compulsory  attendance  at  morning  prayers 
is  again  agitated. 


144 


THE  STEVENS  INDICA  TOR. 


Yale. — There  will  be  two  weeks  recess  at 
Christmas  instead  of  three,  as  fonnerly;  but 
to  make  up  for  this,  Commencement  comes  a 

week  earlier. One  of  the  studies  taken  by 

the  Senior  class  is  considered  so  difficult  by 
the  instructor,  that  he  has  given  them  per- 
mission to  use  "skinning  papers." 

Princeton. — A  plan  is  on  fool  to  give  a 
course  of  twelve  entertainments,  consistmg  of 
lectures,  readings  and  concerts,  during  the 
coming  winter;  for  this  purpose  a  theatre  has 
been  secured. 

Cornell. — Mr.  Hiram  Sibley  has  again 
come  forward  with  pecuniary  assistance  for 
the  University.  A  series  of  shops  is  in  pro- 
cess of  erection.  The  work  done  in  these 
shops  will  be  practical,  and  some  of  the  articles 
made  by  the  students  will  be  sold,  thus  making 
the  shops  partly  self-supporting.  In  addition 
there  will  be  a  mechanical  laboratory  to  be 
used  in  testing  materials,  etc.  For  a  fuller 
account  of  the  shops,  we  refer  to  the  American 
Engineer. The  Freshmen,  with  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Juniors,  have  published  a  resolu- 
tion condemmng  cane  rushes. 

In  General. — A  Chinese  girl  is  studying 

at  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. Of  eight 

^200  scholarships  recently  awarded  at  Cornell, 
four  went  to  lady  students. With  the  ex- 
ception of  Harvard,  the  Mass.  Institute  of 
Technology  has  the  largest  Freshman  class  of 

any  college, The  legislative  body  of  Ireland 

has  desired  to  open  next  year  a  Public  Insti- 
tute of  Ireland. Out  of  1,500  students  at 

Oberlin,  last  year,  only  one  took  the  scientific 
course. Some  of  the  students  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan  are  asking  for  the  organi- 
zation of  a  battalion  and   the  appointment  of 

an  army  officer  to  instruct  them. At  Queen's 

College,  Kingston,  students  are  not  allowed  to 
recite    or  attend   lectures  unless   clad   in  the 

prescribed  academic    gown. Brown   is    to 

have  an  ^0,000  gymnasium,  and  Exeter,  one 
costing  $50,000. 


OBrPPIRES. 


A  posteriori  reasoning;  "  Dear  me,"  gasped 
Mrs.  Knowall,  "  there  is  a  terrible  item  in  the 
paper.  My,  how  the  poor  man  must  have 
suffered !" 

"  What  is  it  ?"  asked  her  husband,  coming 
to  her  side. 


"  Why,  one  of  these  poor  walknifia 
fellows  swallowed  a  sponge." 

"  What !     Let  me  see  !" 

After  carefully  reading  the  article  1 
threw  the  paper  down,  growling  ; 

"  You  women  ain't  got  a  grain  of  sense ;  it   . 
don't  say  he  swallowed  a  sponge." 

"  I  know  it  don't  in  those  exact  wordi,** 
answered  his  wife,  then  brightly  coatinue^  1 
"  but  how  could  he  throw  up  the  sponge  if  be  \ 
didn't  swallow  it?" 

— Specvimn 

Visitor — "Does  not  smoking  interfere  wiUl| 
drawing?"    Draughtsman — "  Oh,  no!  In  ord 
to  smoke  I  have  to  draw." 

Professor  in  Systematic  Theology- 
is  the  lesson  to-day,  gentlemen  ? "     Studtent- 
"  It   begins  at   good  aifgels  and  goes  to  ^ 
devil."— .£*. 

AN  UNKISSED  RISSL 

1  wished — if  1  odIt  had  dared. 

Sbe  f lanUy  bcid  out  bei  tmall  tkutd  ; 
And  I  know  Ihal  she  mnildii't  have  carid. 

But  I  didn't  have  quite  enough  "  Mnd." 
I  was  making  my  fiicwell  call. 

For  B  moment  I  held  her  imall  huid ; 
■'  (iood  night,  Miss  Pauline  "—thai  wa*  aU. 

Do  you  think  that  she  wnold  have  cared? 
I  wish — if  I  only  had  dared. 

—Rttord. 

"  I  wish  you  were  taller,"  said  a  lady  ti 
famous  actor,    Garrick.      "  Madam,"  uid  li^jj 
"  I  should  be  very  happy  to  stand  hi^iet  m 
your  estimation." — £x. 

When  a  man  sets  about  painting  the  t 
red,  he  very  rarely  uses  water  colors.— Zi/*, 

Teacher — "Feminine    of    friar?"        Fim/^ 
Bright   Boy — "  Hasn't  any."     Second   Bri|^  1 
Boy—"  Nun."       Teacher—"  That's     ri^it. 
First  Bright  Boy—"  That's  just  what  I     '  *  "* 
— Harper's. 


Hark  \   and  oh  hear,  the  piano  i>  b    ^    ^ 

(Sonnet  and  canticle,  chant  and  k'm)-^ 
The  fellow  upstairs  his  guitar  is  a-lwanging. 

The  children  are  ungiDg  a  jubilee. 
Ju«.|  over  the  way  iher?B  a  banjo.  I  think. 
With  its  "  Pink-a-punk-pank,  punk,  pink,  paok,  pimk ;" 
And  down  at  the  comer  (he  man  with  the  Hate 
Is  rending  the  night  with  a  tootle-too-loot 
And  00m  pah-pab,  00m  pah-pah,  bia-a,  bra-a,  boc 
The  lira**  band  is  practising  up  In  itaraom. 


THE   STFl'FtfH  INDICATOR. 


I 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technolog)j 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOUNDED   BY  THE    LATE  EDWIN   A,  STEVENS. 
— *i — 


HOBOKEN.  N     I 


13.  E.  i 
f  A-  RlL 


UENRT  UORTON.  Ph-  D.. 
ALFRFn  r,  MAYSR,  Ph.  D 

ROBET'  '  ■'  -- .— ,.T  . 

OE  V.:- 

c  w 

ALBE 

■ CHA 

^H  REV 


ixi- 


Plmr-,.r 


E'roC  at  ExpenmcDUl  Mrcluutiu  kodjT 
I&atructoT  va  U«d^ 

■  ■  r  of  M*Hin*  Enclcc^rlnt  «sd  ln*trritror  fc  Msrt 


H.  MORTON.  Hcbolcon 


V 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHO( 


THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

RiyER  STREET,  bet.  Sth  and  6th.  HOBOKEN.  .V  .. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER  17.  1884. 

ZumlniUDRH  roi  Admlaelan  ul  Uie  IStb  and  I6ib  ot  Sft^.«ii<u« 

iNSTRUCTIOit  CTVEN  IN  THE  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN  UNGUAQES:  i: 
HAND  AND  MECHANICAL  DRAWING 


^ 


JUNIOK  DEPARTMENT, 
SEHIOM  OepARTMENT, 


900.00  PER  ANMUm 
SISO.OO   PER  AMNUNI 


For  CftUJSCUM  *PPiy  ^  K^-  Mtinrlan  ot  EU)T«n* 


k? 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


This  condition  of  affairs  could  not  long 
continue.  Revolution  was  inevitable.  The 
'revival  of  learning  began ,  and  with  it  there 
arose  a  few  great  men,  who,  by  their  bold  op- 
position to  time  honored  bigotry,  were  to  wm 
from  future  generations  that  proudest  of  all 
names — the  name  of  hero.  Copernicus  was 
the  first,  and  his  dying  legacy  to  men  was  a 
firebrand  which  Galileo  caught  up  and  hurled 
into  the  very  centre  of  the  Vatican.  This  set 
the  world  on  fire.  A  new  truth  had  been  dis- 
covered, the  infallibility  of  the  church  had 
been  shattered  and  science  had  begun.  In 
vain  the  Pope  coaxed  and  threatened,  banned 
and  anathematized.  In  vain  the  Inquisition 
performed 'its  horrid  work.  All  these  were 
but  passing  hindrances  to  the  resistless  ad- 
~vance  of  the  newly  founded  truth.  Men  must 
think,  and  intellect  must  be  free. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  new  truths  have 
always  begun  as  heresies.  Science,  as  well  as 
religion,  has  her  long  list  of  martyred  heretics; 
as  Galileo  had  to  suffer  for  preaching  the  im- 
pious doctrine  that  the  earth  moves,  so  all 
great  leaders  in  science,  from  this  day  to  the 
present  time,  have  been  forced  to  endure  some 
form  of  martyrdom.  Their  lives  have  been 
self  sacrificing  and  heroic,  and  the  tardy  hon- 
ors of  the  world  have  generally  been  bestowed 
only  upon  their  memories.  Such  men  were 
Harvey  and  Jenner ;  the  one,  for  his  discov- 
ery of  the  circulation  of  blood,  persecuted  to 
poverty  and  death ;  the  other,  after  his  great 
discovery  of  vaccination,  regarded  by  his 
former  associates  with  loathing,  as  but  little 
better  than  a  brute.  It  was  this  spirit  of  hero- 
ism that  guided  the  helm  of  Captain  Cook's 
little  vessel  as  she  bore  the  bold  sailor  through 
unexplored  seas  from  pole  to  pole.  It  was 
this  spirit  that  sustained  the  hearts  of  Living- 
stone and  Stanley  while  facing  the  death 
charged  wilds  of  Africa,  and  it  was  this  spirit 
that  led  Layard  and  Rawlinson  to  brave  the 
malarial  dangers  of  their  antiquarian  exhuma- 
tions in  the  Orient.  The  illustrious  Darwin, 
regarded  by  ecclesiastics  of  every  sect  as  a 
kind  of  scape  goat  for  the  whole  human  race, 
denounced,  ridiculed,  spurned  from  pulpit  and 
platform,  for  long  years  in  bold  defiance  of 
public  prejudice,  continued  his  toilsome  search 
for  truth,  and  to-day  the  thinking  world  hon- 
ors him  for  it  and  builds  monuments  to  his 
heroic  memory.  But  we  need  not  leave  home 
for  examples,when  each  day  we  are  reminded  by 
that  airy  structure  floating  gracefully  between 
our  two  cities,  of  one  from  whose  strength  and 
health   and  life,  it  may  be,  its  fabric  has  been 


woven.  You  may  search  the  pages  of  history, 
ancient,  mediaeval  and  modem,  and  from  every 
chapter,  from  every  page,  this  idea  will  con- 
front you — the  men  of  science  are  all  heroes. 
The  spirit  of  this  mighty  phalanx  rivals  that 
of  Sparta.  Trials,  deprivation,  torture,  death 
are  the  hardships  by  which  they  have  won 
their  victories. 

But  what  has  this  heroism  accomplished? 
It  has  by  a  persistent  effort  overcome  this  op- 
position which  so  long  retarded  it.     It  has 
converted  religion  from  hostility  to  friendship, 
and,  by  acting  as  a  ^eat  commentary  on  the 
Bible,  has  rendered  mvaluable  service  to  the 
cause  of  divine  truth.     By  the  aid  of  this  light 
we  are  enabled  to  see  more  clearly  the  great- 
ness of  the  divine  mind,  and  to  form  some 
slight  conception  of  the  sublimity  of  God's 
provision  for  man.     But  it  is  in  material  results 
that  most  has  been  accomplished.     There  is 
scarcely  a  convenience  or  a  comfort  that  dis- 
tinguishes the  civilized  present  from  the  bar- 
barous past  that  is  not  due  to  the  heroic  ef- 
forts of  science.     Even  that  which  we  most 
frequently  ascribe  to  nature,  is   only  nature 
harnessed  by  the  scientist  to  do  our  bidding. 
But  the  best  example  of  the  results  of  sci- 
ence is  the  nineteenth  century  itself.     Living 
as  we  do  in  an  age  of  activity,  we  are  not  dis- 
posed to  sit  calmly  down  and  institute  com- 
parisons between  the  centuries.    Yet,  without 
comparison, we  are  conscious  that  we  live  in  an 
age  of  marvels  paralleled  only  by  the  age  of 
Hebraic  miracles.     Indeed,  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  the  triumphs  of  science  in  the  last  seventy 
years  are  greater  than  the  combined  scientific 
achievement  of  all  the  preceding  ages  of  man. 
What  better  proof   does   this  assertion  need 
than  the  events  that  are  occurring  every  day 
around  us  in  the  application  of  electricity  to 
the  common  affairs  of  life  ?    In  a  word,  science 
is  the  grand  impetus  that  impels  mankind. 

It  is  a  trite  saying  that  *  to-morrow  never 
comes."  What  we  now  designate  as  to-morrow, 
when  it  comes,  is  called  to-day.  And  so  it  is 
in  science.  The  continuity  of  its  progress  is 
unbroken.  The  dreams  of  the  past  are  re- 
alized in  the  present :  the  unsolved  mysteries 
of  this  generation  will  become  commonplace 
facts  in  the  next.  But  the  men  of  science  are 
ever  looking  onward  and  upward  into  that 
time  which  lies  beyond,where  the  goal  of  their 
hopes  may  yet  be  reached  ;  and  they  are  led 
by  a  guiding  star,  whose  light,  as  steadfast  as 
truth  and  as  pure  as  religion,  must  sometime 
illumine  the  world. 

C. 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


WHEN  I  FIRST  CAME  TO  STEVENS. 


Some  one  has  said  that  a  person  can  live 
for  years  at  a  place  and  yet  will  not  notice 
things  which  seem  very  prominent  to  a  stranger. 
It  seems  as  if  habit  dulls  the  faculty  of  per- 
ception and  contrast  sharpens  it.  In  proof  of 
this  let  one  of  our  acquaintances,  whom  we 
have  been  accustomed  to  see  with  turned  down 
collar  and  moustache,  come  out  the  next  day 
with  a  cuff  around  his  neck  and  ''  sideboards  " 
on  his  cheeks,  how  promptly  this  change  will 
be  noticed!  or  else,  let  your  lady  friend  forget 
to  "  put  on  "  her  false  teeth — do  you  mean  to 
say  that  you  would  not  "  catch  on  "  immedi- 
ately ?  Of  course  I  know  very  well  that  you 
would  be  polite  enough  not  to  let  her  see  that 
you  find  something  missing,  but  still — you  are 
not  blind! 

So  it  was  with  me.     Coming  from  the  every- 
day life  of  the  world,  I  could  see  on  being 
launched,  so  to  speak,  in   your  midst,  many 
things  ivhich  no  doubt  have  been  passed  over 
by  you  as  deserving  no  attention.     You  re- 
minded me  of  the  ignorant  barbarian,  who 
looks  up  to  the  sky,  not  at  all  surprised  to  find 
there  the  glorious  sun  apparently  gliding  on 
gently  to  yonder  blue  mountain  chain;  it  is  so 
natural^  people  say,  that  it  is  hardly  worth 
while  glancing  at.     I  was,  like  the  inhabitant 
of  some  distant  star,  suddenly  dropped  on  our 
earth.    What  I  saw  and  noticed  I  shall  im- 
part to  you. 

First  of  all,  there  was  that  building,  mas- 
sive, heavy,  simple!  The  architect  of  those 
fough  hewn  stones  evidently  thought  that 
**  beauty  unadorned  was  adorned  the  most." 
Still,  I  know  not  why,  the  structure  looked  to 
me  like  a  stronghold,  a  fort  or  a  monastery. 
It  required  very  little  imagination  to  fancy 
those  colossal  embankments  "  peopled  "  with 
cannons  and  similar  toys.  But  lo!  it  could 
not  be  a  fort  nor  a  cloister;  now,  indeed,  I 
thought  of  a  lunatic  asylumn,  for  on  a  green 
lawn  a  wild  assemblage  of  wilder  folks  were 
torturing  what  seemed  to  me  a  rather  large 
watermelon.  One  of  the  fellows,  trying  to 
stop  the  rebellious  watermelon,  was  knocked 
down,  and  soon  lay  buried  under  a  pile  of 
other  kicking  individuals,  all  of  whom  were 
anxious  to  deal  that  poor  watermelon  a  blow. 
Not  seeing  any  keepers  around,  I  naturally 
concluded,  after  some  hesitation,  that  the 
house  was  not  an  asylum.  Then  at  last  I  saw 
various  books  strewed  all  over  the  field,  and 
five  young  men  on  the  stoop  with  "  Tam 
O'Shanters,"  whose  (not  the  T.  O'S.'s)  chief 


characteristic  was — a  paper  cigarette,  which 
facts  convinced  me  beyond  a  doubt  that  the 
building  was  the  place  I  sought  for.  Muster- 
ing up  courage,  I  stepped  in  to  look  around. 

The  first  thing  that  struck  my  view  was  an 
old  coffin  in  the  corner  with  a  narrow  hole  at 
the  top,  and  closed  by  a  huge  padlock.  (This 
I  was  told  was  the  letter  box).  Right  next  to 
it  I  saw  something  white  on  the  wall;  looking 
nearer  I  found  that  it  was  a  bulletin  board, 
probably  made  of  wood.  I  say  probably  be- 
cause all  I  could  distinguish  was  the  beauti- 
ful tapestry  of  boarding  house  advertisements. 
There  was  also  a  so-called  rooster^  which  gave 
the  names  of  all  the  professors,  with  numbers 
after  every  one  of  them  (probably  marks  for 
deportment).  I  found  out  also  that  some- 
body had  a  set  of  drawing  instruments  for 
sale,  and  other  very  interesting  matter. 

Opposite  the  door  is  a  small  staircase, 
which  leads  down  to  the — well,  I  was  afraid 
to  descend,  so  that  I  cannot  tell  you.  The 
door  of  the  chemical  laboratory  was  closed 
at  the  time,  so  that  I  escaped  uninjured 
to  the  so-called  library.  Books  there  were, 
indeed,  stored  away  in  beautiful  order  in  the 
cases,  and  on  the  shelves,  but  the  five  Tam 
O'Shanters  with  the  cigarettes  had  in  the  mean- 
while left  off  their  amusing  operation  of  gap- 
ing at  the  passers  by,  and  had  seated  themselves 
in  romantic  groups  on  the  tables  and  on  the 
chairs.  How  kind  it  was  of  the  builder  to  fas- 
ten these  chairs  and  tables  with  immovable 
patent  bolts  to  the  floor  !  for  the  mere  thought 
of  a  cigarette,  I  mean  a  Tam  O'Shanter,  with 
his  feet  high  up  in  the  air,  and  balanced  on  a 
shaky  chair,  makes  my  hair  stand  on  end. 

Suddenly  a  fire  alarm  was  sounded.  The 
men  ran  in  from  the  lawn,  and  prepared  them- 
selves, not  to  extinguish  the  fire,  because  there 
was  none,  but  to  go  to  their  respective  recita- 
tions. Soon  the  Tam  O'Shanters  disappeared, 
leaving  only  gas  and  smoke  behind  them,  and 
I  was  left  alone  with  the  books. 

Now  the  door  of  the  laboratory  was  slowly 
opened,  a  small  boy  looked  cautiously  around, 
and  finding  no  one  stepped  boldly  out  drag- 
ging a  j^«//<fr  dog  as  big  as  himself.  An  elderly 
bare  faced  professor  (at  least  that  is  what  I 
thought  he  was,  but  found  out  later  th«t  he  was 
the  son  of  O'W.  Donald  the  Great)  was  kind 
enough  to  open  the  door  with  an  important  air 
for  the  dog  and  the  boy,  and  then  to  go  away 
his  head  bowed  down,  his  hands  dangling  at 
his  side  with  an  uncertain  motion,  and  with  his 
feet  sometimes  apparently  getting  in  his  way. 
In  a  tone   of    voice   that   would   have    been 


i 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


musical  had  it  not  been  out  of  tune,  thrice  he 
called  out  solemnly:  "Oh,  George!  George! 
George! "  And  echo  answered — ^but  you  know 
what  echo  always  answers,  don't  you  ? 

That  day  I  did  not  get  any  further  than  the 
library,  so  that  my  tale  of  one  day  is  told.  If 
you  want  to  hear  the  others,  you  will  have  to 
wait  till  the  next  Indicator  appears. 

Expecting   that  you  will    buy   up   all   the 
copies  in  advance,  I  humbly  inform  you  that 
I  am  a  Fresh  Man. 
« #  » » 


JUSTICE  TO  STOVES. 

In  the  fall  the  rural  householder  brings 
forth  the  stove  from  its  six  months'  imprison- 
ment, and  with  fear  and  trembling  undertakes 
the  dangerous  task  of  putting  it  up.  Few 
fatal  stove  casualties  are  reported  by  the  press, 
but  the  sudden  and  enormous  increase  in  the 
demand  for  arnica  and  divorces,  which  is 
shown  by  the  records  of  rural  druggists  and 
rural  courts,  and  which  occurs  every  fall,  is  a 
sad  proof  of  the  danger  which  menaces  the 
man  who  grapples  with  a  large  and  violent 
stove. 

There  is  a  melancholy  sameness  in  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  stove  displays  its  unwilling- 
ness to  be  handled  by  man.     Like  the  scor- 
pion, which  argues  with  its  tail,  the  stove  uses 
its  articulated  pipe  as  its  instrument  of  attack 
and   defence:      So   long  as  the   householder 
confines   himself   to  carrying  the  stove  from 
place  to  place,  it  rarely  attacks  him,  but  no 
sooner  does  he  meddle  with  its  pipe  than  its 
fury  is  aroused.     His  first  effort  is  to  connect 
the  lower  joints  of  the  pipe  with  one  another, 
and  here  he  is  met  by  a  determined  obstinacy 
which  is  worthy  of  an  independent  and  self- 
poised  pig,  or  even  of  an  experienced  army 
mule.     The  joints  refuse   to   come   together, 
and  bend  all  their  energy  toward  gratifying  a 
fiendish  thirst  for  fingers.     Sometimes,  after  a 
long   struggle,    the   wrong  joints   are   forced 
together,  and  when  the  householder  discovers 
his  mistake,  they  refuse  to  be  separated  except 
at  the   price  of   more  blood   and  additional 
scraps  of  cuticle.     Nothing  but  cool  bravery 
and  det^fmined  perseverance  will  succeed  in 
properly  joining  the  three  lower  joints  of  a 
stove  pipe,  and  when   this  victory  has   been 
won,  the  worst  of  the  battle  is  yet  to  come. 
It  is  not  until  the  householder  has  mounted 
a   step  ladder,  and  undertakes   to  place   the 
upper  "  elbow  "  on  the  pipe  and  to  insert  it  in 
the  chimney,  that  the   strength,  activity  and 


malignity  of  the  stove  pipe  is  fully  displayed. 
Its  favorite  feat  is  to  release  itself  suddenly 
from  the  hands  of  its  antagonist,  strike  his 
foot  with  its  whole  weight  and  its  sharpest 
edge,  and  then  to  roll  on  the  floor  in  evident 
convulsions  of  joy.  Occasionally  the  upper 
"elbow"  makes  a  vicious  plunge  for  the 
householder's  head,  and  instances  are  on 
record  in  which  it  has  violently  torn  his  nose 
from  its  foundation  or  driven  its  fangs  deep 
into  his  skull.  Efforts  to  subdue  it  with  clubs 
or  hanmiers  are  seldom  effective.  Usually 
the  more  the  stove  pipe  is  pounded  the  more 
unruly  it  becomes,  and  the  more  resolutely  it 
refuses  to  enter  the  chimney  hole  or  to  adhere 
to  the  stove. 

Startling  as  the  assertion  may  seem,  it  is  by 
no  means  certain  that  these  terrible  conflicts 
are  necessary,  or  that  mankind  cannot  live  on 
peaceable  terms  with  stoves  and  stove  pipes. 
It  is  an  assumption,  which  is  unsustained  by 
satisfactory  evidence,  that  the  stove  is  neces- 
sarily untamable. 

There  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  were 
the  stove  treated  kindly  and  intelligently,  it 
would  become  as  harmless  as  the  grate  or  the 
furnace. 

Professional  stove  fanciers  who  deal  in 
stoves  never  have  any  difl&culty  with  them, 
and  can  always  put  up  a  stove  without  exciting 
it  to  the  slightest  demonstration  of  hostility. 
The  average  householder  is  probably,  to  a  very 
great  extent,  responsible  for  the  violence  and 
bad  temper  of  which  he  accuses  the  stove. 
He  keeps  it  during  the  summer  in  close  con- 
finement, where  it  mentally  rests  and  naturally 
grows  morose.  He  does  not  make  himself 
familiar  with  it  and  accustom  it  to  be  han- 
dled, but  relies  wholly  upon  his  brute  strength 
to  keep  it  in  subjection.  Moreover,  it  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  when  he  mounts  the 
step  ladder  for  the  decisive  struggle,  he  is 
almost  invariably  hot  and  excited.  The 
presence  of  his  wife,  who  stands  near  the  foot 
of  the  ladder,  expressing  those  mild  and  im- 
practicable views  as  to  the  uses  of  the  ham- 
mer, which  are  so  characteristic  of  her  sex, 
and  so  well  adapted  to  madden  the  other,  has 
also  its  share  in  increasing  his  nervousness 
and  in  rendering  him  unfit  to  deal  with  his 
difficult  task.  In  these  circumstances  he  is 
apt  to  resort  to  hard  and  violent  treatment 
where  it  is  not  needed,  and  he  ought  not  to 
wonder  if  he  thereby  excites  the  fear  and  re- 
sentment of  which  he  subsequently  complains. 
The  mere  fact  that  when  a  man  is  standing  on 
a  step  ladder  with  a  stove  pipe  in  his  arms,  he 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


betrays  a  readiness  to  undervalue  his  wife's 
intellect,  and  to  accuse  her  of  "everlasting 
chattering,"  speaks  volumes  as  to  his  state  of 
mind.  The  disasters  incident  to  the  season 
of  putting  up  stoves  are  proofs,  not  of  the 
wildness  of  stoves,  but  of  the  irritability 
of  husbands,  and  it  may  be  safely  asserted 
that  an  irritable  man  is  unfit  to  deal  with 
stoves  or  with  any  domestic  animals.  Let  us 
then,  instead  of  persistently  treating  the  stove 
as  though  it  were  the  inveterate  enemy  of  the 
race,  try  the  effect  of  kindness  and  gentleness. 
Weeks  before  the  stove  is  to  be  put  up, 
the  pipe  should  be  brought  out  and  accus- 
tomed to  the  presence  of  the  family.  Its  joints 
should  be  allowed  to  lie  on  the  rug  or  under 
the  table,  and  from  time  to  time  they  should 
be  gently  brought  into  contact,  so  as  to  accus- 
tom them  to  their  approaching  duty.  When 
the  hour  for  putting  up  the  stove  arrives,  the 
householder  should  send  his  wife  out  of  town, 
and  after  engaging  a  large  Irishman  with  a  club 
to  remain  within  call  in  case  of  any  extreme 
violence  on  the  part  of  the  stove,  he  should 
proceed  to  put  it  up  alone.  Possibly  this 
course  of  treatment  might  fail  of  securing  the 
desired  end,  but  at  all  events  it  is  worth  try- 
ing. The  assumption  that  intelligent  men 
cannot  live  in  peace  with  stoves  is  simply  dis- 
graceful, and  all  humane  persons  should  be 
anxious  to  prove  its  falsity  without  delay. 

W.  L.  Alden, 

"  Domestic  Explosives." 


« ♦  » » 


ei^sr^BBRiF^s  i^eiFes. 


The  Rockaway  Electrical  Railroad  Com- 
pany has  been  recently  incorporated,  and  a 
survey  for  the  proposed  line  has  been  made 
between  Far  Rockaway  and  Rockaway  Beach, 
which  makes  the  length  of  the  road  about  five 
miles.  The  road  is  expected  to  be  opened 
for  travel  by  the  first  of  July;  contracts  for 
building  are  soon  to  be  made,  and  the  work  will 
be  commenced  immediately  after.  It  is  in- 
tended to  lay  the  rails  on  an  iron  super- 
structure, similiar  to  that  of  the  New  York 
elevated  railway. 

One  of  the  largest  stationary  engines  in  the 
world  is  the  pumping  engine  "President,"  at 
the  Friedensville  zinc  mines,  Lehigh  County, 
Pennsylvania.     It  is  run  with  sixteen  boilers, 


and  develops  5,000  horsepower,  raising  17,500 
gallons  of  water  every  minute.  The  engine 
runs  with  extreme  smoothness,  making  seven 
revolutions  per  minute.  The  cylinder  is  no 
inches  in  diameter,  and  the  piston  rod 
eighteen  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  ten  foot 
stroke  ;  the  sweep  rod  is  forty  feet  long.  The 
boilers  consume  twenty-eight  tens  of  coal  every 
day. 

The  American  Engineer  gives  a  report  of  an 
interview  with  President  Morton,  in  which  he 
concurs  in  the  general  conclusion  that  the 
scheme  to  substitute  electricity  for  steam  as  a 
motive  power  on  the  lines  of  the  Manhattan 
Railway  is  perfectly  feasible.  He  concludes: 
"  Electricity  is  likely  to  take  the  place  of  steam 
power  gradually,  rather  than  with  a  boom,  and 
many  credulous  electricians  will  be  sadly  dis- 
appointed. Mr.  Edison  says  his  best  two  as- 
sistants came  from  Stevens  Institute,  and  we 
are  keenly  interested  in  electrical  science  here; 
but  10,000  mechanical  engineers  are  wanted 
to  every  ten  electricians,  and  it  would  be  a 
mistake  for  a  very  great  number  of  young  men 
to  determine  to  devote  themselves  to  electrical 
enterprise.  We  may  expect  great  things  from 
electricity,  but  we  must  not  expect  them  all 
to  arrive  in  one  day. " 

An  immense  locomotive  has  just  been  com- 
pleted at  the  Sacramento  shops  of  the  Cen- 
tral Pacific  Railroad.  The  total  length  of  the 
engine  and  tender  is  65  feet ;  it  has  five  pairs 
of  driving  wheels,  4  feet  9  inches  in  diameter, 
with  a  36  inch  stroke  ;  the  weight  of  the  en- 
gine is  73  tons,  the  weight  on  the  drivers  being 
64  tons.  The  total  weight  of  engine  and  ten- 
der is  100  tons.  Between  every  two  of  the 
driving  wheels  is  a  double  brake,  carefully  ad- 
justed so  that  equal  pressure  will  be  brought 
to  bear  upon  all  the  wheels  at  exactly  the 
same  time.  The  locomotive  is  known  by  the 
name  of  "  El  Gobernador,"  and  is  intended  for 
the  Techachipi  Pass,  in  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mountains,  California  ;  it  is  expected  to  do 
more  work  than  two  of  the  engines  now  used, 
with  less  consumption  of  fuel.  The  railway 
crossing  the  Techachipi  Pass  is  a  feat  of  ex- 
traordinary character  in  engineering.  At  a  first 
glance,  the  mountam  seems  a  formidable  and 
almost  unsurmountable  barrier.  It  rises  3,000 
feet  in  seven  miles.  The  intricacies  of  the  ap- 
proach are  utterly  confusing  at  first  sight,  and 
it  was  necessary  to  make  the  line  25  miles  long 
to  overcome  the  height,  even  with  an  equated 
grade  of  116  feet  to  the  mile.     The  road  at 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


one  point  is  made  to  describe  a  spiral,  so  that 
it  crossed  over  itself  at  a  height  of  97  feet 
above  the  lower  tunnel.  Such  is  the  field  of 
work  of  this  giant  locomotive." 

The  largest  of  the  Harris-Corliss  engines 
on  exhibition  at  the  New  Orleans  Exposition, 
from  Providence,  R.  I.,  was  started  up  on 
December  i.  It  runs  a  line  of  shafting  the 
entire  length  of  the  Exposition  building.  This 
engine  is  a  30  by  72  inch,  giving  750  horse 
power,  and  the  line  of  shafting  which  it  runs 
is  about  1,400  feet  in  length.  This  was  the 
first  to  start  in  the  Exposition. 

The  Washington  monument  is  protected 
from  lightning  by  the  following  novel  ex- 
pedient. The  apex  of  the  monument,  which 
is  a  conical  block  of  aluminum  of  consider- 
able size,  has  attached  to  its  bottom  part  a 
heavy  copper  bolt  which  is  at  once  divided  in- 
to four  parts,  one  of  these  being  carried  to 
each  of  the  four  heavy  columns  supporting 
the  elevator.  These  in  turn  are  connected 
with  the  well  near  the  base  of  the  monument, 
thus  forming  complete  connection  between 
its  summit  and  the  earth. 

The  present  year  has  seen  the  building  and 
equipment  of  the  fastest,  most  powerfully 
armed,  and  most  heavy  armored  war  ship  that 
has  yet  been  constructed.  This  year  has  also 
seen  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  armored  ships. 
Ericsson's  torpedo  boat  trials  have  demon- 
strated many  things,  and  among  others,  the  fact 
that  a  vessel  may  be  sent  to  the  bottom  with  a 
celerity  and  dispatch  which  make  her  armor  only 
valuable  as  a  sinker.  High  authorities  abroad 
have  expressed  the  opinion  recently  that,  in 
the  future,  it  would  not  be  worth  while  to 
attempt  to  keep  out  anything  except  the  balls 
from  machine  guns.  When  merchant  steamers 
can  make  from  twenty-one  to  twenty-two 
miles  per  hour,  the  vessels  of  war  must  not 
have  a  less  rate  of  speed  if  any  prizes  are  to 
be  taken.  If  the  armor  is  useless,  an  equal 
weight  in  the  engine  room  would  be  a  far 
better  investment.  If  torpedoes  or  torpedo 
boats  are  to  be  generally  used,  the  ship  of  the 
future  must  carry  her  armor  over  her  whole 
hull  if  she  is  to  be  protected.  It  is  even 
doubtful  if  the  "  Esmeralda's "  twenty-one 
inches  of  armor  would  keep  out  one  of  the 
torpedoes  used  by  Ericsson  on  his  boat  last 
summer.  If  these  would  not  carry  explosives 
enough  to  sink  a  ship,  it  is  an  easy  thing  to  en- 
large their  capacity  until  they  will  do  so. — In- 
dustrial Amercia, 


rF^BIGAHieR  GARBS. 

Evidently  this  column  of  our  Indicator  is 
in  great  demand.  There  are  many  cards 
which  we  wish  to  bulletin ;  but  because  they 
do  not  appear  in  this  number,  do  not  think 
that  they  have  been  forgotten.  However,  this 
card  is  aimed  directly  at  the  ubiquitous  and 
self  asserting  "  Preps,"  and  indirectly,  perhaps, 
at  some  one  else. 

We  refer  to  the  first  term  examination  in 
descriptive  geometry.  The  Sophomores  con- 
descended to  occupy  Prof.  Morton's  room — not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  they  were  obliged 
to  draw  the  figures  with  the  paper  on  their 
knees — in  order  that  the  "  Preps  "  might  enjoy 
the  luxury  of  Prof.  Wood's  room.  This,  to  put 
it  mildly,  is  a  downright  imposition.  The  un- 
dergraduates of  a  college  surely  have  prefer- 
ence as  regards  the  members  of  a  little  prepar- 
tory  school.  For  the  benefit  of  those  who  do  not 
know  our  sentiments  on  the  general  subject 
of  "  Preps,"  we  would  state  that  we  wish  the 
authorities  would  keep  the  animalsin  their  cage. 

The  class  of  '88  begins  the  year  with  a  new 
list  of  officers,  which  we  publish  in  another 
column.  Editorially,  we  would  like  to  give 
'88  a  few  words  of  advice.  To  begin  with, 
'88,  when  you  are  gathered  together  in  a  class 
meeting,  try  and  recollect  that  you  are  no 
longer  "  Preps,"  and  behave  with  becoming 
dignity.  Then  again,  '88,  get  a  copy  of 
Robert's  Manual,  and  require  your  officers  to 
post  themselves  on  the  more  important  rules 
for  governing  meetings.  Encourage  your  pre- 
siding officer  by  remaining  in  order  at  all 
times.  If  you  care  to  take  the  advice  of  those 
older  than  you,  the  business  formerly  trans- 
acted in  fifteen  minutes  may  be  done  in  five. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  it  was  an- 
nounced that  the  tool  room  attendant  would 
be  on  hand  half  an  hour  before  the  starting  of 
the  engine,  and  also  half  an  hour  after  work 
was  stopped.  Now  he  is  on  hand  according 
to  the  latter  clause,  but  when  one  wishes  to 
obtain  his  overalls  at  1 145,  he  is  not  able  to 
do  so.  For  those  who  wish  to  make  the  most 
of  their  limited  shop  hours,  this  is  extremely 
annoying.  The  student  should  be  able  to  have 
his  machine  in  readiness  to  start  with  the  en- 
gine, and  in  order  that  this  may  be  accom- 
plished, it  is  necessary  that  he  should  receive 
his  overalls  in  advance  of  this  time.  The  rule 
is  a  good  one,  and  The  Indicator  takes  it 
upon  itself  to  urge  that  it  be  enforced. 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


jphe  Stevens  iRdieafe®?. 


P1JBUSHSO  ON  THB 


t5«i  OF   EACH  MONTH,  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 


BY  THB 


INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVeD^  In^tiM  of  TeegnoIosJ. 


TERMS  ^-$1.60  per  Year,  In  Advance.     Single  Copy,  20  Cents. 


J*oi(  Qfin  M  AroM  CTmc  tUtUr. 


Extra  copUs  can  be  obtaimd  at  LuthirCs  book  store^ 
Hoboken,  N,  J. 

Subscribers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
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must  accompany  the  article^  as  assurance  of  good  faith 
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Exchanges^  contributions^  subscriptions^  advertisements 
and  all  other  communications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
toTniL  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  J/obohen, 

N.J. 


flFTERr  the  publication  of  The  Indicator 
for  December,  the  Board  of  Editors 
considered  it  expedient  to  prepare  a  report  of 
the  year's  work  ending  with  that  number. 
The  report  presented  was  a  complete  state- 
ment, from  the  first  number  to  the  last,  of  the 
year's  labors,  and  might  be  summed  up  some- 
what briefly. 

The  business  manager  reported  for  his 
department  the  pleasing  information  that  The 
Indicator  would  be  able  to  pay  all  claims 
against  it  up  to  date,  and  that  a  balance  of  some 
fifty  dollars  remained  with  which  to  begin  the 
second  year's  work.  This  fifty  dollars  balance,  it 
should  be  here  stated,  is  not  in  convenient  and 
available  form ;  it  is  a  balance  nevertheless  ; 
but  as  it  is  largely  made  up  of  unpaid  subscrip- 
tions, with  every  indication  of  their  remaining 


so,  it  may  safely  be  entered  in  the  profit  and 
loss  account. 

These  same  bad  debt  accounts  will  be  briefly 
foot-noted  and  kept  for  future  editors  to 
admire  and  shun. 

Next  presented  was  the  general  report  of 
the  year's  run,  including  everything  of  interest 
and  much  that  was  not.  Its  principal  points 
were  as  follows  :  From  a  business  point  of 
view.  The  Indicator  has  succeeded  quite  up 
to  the  general  expectation,  having  paid  all 
its  expenses  and  being  left  with  a  balance  of 
bad  debts  for  future  speculation.  As  a  paper, 
the  Board  was  unanimous  in  voting  the  cover 
a  success,  the  advertisements  good,  substan- 
tial and  worthy  of  solicitation  for  the  ensuing 
year.  The  literary  matter  furnished  by  the 
Board  was  commended  and  spoken  highly  of 
(by  the  Board),  but  the  question  was,  where 
did  it  all  originate  ! 

The  contributions  from  the  students  of  the 
Institute  were  the  subject  of  much  heated  dis- 
cussion, in  the  vain  endeavor  to  first  prove  that 
there  had  been  any,  and  then  the  not  less  diffi- 
cult task  of  finding  them.  Still  they  were 
found  and  presented,  four  in  number,  and  re- 
read with  considerable  curiosity. 

Four  contributions  from  one  hundred  and 
seventy  students  for  nine  issues  of  The  Indi- 
cator ! 

The  policy  of  the  paper  during  the  year  has 
been  of  a  varied  character.  In  the  beginning 
it  had  no  policy,  but  one  day  Mr.  Blaikie 
favored  us  with  a  most  entertaining  and 
instructive  talk  on  physical  culture.  Well,  it 
might  it  have  been  supposed  that  the  very 
stones  in  the  campus  would  have  reared  them- 
selves into  a  gymnasium  that  same  afternoon, 
such  was  the  unbounded  enthusiasm  and  grasp- 
ing after  the  unattainable  displayed.  The  In- 
dicator immediately  took  up  the  subject,  and 
became  eloquent  in  advocating  the  necessity 
of  a  gymnasium  (it  intends  to  continue  so 
doing),  and  hoped  in  the  course  of  time  to 
rouse  some  interest  among  the  students  ;  it 
suggested  plans  feasible  and  otherwise,  but  of 
no  avail.     We  are  still  watching  and  waiting 


[■ 


8 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


for  the  miraculous  appearance  of  a  well 
equipped  gymnasium.  But  enough  on, this 
want  of  college  feeling;  we  will  speak  of  it  in 
another  editorial.  The  gymnasium /it/iV^  fail- 
ing, there  was  a  relapse,  and  since  then  The 
Indicator  remained  true  to  its  first  love  and 
continued  without  a  policy. 

When  it  became  time  to  publish  the  Decem- 
ber Indicator,  the  editors  themselves  could 
scarcely  get  enough  matter  for  the  paper,  as 
examinations  required  nearly  all  their  extra 
minutes,  and  it  was  seen  at  once  that  an 
immediate  and  radical  change  was  necessary 
in  order  to  keep  the  paper  alive. 

The  matter  was  brought  before  a  meeting  of 
the  college  and  was  finally  settled  by  the  organ- 
ization of  a  company  consisting  of  fifteen  un- 
dergraduates, to  whose  care  The  Indicator 
was  given.  Each  of  the  fifteen  are  required 
to  furnish  at  least  one  article  for  each  issue 
of  the  paper  or  else  forfeit  their  interest  in 
it.  In  this  way  the  work  is  more  evenly 
divided  than  was  the  case  with  the  old  Board, 
and  for  this  reason  it  should  make  each  con- 
tributor's work  more  presentable.  The  paper 
will  not  be  changed  in  any  respect,  the  new 
management  continuing  the  publication  under 
its  old  form,  beginning  1885  with  Vol.  II. 
The  only  change,  and  we  hope  that  it  will  be 
soon,  will  be  a  general  improvement  of  the 
pages  between  the  advertisements. 


-•-♦- 


rS  there  a  lack  of  interest  in  college  affairs 
among  the  students  ?  To  all  appearances 
there  undoubtedly  is  ;  and,  if  we  had  not 
thought  seriously  over  the  matter,  we  should 
arrive  at  this  conclusion.  It  would  seem  a 
want  of  enthusiasm  rather  than  a  lack  of  in- 
terest. Occasionally  this  little  fire  of  enthusi- 
asm can  be  fanned  into  a  glow,  and,  by  per- 
persistent  fanning,  may  even  be  kept  up  for  sev- 
eral weeks,  but  it  always  dies  down  in  the  end. 
We  are,  of  course,  speaking  now  of  the  stu- 
dents in  general  ;  that  is,  taken  as  a  whole. 
There  are  many  who  are  willing  to  take  even 
more  than  their  share  of  responsibility;  but, 
after  herculean  efforts,  all  the  time  calling  for 


aid,  they  are  obliged  to  drop  their  load  be- 
cause most  of  the  students  prefer  to  see  a 
burden  carried  rather  than  help  to  carry  it 
themselves. 

To  support  these  remarks,  let  us  look  back 
upon  some  of  the  events  of  the  (last  year.  As 
a  striking  proof  the  subject  of  the  gymnasium 
towers  up  before  us.  After  Mr.  Blakie's  lec- 
ture last  year  much  enthusiaMa^was  aroused, 
and  every  one  was  ready  to  €nter  into  the 
good  work* with  zeal ;  it  was  merely  a  matter 
of  how  much  time  it  would  take  to  carry  out 
the  plans  decided  upon.  A  college  meeting 
was  held,  a  committee  appointed  and  a  sub- 
scription list  started,  which  soon  reached  sev- 
eral hundred  dollars.  But,  as  soon  as  the  ma- 
jority of  the  students  saw  that  the  responsi- 
bility of  the  work  had  been  laid  upon  a  few, 
they  immediately  shifted  all  the  work  upon  the 
shoulders  of  these  few,  thought  of  something 
else,  and  that  is  the  last  of  it.  Not  that  the 
subject  has  not  been  kept  before  the  minds  of 
all ;  the  amount  of  sensible  and  valuable  sug- 
gestions in  The  Indicator  would  fill  several 
pages  of  reading  matter.  It  was  discussed  at 
some  length  in  the  Eccentric  and  was  men- 
tioned in  the  BolU 

It  is  the  same  way  in  everything  else  ;  as 
soon  as  a  committee  has  been  appointed  all 
the  rest  of  the  students  drop  all  interest,  or  at 
least  offer  no  more  help,  and  after  a  time  the  pro- 
ject dies  out,  unless  by  heroic  struggles  on  the 
part  of  the  committee,  the  work  is  at  last  carried 
out.  Let  us  give  up  this  bad  habit  of  selfish- 
ness and  lack  of  patriotism.  The  college  pin 
committee  has  not  been  supported  as  it  should; 
the  glee  club  will  not  be  firmly  established  as 
a  permanent  feature  unless  all  put  their 
shoulders  to  the  wheel  and  work  with  a  vim. 
Come,  let  us  be  up  and  doing.  Do  not  say 
that  you  cannot  help  because  you  do  not  know 
whom  to  ask  about  it ;  take  the  initiative  your- 
selves. Let  there  be  a  friendly  rivalr}-  as  to 
who  will  do  the  most  ;  think  not  of  the  honor 
that  is  due  to  you  for  your  work,  but  re- 
member that  it  is  for  the  honor  of  Stevens 
that  you  are  working. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


a6(Sfflu^iGA3Fre^s. 


To  the  JuHtors  of  The  Indicator: 

Not  long  ago  I  had  occasion  to  perform 
some  experiments  with  a  galvanometer,  in 
which  a  mirrored  needle  throws  a  beam  of  re- 
flected light  upon  a  transparent  scale  in  front 
of  the  instrument.  In  order  to  test  the  sensi- 
tiveness of  the  ^vanometer,  I  placed  the 
wires  connected  with  the  coil  upon  my  tongue. 
The  spot  of  light  was  immediately  thrown  off 
the  scale.  Placing  one  wire  above  my  tongue 
and  the  other  below  it,  the  spot  of  light  disap- 
peared to  the  right.  Changing  the  position 
of  the  wires,  and  placing  the  one  that  was 
above  before  below,  and  vice  versa^  the  spot 
disappeared  to  the  left. 

Wishing  to  further  cany  out  this  experi- 
ment, I  placed  the  wires  one  on  either  side  of 
my  tongue,  and  then  put  them  through  the 
former  process.  The  current  was  reversed  in 
this  case  also.  There  was  no  battery  in  any 
way  connected  with  the  instrument. 

Can  any  of  your  readers  state  the  reason 
for  this  occurrence  ?  I  do  not  think  that  it  can 
be  due  to  polarity  ;  and  as  the  wires  were 
both  of  copper,  I  can  think  of  no  explanation. 

Freshman. 


To  the  Editors  of  The  Indicator  : 

What  a  profound  knowledge  of  human  na- 
ture is  shown  in  the  mass  of  fable  literature 
which  has  been  produced  in  past  ages !  In 
the  every  day  walks  of  life  do  we  continually 
see  where  some  of  these  productions  might 
most  truthfully  be  applied.  Quite  recently,  at 
the  Institute,  have  we  had  brought  to  our 
notice  a  case  to  which  would  be  most  applica- 
ble the  fable  of  a  "  Mountain  which  went  to 
labor  and  brought  forth  a  mouse."  We  speak 
of  the  proceedings  of  that  august  body,  the 
college  pin  committee. 

This  committee,  an  assemblage  of  mighty 
intellects,  culled  by  the  infinite  wisdom  of  the 
class  presidents  from  their  respective  bodies, 
after  duly  organizing  and  framing  as  compre- 
hensive a  set  of  by-laws  as  would  be  adequate 
for  a  country  debating  society,  set  to  work  on 
their  arduous  and  difficult  task.  Knowing,  as 
they  did,  that  the  subject  was  one  entirely  too 
deep  to  be  coped  with  by  the  ordinary  intelli- 
gence of  professional  designers,  they  set  their 
gigantic  intellects  to  create  something  new 
and  original. 

Patiently  did   the  members  of  this   com- 


mittee toil  on,  steadily  they  consumed  the 
boarding  house  gas,  until  finally,  a  few  days 
before  the  Christmas  holidays,  they  brought 
forth  their  sublime  effort.  This,  with  due 
ceremony,  was  unveiled  at  the  bulletin  board 
to  the  admiring  gaze  of  a  number  of  infantile 
freshmen. 

Brilliant  with  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow, 
with  the  contour  and  dimensions  of  a  full 
grown  sunflower,  decorated  with  letters  fitted 
to  adorn  a  circus  poster,  such  was  pinned, 
this  the  essence  of  the  artistic  conceptions  of 
the  entire  body. 

Whether  it  was  owing  to  the  lack  of  artistic 
feeling  among  the  students,  or  whether  their 
ideas  were  not  educated  sufficiently  to  appre- 
ciate this  aestheticism,  at  any  rate  the  college, 
as  a  whole,  failed  to  agree  with  the  committee, 
in  that  this  was  the  best  that  could  be  done. 

The  committee  have  accordingly  again 
withdrawn  themselves  from  the  world,  and  in 
the  seclusion  of  their  apartments  strive  to 
solve  their  refractory  problem.  Of  late  their 
meetings  have  been  frequent ;  solemn  have 
been  their  countenances.  Whether  this  bodes 
good  or  evil  no  one  can  tell  ;  and  until  we 
know,  the  whole  college  must  remain  in  sus- 
pense, waiting  for  the  next  inspiration  of  our 
committee  of  shining  lights. 

RX. 


«^  » » 


GOOD   ADVICE. 


President  Porter,  of  Yale,  once  gave  this 
sound  and  wholesome  advice  to  the  students  : 
**  Young  men,  you  are  the  architects  of  your 
own  fortunes ;  rely  on  your  own  strength  of 
body  and  soul.  Take  for  your  standard  self 
reliance.  Inscribe  on  your  banner,  *  Luck  is 
a  fool,  pluck  is  a  hero.'  Don't  take  too  much 
advice  ;  keep  at  the  helm  and  steer  your  own 
ship,  and  remember  that  the  art  of  command- 
ing is  to  take  a  fair  share  of  the  work.  Think 
well  of  yourself.  Strike  out.  Assume  your 
own  position.  Put  potatoes  in  a  cart,  go  over 
a  rough  road  and  the  small  ones  go  to  the  bot- 
tom. Rise  above  the  envious  and  jealous. 
Fire  above  the  mark  you  intend  to  hit.  Energy, 
invincible  determination,  with  a  right  motive, 
are  the  levers  that  move  the  world.  Don't 
swear.  Don't  deceive.  Don't  read  novels. 
Don't  marry  until  you  can  support  a  wife.  Be 
civil.  Read  the  papers.  Advertise  your  busi- 
ness. Make  money  and  do  good  with  it.  Love 
your  God  and  fellow  men.  Love  truth  and 
virtue.     Love  your  country  and  obey  its  laws." 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


On  Wednesday  evening  last,  Terpsichore 
smiled  benignly  upim  her  votaries  as  they  hur- 
ried about  nine  o'clock  to  pay  their  homage 
at  her  shrine,  and  the  services  and  rites  of 
worship  were  long,  and  under  the  fair  muse's 
inspiration,  faces  beamed  with  pleasure  and 
fair  forms  and  manly  figures  glided  lo  and  fro 
in  unison  with  the  dulcet  strains  of  harmonious 
music. 

Never  had  the  goddess  received  more  ardent 
worship,  and  in  answer  to  the  invocation,  she 
was  lavish  of  her  favors,  and  taught  all  to  feel 
the  poetry  of  motion  as  they  had  never  felt  it 
before.  Even  the  couple  that  never  had 
waltzed  before,  after  a  time  ceased  their  ir- 
regular spasmodic  hop,  ceased  making  others 
wish  they  had  been  in  foot  ball  training,  and 
sat  down.  Under  the  irresistible  impulse  of  the 
music,  couples  were  compelled  to  move  in 
curves  of  beauty  and  rhythmical  unison,  ex- 
cept when  the  floor  proved  too  slippery,  and 


one  poor  unfortunate    took  a  header  over  a 

The  fascination  of  bright  eyes  and  soft 
glances  added  its  quota  to  the  pleasure 
of  the  evening,  and  it  was  not  until  the  wee 
'hours  thai  the  spell  was  broken,  and  Terp- 
sichore's devotees  returned  to  their  homes,  de- 
claring the  evening  a  memorable  one,  and 
looking  forward  with  pleasurable  anticipation 
to  a  repetition  of  it  at  a  not  distant  day. 

Such  was  the  first  hop  given  by  the  Seniors, 
s  from  every  pomt  of  view,  if  repeated 
declaration,  from  all  who  were  there,  that  they 
enjoyed  it  hugely,  goes  for  anything.  The 
committee  on  arrangements  did  their  part  well 
and  provided  first  class  music,  and  offered  re- 
freshment, and  saw  that  the  floor  was  as  smooth 
and  slippery  as  wax  could  make  it. 

The  order  of  dancing  was  well  arranged 
and  well  adhered  to,  and  everybody  danced 
with  great  Kest  and  untiring  ardor  until,  judg- 
ing by  the  limp  condition  of  shirt  fronts  and 
high  collars,  it  was  about  lime  lo  desist. 

There  were  about  five  sets,  and  some  of 
Hoboken's  most  charming  young  ladies  and 
one  fair  one  from  out  of  town  graced  the  hall 
with  their  presence.  Among  the  costumes 
was  one  of  jasmine  yellow,  surah  silk  com- 
bined with  satin  of  the  same  shade  and  edged 
with  Valenciennes  lace.  The  bodice  was  made 
close  fitting  and  of  wine  colored  brocade,  and 
a  cluster  of  light  roses  was  worn  against  the 
square  cut  corsage,  filled  in  with  Venetian  lace; 
altogether  the  very  acme  dr.  ta  mode.  A  large 
number  of  the  students  were  in  evening  dress 
and  the  appearance  of  the  hall  was  very  pretty. 

Some  Hobokenites  were  credited  with  say- 
ing that  the  affair  could  not  be  a  success  with- 
out their  co-operation ;  but  the  success  of  the 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


II 


first  of  the  series  of  hops  proves  that  the 
students  can  be  entirely  independent,  if  they 
only  continae  to  exercise  as  much  good  taste 
and  judgment  in  the  future  as  when  they 
started,  and  especially  if  they  have  the  sym- 
pathy of  the  majority  of  the  students  of  the 
college. 


-•-^- 


PBRS61^AIiS. 


•76. 

E.  B.  Wall,  superintendent  of  motive 
power  on  the  Pan  Handle  route,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  is  having  conducted  under  his  super- 
vision an  exhaustive  investigation  on  the 
great  question  of  the  consumption  and  econo- 
my of  fuel  in  locomotives. 

•78. 

Oscar  Antz  is  foreman  of  the  South  Am- 
boy  shops  of  the  P.  R.R.,  at  South  Amboy, 
N.J. 

'83. 

John  Adger  has  given  up  his  position  as 
manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Charleston  Iron 
Works,  and  is  now  in  the  steamship  office  of 
James  Adger  &  Co. 

Frederick  C.  Fraentzel  is  with*  the 
Celluloid  Manufacturing  Co.,  Newark,  N.  J. 

'84. 

Edward  B.  Renwick,  in  the  Brooks  Loco- 
motive Works,  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  has  charge  of 
a  night  school  for  the  apprentices  of  the 
works,  held  three  evenings  of  each  week. 


♦~^ 


S.  I.  T.  GLEE  CLUB. 


We  now  have  a  regular  organized  college 
glee  club.  There  are  at  present  eighteen  ac- 
tive members  :  four  from  '85,  four  from  '86, 
five  from  '87,  and  five  from  '88.  The  club 
held  a  meeting  for  organization  a  few  weeks 
ago,  and  adopted  a  constitution,  with  Mr. 
Cotiart,  '86,  as  president  and  director,  and 
Mr.  Burhorn,  '85,  as  secretary. .  Mr.  W.  S. 
Mworth,  '85,  has  kindly  accepted  the  office 
of  business  manager  for  the  club,  and  will 
hare  entire  management  of  its  finances.  Mr. 
J.  S.  Camp,  of  Wesleyan,  has  been  engaged  as 


musical  director  and  leader.  Regular  meetings 
and  rehearsals  are  now  held  two  afternoons  of 
the  week  and  Saturday  morning,  and  it  promises 
to  be  a  complete  success.  Already  arrange- 
ments are  being  made  to  give  a  concert  in 
March,  which  promises  to  be  an  affair  both 
interesting  and  worthy  of  Stevens.  It  is 
necessary  that  the  glee  club  should  receive  the 
entire  support  of  the  college  ;  and  as  there  is 
no  doubt  but  that  the  concert  will  be  success- 
ful as  a  musical  performance,  in  order  that  it 
may  be  a  financial  success,  we  urge  upon  the 
students  that  it  is  their  duty  to  give  it  their 
financial  support.  It  is  desired  that  each  man 
subscribe  at  least  one  dollar,  for  which  he  will 
receive  in  return  two  fifty  cent  tickets  for  the 
concert.  Those  subscribing  two  dollars  will 
receive  five  tickets,  and  in  like  proportion.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  the  glee  club  will  prove  a 
permanent  feature.  Upon  the  success  of  this 
first  appearance  depends  the  future  success  of 
so  desirable  an  institution  as  the  S.  I.  T.  Glee 
Club. 


*  ^»  * 


THE   INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  CO. 


The  support  given  to  The  Indicator  by  the 
students  of  the  Institute  during  the  year  was 
particularly  conspicuous,  owing  to  its  absence; 
and  as  matters  grew  worse,  the  editors  decided 
that  some  decisive  action  was  necessary  on 
their  part  to  prevent  the  paper  from  failing 
completely.  At  their  last  regular  meeting,  held 
early  in  January,  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
was  taken  up  in  discussing  the  propriety  of  the 
board  resigning.  The  final  conclusion  reached 
was,  that  as  representatives  of  the  students, 
they  had  not  only  taken  charge  of  the  publi- 
cation of  the  paper,  but  had  furnished  all  the 
articles  ;  consequently,  doing  the  work  of  the 
board  and  the  students  combined. 

The  board  further  considered  that  their  obli- 
gations to  persevere  in  drumming  up  the  latent 
energy  of  the  students  no  longer  bound  them  ; 
for  besides  wasting  their  valuable  time,  the  con- 
stitution revealed  the  fact  that  the  paper  was 
published  by  the  students,  and  as  it  had  with- 
out exception  been  published  for  them  by  the 
editors,  the  latter  .showed  their  prompt  appre- 
ciation of  this  fact  by  resigning.  Thus  it  was 
decided  to  hand  the  paper  over  to  the  students, 
and  by  resigning  give  some  one  else  an  oppor- 
tunity to  dig  for  contributions.  This  resulted 
in  the  calling  of  a  college  meeting  to  consider 
the  advisability  of  continuing  the  publication 
of  the  paper. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


The  students  were  generally  unwilling  to  see 
the  enterprise  fail,  and  resolutions  were  passed 
to  the  eSect  that  The  Indicatok  should  be 
continued  as  the  college  paper.  The  matter 
was  finally  left  in  the  hands  of  a  committee  of 
eight,  with  instructions  to  organize  a  company 
to  assume  entire  charge  of  The  Indicator  and 
present  their  report  to  the  college  for  arcept- 
ance.  The  committee  immediately  set  to  work, 
and  submitted  a  lengthy  report,  from  which  the 
following  essential  points  are  noted  : 

"The  committee,  in  accordance  wilh  the 
authority  delegated  to  them  at  the  meeting 
held  on  Thursday,  January  8,  organized  a  stock 
company  for  the  purpose  of  publishing  The 
Stevens  lNDiCATOR,and  have  adopteda  consti- 
tution and  by-laws  for  the  same,  which  provides 
as  follows:  The  name  of  this  organization  shall 
be  The  Indicator  Publishing  Company  ;  the 
membership  shall  consist  of  fifteen  stock  hold- 
ers, each  of  whom  shall  be  a  subscriber  to  one 
share  in  the  stock  of  the  company.  Vacancies 
in  the  company  shall  be  filled  by  a  two  thirds 
vote  of  the  stock  holders  ;  only  undergraduate 
members  of  the  Institute  shall  be  eligible  to 
membership  in  the  company  ;  members  shall  be 
required  to  contribute  at  least  one  satisfactory 
article  for  publication  in  each  issue  of  the 
paper,  which  article  shall  be  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval of  the  board  of  editors  ;  failure  to  com- 
ply with  the  above  shall  subject  a  member  to 
expulsion  by  a  two  thirds  vote  of  the  stock 
holders,  provided  he  offers  no  excuse  satis- 
factory to  a  majority  of  said  stock  holders. 
(Signed.)        R.  H.  Rice,  Chairma/t." 

This  report  was  accepted,  and  the  commit- 
tee, as  a  nucleus  of  the  company,  were  given 
entire  control  of  The  Inhicator. 

Immediately  after  the  college  meeting  ad- 
journed the  committee  proceeded  to  complete 
the  organization  of  the  new  company.  Fifteen 
members  were  elected,  and  from  these  fifteen, 
seven  werechoosen  editors  for  The  Indicator. 
The  company  as  organized  consists  of  the  fol- 
lowing members  :  Class  of '85,  Glasgow,  Rice, 
Rusby,  Williams  ;  class  of  '86,  Birdsall,  Col- 
lins, Fuchs,  Morrison,  Mowton  ;  class  of  '87, 
Bayles,  Moeller,  Schlesinger,  Smith  ;  class  of 
'88,  Fuller,  Wynkoop.  The  officers  of  the 
company  are  :  Pre*  ,  Collins,  '86  ;  Vice  Pres., 
Rice,  "85 ;  Sec,  Smith,  '87 ;  Treas.,  Birdsall,  '86. 

The  board  of  editors  are  i  Editor  in  chief, 
Collins,  '86  ;  business  manager,  Birdsall,  '86  ; 
exchange  editor,  Morrison,  '86  ;  associate 
editors,  Rusby,  '85,  Fuchs,  '86,  Smith,  '87, 
Wynkoop,  '88. 


MEETING  OF  THE  ATHLETI 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  meeting  of  the  Athletic  Asso 
held  on  the  14th  inst.,  was  a  busy  one. 
other  matters  the  gymnasium  received  f 
attention,  and  active  measures  were  ta 
advance  the  matter,  a  committee  bei 
pointed  to  determine  the  course  of  at 
be  pursued  in  establishing  a  gymnasiur 
The  students  are  evidently  determi 
secure  a  building  in  some  way,  and  i 
rest  until  their  object  is  accomplished. 

A  proposition  from  the  Arlington  Bi 
Club  to  lease  the  grounds  two  days  eac 
was  received,  and  the  matter  placed 
hands  of  the  directors. 

It  was  also  decided  to  assess  each  r 
twenty-five  cents  to  meet  the  debts  of 
sociation. 

The  committee  having  control  of  th( 
of  the  base  ball  league  are  reminded 
fact  that  no  pennant  has  as  yet  been  pn 
to  the  Lafayette  College  Club. 


STOFFI^S  B8X. 


Skating  on  the  meadows. 

Will  nitrate  of  silver  turn  yaller  d 
black  ? 

Popular  song  in  '86  class  room  :  "  I 
Dure." 

The  Juniors  get  sat  upon  on  an  ave 
twice  a  week. 

The  Seniors  are  enjoying  rifle  pra. 
the  Physical  Lab. 

"85,  it    is    said,    will    soon  have  on. 
members  go  to  Canada. 

Sealed  proposals  will   be  received  foi 
steel  door  for  '86  class  room. 

Graydon  &  Denton  have  a  contract 
new  aqueduct  for  New  York. 

The  pleasures  of  the  Chem.   Lab. 
wholly  una//f_ved.     (Diagram  next  mor 

Lynching  will  speedily  follow  the  po 
boarding  house  notices  on  our  buUetir 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


13 


Freshman  at  Hoboken  P.  O.  :  **  Please  give 
me  twenty-five  cents'  worth  of  tw©  cent  stamps. 

The  death  of  Chem.  Lab.  Imp  No.  3  is 
daily  expected  ;  several  have  vowed  to  murder 

him. 

Fog  horns  will  soon  be  necessary  in  order  to 
navigate  successfully  in  the  Chem.  Lab.  after 
3  p.m. 

It  is  given  out  as  a  private  "  tip  "  that 
W-ll-m  St-v-ns,  '85,  is  engaged.  "  One  more 
unfortunate,"  etc. 

Upon  taking  up  Worcester  the  other  day, 
the  first  word  we  saw  was  "  Lover,"  and  after 
V see  Lunatic." 

One  of  the  Freshies  wants  to  know  if  he 
can't  buy  his  triangles  numbered,  so  that  he 
can  tell  the  45**  from  the  60°. 

We  heard  the  other  day  of  an  Irishman  who 
joined  the  Seventy-fifth  Regiment  during  the 
war  so  as  to  be  near  his  brother,  who  was  in 
the  Seventy-fourth. 

Yea,  verily,  great  and  unanimous  was  the 
kick  when  the  notice  was  posted  informing  the 
Juniors  that  amusement  would  be  furnished  in 
the  shop  on  Saturdays. 

Prof,  in  Physics — Therefore,  you  see  mani- 
festly, that  if,  er — a  man  went  near  enough  to 
a  cannon,  he  would  not  hear  the  report  until 
after  the  ball  struck  him  1  " 

We  think  our  little  Senior's  cane  must  be 
hollow  and  filled  with  cough(ee)  mixture,  as 
he  constantly  appears  to  be  drawing  some- 
thing therefrom  into  his  mouth. 

A  small  friend  of  ours,  forgetting  the  name 
of  the  father  of  wickedness,  asked  his  mother  : 

Mamma,  what's  the  name  of  the  gentleman 
who  keeps  the  big  fire  place  ? " 

We  note  the  failure  of  another  millionaire 
in  the  daily  press.  It  was  not  stocks  ;  oh,  no  ! 
His  son  merely  bought  the  reference  books 
mentioned  by  his  Prof,  at  college. 

It  was  in  the  country,  and  they  were  talking 
about  the  pastor,  who  had  a  bad  habit  of 
talking  through  his  nose.  "  I  guess,"  said  one, 
"that  he  does  that  to  rest  his  throat." 

New  Year's  Day  appears  to  have  been  easy 
on  the  students  and  those  who  direct  their 
minds  and  actions.  It  may  also  be  stated  that 
no  stones  fell  off  the  roof  on  that  day. 

What  the  chemical  laboratory  needs  is  an 
«haust  fan  run  by  power  from  the  shop,  as 


there  is  generally  shop  work  going  on,  on  Lab. 
days.     At  present  aqua  regia  holds  the  fort. 

We  have  but  recently  discovered  that  one 
of  the  students  fills  a  public  office;  he  is  a 
tacks  collector.  If  he  wishes  to  die  a  natural 
death  with  his  boots  off,  let  him  beware  of 
attacks. 

Prof,  to  student :  "  How  does  a  belt  act — by 
a  push  or  a  pull  ? " 

Student  C :  **  Yes,  sir,  it  pushes  on  one 

side  and  pulls  on  the  other."  (Prof,  para- 
lyzed.) 

Student  (to  Prof,  who  was  stating  a  point  for 
the  thirtieth  time) — Professor,  you  have  told 
us  that  twenty-nine  times  already. 

Prof.— True,  very  true!  but  there  are  thirty 
students  in  the  class. 

Now  is  the  time  when  the  unwary  student 
weareth  no  overcoat  to  college  in  the  balmy 
morning,  but  before  night  the  blizzard  cometh 
hence  from  Manitoba,  and  knocketh  him  out 
so  that  he  is  absent  the  next  day. 

Our  laboratorious  Juniors  remind  one  of  a 
matron  blessed  with  daughters.  For,  when- 
ever any  obnoxious  fumes  are  perceived  escap- 
ing from  a  seemingly  innocent  beaker,  they 
shriek:     **  Put  it  under  the  hood!" 

Why  don't  the  enterprising  Hoboken  land- 
lady, instead  of  eclipsing  all  college  notices 
on  the  bulletin  board,  take  advantage  of  The 
Indicator  and  advertise,  thus  reaching  even 
the  student  who  enters  and  leaves  the  build- 
ing by  the  basement  ? 

A  few  years  from  now,  when  a  member  of 
'99  wishes  to  sell  his  Kinematics  to  a  member 
of  '00,  he  will  insist  on  the  value  of  the  book 
viewed  in  the  light  of  an  autograph  album  of 
distinguished  men,  in  addition  to  the  probable 
good  condition  of  the  book  itself. 

Problem  in  Mechanics  :  Given  a  man 
making  his  exit  from  a  Salon  cTEsprity  after 
a  sojourn  of  as-long-as-the-money-lasts  min- 
utes. To  find  the  conditions  of  stable  equi- 
librium, also  possible  influence  of  external 
forces  (police  force,  etc.)     Ans.     V  Foidosv 

Inasmuch  as  the  selection  of  a  college  pin 
is  at  present  under  consideration,  and  since  it 
seems  to  be  expected  that  every  one  should 
propose  a  design,  we  desire  to  state  that,  in 
our  humble  opinion,  the  simplest,  most  appro- 
priate and  most  suggestive  ornament  would  be 
— a  crank-pin. 

Mr.  Koenig  (in  German*,  after  some  hesita- 


L 


H 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


tion)  :  "When  the working-set-in-motion-left- 
to-itself  force,  A  B,  then  the  w-s-i-m-1-t-i 
force  meets  stopped  have  been  will,"  etc. 
(sighs  deeply! 

Prof.  K. :  Mr.  K.,  does  that  really  satisfy 
your  cravings  after  truth  ?" 

For  a  truss  for  light  and  quick  work,  those 
at  the  Manhattan  Roller  Rink,  at  Fifty-ninth 
Street  and  Eighth  Avenue,  New  York,  are  worth 
seeing.  The  floor  is  also  one  of  the  finest  of  the 
kind  in  the  city,  and  the  management  not  only 
perfect,  but  the  floor  is  always  free  from  the 
tough  "  crowd  that  infest  most  other  rinks. 

Another  subject  has  entered  the  lists  for 
torturing  the  Juniors — it  is  Kinematics.  The 
repulsion  which  it  met  last  year  showed  itself 
lately  by  the  readiness  with  which  the  Seniors 
sold  the  book  at  fifty  per  cent.  off.  Some  say 
that  the  K.  is  derived  from  the  German  Keine^ 
matt,  etc.y  but  we  claim  that  is  derived  from 
Prof.  MacCord. 

We  note  with  feelings  which  we  can  scarcely 
express  in  language  fit  to  be  printed,  that  our 
hirsute  friend  in  '85  has  at  last  heeded  the 
loud  and  sonretimes  profane  requests  to  shave 
off  the  "  loose  chewing  "  which  adorned  (?)  his 
phiz,  as  the  class  had  vowed  not  to  allow  him 
to  graduate  with  the  hairy  necktie.  We  suppose 
this  hastened  the  daring  act. 

Jones  was  speaking  of  Brown  to  his  partner 
some  time  ago,  and  said  that,  although  Brown 
was  a  jolly  fellow,  he,  like  others,  had  his  fail- 
ings. "  I  am  pained  to  be  compelled  to  speak 
thus  of  him,"  said  he,  "for  I  like  him,  but, 
unfortunately,  I  love  the  truth  still  better." 
"  Why,"  said  his  partner, "  I  never  thought  that 
you  preferred  a  perfect  stranger  to  an  old  ac- 
quaintance." 

The  question  of  the  College  Pin  seems  to 
be  a  hard  one  to  settle  ;  at  the  last  meeting  it 
was  decided  to  get  a  fresh  lot  of  designs  to 
choose  from.  This  is  a  wise  move,  as  the  best 
of  those  on  the  bulletin  board  resemble  too 
closely  the  National  Guard  pins.  What  we 
want  is  something  distinctive,  plairty  and  not 
so  expensive  as  to  be  only  purchased  by  a  few 
of  the  men.  It  should  be  also  small  as  well 
as  plain,  or  it  would  never  be  worn  after 
graduation. 

The  Editorial  Boards  of  the  Eccentric  and 
Bolt  are  both  hard  at  work  on  their  respec- 
tive annuals.  The  struggle  for  first  place  has 
changed  the  appearance  of  our  annual  publi- 
cations greatly  in  the  last  few  years ;  from 
almost  mere  pamphlets  they  have  grown  to  full 


fledged  books,  worthy  of  preservation.  Let 
us  hope  that^his  year's  production  will  throw 
all  previous  efforts  in  the  shade,  but,  above 
all,  let  them  be  clean,  and  not  show  any  con- 
tact with  Mother  Earth. 

Ben  Franklin  has  had  a  hard  time  of  it 
lately.  After  knocking  the  defenceless  old  man 
down,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Stink  Zim- 
mer  of  the  Chemical  Laboratory,  and  deco- 
rated with  a  Tarn  O'Shanter,  '*  Excelsior,"  and 
a  checked  jumper,  while  a  number  of  artistic 
members  of  the  class,  with  charcoal  and  red 
lead,  endeavored  with  more  zeal  than  success 
to  beautify  the  countenance  of  the  illustrious 
Ben.  The  next  day  the  Professor  ordered  a 
bath  for  Ben,  which  was  the  cause  of  his  sub- 
sequent noQ  appearance  at  his  usual  post  in 
the  Library.  &t  fact,  he  has  been  ill  ever 
since  and  had  to  be  (literally)  laid  on  the 
shelf. 

The  officers  of  the  class  erf  '83,  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  collegiate  year,  were  elected 
amid  much  confusion  and  uproar  at  tico  recent 
meetings  of  the  class.  The  elections  resulted 
as  follows: 

President,  Whigham. 

Vice-President,  McLean. 

Secretary,  Phipps. 

Treasurer,  Echeveria. 

Historian,  Hall. 

Chaplain,  W.  B.  Smith  Whaley,  D.  D. 

Mr.  Echeveria  had  performed  the  duties  of 
Treasurer  in  such  a  highly  satisfactory  manner 
that  he  was  unanimously  re-elected  to  that 
office. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  reciting  on  "  Mater- 
ials of  Engineering,"  we  publish  the  following 
2s  a  mathamatically  correct  conclusion  from 
the  statement  of  Professor  Thurston,  that ; 
"  The  factor  of  Safety  is  a  factor  of  Ignor- 
ance, hence  we  have 

Factor  of  Safety  =  Factor  of  Ignorance. 
.    .  Safety  =  Ignorance, 
hence  Safe  =  Ignorant. 

.  * .  A  safe  man  in  Materials  of  Engineer- 
ing =  an  ignorant  man  in  M.  of  E.  But  a 
man  safe  in  M.  of  E.=^a  man  safe  to  pass 
in  M.  of  E. 

Axiom  :  two  things  equal  to  the  same  thing 
are  equal  to  each  other. 

. ' .  A  student  ignorant  in  Materials  of 
Engineering  is  safe  to  pass  in  it. 

We  heard  recently  of  two  embryo  mechani- 
cal engineers,  residing  not  a  thousand  miles 
from  Hoboken,  who  were  spending  their  vaca- 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


15 


don  in  a  Jersey  town  last  summer,  in  which 

lived  a  Miss  G ,  on  whom  they  used   to 

call  alternately.  One  evening  as  Ed.  C,  the 
apparently  less  favored  one,  was  wrestling 
with  the  problem  of  keeping  up  the  conversa- 
tion, he  suddenly  said,  in  dulcet  tones  :  "  Do 
you  think,  Maud,  that  you  could  leave  your 
fond  and  indulgent  parents,  your  circle  of 
admiring  friends,  a  home  where  every  wish 
is  gratified,  where  all  is  ease  and  luxury — 
could  you  leave  the  place  of  your  birth,  a 
town  with  a  roller  skating  rink  on  every  block 
—could  you  abandon  all  these  and  go  to  the 
far  West  with  a  poor  but  honest  mechanical 
engineer,  and  with  him  face  the  hardships  and 
troubles  of  life,  and  grow  up  with  the  country, 
and  be  his  support  and  try  to  make  his  bur- 
dens lighter  ?"  Stealing  her  arm  around  him, 
and  laying  her  head  on  his  shoulder,  she 
faintly  whispered,  "  Yes." 
"Well,"  said  he,   moving  away   suddenly, 

"  my  chum,  George  A ,  is  going  West  next 

week,  and  Til  just  mention  the  matter  to  him, 
as  he  wants  a  wife." 


■♦-♦- 


exG^F^SBS. 


We  regret  very  much  to  be  obliged  to  apolo- 
gize for  the  loose  way  in  which  our  Exchange 
department  has  been  carried  on  for  the  past 
few  months.  We  shall  be  sorry  indeed  to  lose 
any  of  our  exchanges  through  that  negligence, 
and  we  hope  under  the  present  management 
of  The  Indicator  that  the  department  will  be 
faithful  to  its  duties  in  every  respect  and  ful- 
fil all  its  requirements  as  it  should.  So  many 
exchanges  are  now  on  hand  which  have  not 
even  been  acknowledged,  that  it  will  be  im- 
possiple  to  attend  to  all  in  the  present  issue. 

The  Electrical  Engineer  begins  the  year 
rouch  enlarged  and  improved.  It  opens  with 
a  short  review  of  the  progress  of  the  science 
during  the  past  year,  and  passing  on  gives  an 
^cle  on  the  prospects  of  the  electric  railway. 
The  opinions  of  some  of  the  authorities  seem 
to  show  that  such  railways  are  feasible.  An 
interview  with  Henry  Morton,  of  Stevens, 
occupies  quite  a  space.  The  interview  closes 
^th, "  I  do  not  see  any  reason  to  believe  that 
^^e  change  can  advantageously  be  made.  The 
^difficulties  to  be  overcome  are  numerous,  and 
5>ome  of  them  of  a  very  serious  character.  I 
^loubtif  the  change  will  be  made  for  many 
years  to  come." 


Mr.  Edison,  however,  considers  "The 
economy  of  electric  locomotion  settled,  and 
that  its  immediate  application  is  simply  a 
question  of  proving  it  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  management." 

Mr.  Weston  argues  that  in  light  running 
machinery  electricity  is  a  safer,  more  con- 
venient and  more  economical  agent  than 
steam;  that  the  small  steam  engines  now  in 
use  are  too  expensive,  and  not  altogether  safe. 
It  contains  many  other  articles  of  importance. 

Van  Nostrand's  Engineering  Magazine  for 
December,  opens  with  Theory  of  the  Sliding 
Friction  of  Rotation,"  by  R.  H.  Thurston,  of 
Stevens.  It  treats  of  the  subject  in  its  various 
conditions,  using  calculus  and  analytical 
freely.  A  description  of  "  The  Manufacture 
of  Crucible  Cast  Steel "  is  elaborate.  Begin- 
ning with  the  old  fashioned  method  of  convert- 
ing bar  iron  into  steel,  and  afterward  melting 
it  in  clay  pots  to  form  ingots  of  cast  steel,  it 
traces  the  history  of  its  manufacture  to  the 
methods  now  in  use.  The  whole  article  is  ex- 
ceedingly interesting  and  gives  one  a  very  good 
idea  of  steel,  its  manufacture  and  properties. 
The  other  articles  are  as  worthy  of  attention. 

Mechanics  for  January  contains  a  machine 
for  **  Measurements  of  Friction  of  Lubricating 
Oils."  Its  operation  is  based  on  the  principle 
of  measuring  the  friction  between  two  annular 
plates,  and  the  whole  designed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  observing  these  with  precision.  The 
methods  of  using,  as  well  as  tables  and  curves 
showing  results,  are  given  in  detail.  An  article 
on  "  Continuous  Air  Brakes "  is  worthy  of 
notice  as  interesting.  The  illustrations  of  the 
Humphrey  turbine  water  wheel  are  excel- 
lent, as  are  all  the  other  drawings. 

The  University  Herald  speaks  of  the  pro- 
tests against  the  marking  system  now  in  vogue 
in  the  colleges.  We  should  like  to  add  our 
voice  to  the  many  entering  such  protests.  We 
have  long  been  of  the  opinion  that  our  mark- 
ing system  cannot  do  entire  justice,  and  have 
been  gradually  arriving  at  the  belief  that  our 
so  called  marks  mean  nothing  whatever.  It  is 
true  in  some  departments  we  are  satisfied,  and 
that  because  we  know  the  marks  are  more  of 
the  nature  of  daily  records  than  a  simple 
number  representing  what  we  are  supposed  to 
know.  We  could  give  many  examples  of  the 
injustice  done  many  of  us,  but  no  need  ;  they 
are  too  well  known  to  bear  repeating.  We  are 
glad  we  are  not  the  only  ones  who  are  eager 
to  have  the  system  done  away  with. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


One  of  our  London  exchanges,  ^f^Amateur 
Mechanics,  contains  an  article  by  R.  H.  Thuis- 
ton,  of  Stevens,  on  lubricants.  The  magazine 
is  a  very  interesting  one,  and  much  more 
technical  than  its  name  would  seem  to  indi- 
cate. 

The  Tech  has  a  short  but  sesible  editorial 
on  parliamentary  practice  at  the  Institute. 
We  wouid  do  well  to  follow  out  some  such 
plan  as  has  been  suggested  by  our  sister  insti- 
tute. The  next  number  contains  an  editorial 
upon  the  abolishment  of  quantitative  analysis 
at  Columbia  School  of  Mines.  The  argument 
is  ably  carried  out. 

Once  more  we  are  reminded,  this  lime  by  a 
description  of  the  Pratt  gymnasium,  in  the 
Amherst  Student,  of  that  handsome  building 
standing  (?)  in  the  corner  of  the  campus.  We 
call  it  OUT  gymnasium  and  library.  And  do 
you  ask,  as  you  look  toward  that  much  fre- 
quented spot,  where  is  that  building?  We 
can  simply  answer — Where  ? 

We  feel  sorry  for  the  Chromcle.  Its  gaudy 
cover  haunts  us.  Once  when  we  did  venture 
to  go  beyond  the  cover,  and  gaze  on  the  in- 
side, we  found  the  literary  character  of  the 
paper  good.  O  that  our  exchange  would  adopt 
a  modest  cover.     Not  show,  but  merit. 

We  would  like  to  hear  again  from  the  pen 
that  wrote  "  Meditation  of  a  Hindoo  Sceptic," 
in  the  Queen's  College  Journal,  and  we  should 
like  to  inform  our  exchange  that  we  are  not 
"St.  Stephen's  Indicator,  Holboken,  N.  J." 

We  acknowledge  the  following  recently  re- 
ceived exchanges  :  The  American  Engineer, 
Yale  Record,  The  Tech,  The  "  84,"  Lafayette 
College  Journal,  The  Michigan  Argonaut,  Am- 
herst Student,  Bou-doin  Orient,  The  North 
Western,  The  Sibyl,  The  University  Herald, 
Queen's  College  Journal,  Weekly  University 
Courier,  Hudson  County  Democrat  Advertiser, 
The  Holcad. 


At  the  polo  grounds — Princeton  Freshman 
with  a  gaudy  orange  and  black  striped  hand- 
kerchief tied  over  the  crown  of  his  hat,  circu- 
lating freely.  Happy  member  of  a  stock 
brokers'  party :  "  Put  some  paris  green  on 
that  potato  bug." —  Yale  Record. 


"I  think  your  moustache  is  lovd^l 
Smith,  and  I  only  wish  I  had  it  on  tny  E^. 
she  said,  as  she  gazed  into  his  face  with  a]i 
of  gone  look.  And  the  infernal  old  doltd" 
catch,  but  only  remarked  that  he  thoiy 
was  very  good  for  a  three  months" 
Northwestern. 

Co-ed — "  Yes;  I  am  learning  crockery  pi 
ing  ;  it  is  all  the  rage." 

Male  Student:  "  Yes;  it  seems  to  be.'; 
you  paint  anything  besides  your  mug  f 
now   she  only  considers  him  as  a   bn  ' 
Campus. 

Sophomore  (putting  up  Freshman)— 
three  cheers  for  '87." 

Fresh.— "Three  cheers  for '87!   Rah!  1 
Rah!" 

Soph,— "Say,  '88  is  no  good." 

Fresh. — "  '88  is  no  good,  but  (sotto  » 
Lord  help  '89." — Ccncordiensis. 

We  iwere  itundiog  by  Ihe  gale. 
And  although  'livu  only  eight, 
She  had  lold  me  Ihil  she 

Could  no  longer  stay ; 
Yet  I  would  not  then  depart, 
But  still  clasped  her  lo  my  heart 
And  besouehi  her  that  she 

Would  noi  go  svfay. 

So  I  held  her  little  hand 
And  continued  yet  to  stand, 
Though  I  saw  that  she  began 

To  nervous  grow  ; 
Bui  I  feha  little  pained 
When  she  suddenly  exclaimed  : 
"  Htrt'i  my  alhtr  fellow  (emtHg  ! 
You  MUST gt,." 


"  Hoboken  is  the  Williamsburg  of  New 
Jersey  ;  Williamsburg  is  the  Hoboken  of  Long 
Island.  These  are  the  divine  geographical 
parallels  of  an  insular  metropolis.  America, 
I  salute  you.  This  is  only  a  thought.  All  the 
same,  I  had  rather  be  to  windward  of  Hunter's 
Point." — Extract  from  ancient  writing. 

A  health  journal  says:  "Too  thick  under- 
clothing causes  unnatural  redness  in  the  face 
and  nose."  We  never  heard  it  called  that 
name  before.  Perhaps  if  the  editor  of  the 
health  journal  was  to  dilute  his  "undercloth- 
ing" with  a  little  water  before  swallowing  it, 
the  unnatural  color  would  not  manifest  itself 
so  prominently.— A'jr.  When  we  think  of  thit 
statement  and  then  recollect  that  the  weather 
lately  has  been  very  cold,  we  are  able  to  see 
the  connection  between  o.  w.  janitor  and  the 
falling  of  stones  from  the  roof. 


ImA*  tt   our   ®at, 

II  . 


<vr.,^-.-*     i; 


-C0R5E/^ig.- 


>4 
'5 


rsrj^.ys  rj^i- 


1'  S£  4 

Stevens  Institute  of  Technologj 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOUNDED   BV  TirE   L^TE   EDWIN  A.  8TEVE^f9. 

HOBOKEN,   N    J 


REV 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOl 

ft  THE    ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE~OF  TECHNOLOGl 

Rl  VEB  STREET,  bit.  3ih  and  f  ■    l,.  -_--.-  l-  -   - 
OPENS  SEPTEMBEF 


INS" 


•  'A  FB 


.JUNIOR    DEPARTMENT, 
SENIOR  OEPARTWERT, 


900.00  PER    ANilUMl 
BIBO.OO  PEK  AHHUwl 


■  ■■•■   t*rlu»  lkum<*   all    Ui*  aludtai^ 


' 1*-  ■      * »> 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  FEBRUARY,  1B85. 


AN  ADDRESS  TO  OUR  CAT. 

-  [Suggested  by,  and  written  during,  an  un- 
'    i    '       s  occurring  under  the  writer's  win- 
1^  uid  punctuated  with  short  naps  and  night- 
nutched   with  difliculty  between  the 

I  wmlcber  in  the  dis^nial  dark, 
died  mankind  nlumbers,  still  iloih  keep 
g  «Ipl  that  no  danger  cotnc, 
'  ■  soy  jarnng  noise  lo  break 
epoie;  wilh  joy  mine  ear  doih  greet 
a  warble,  marvetloui  combination 
,  i  [ilayfulneii.  of  lighlning  sinew. 

I  Ctewc,  and  teeth,  and  unground  sausage  nicar, 
— "  jy  condenied  ;  who  in  ihe  sun-lighl 
m  for  hours  in  ever  varying  othil 
f  fleniiw  tail ;  nnon.  when  hunger  gnawest, 
tbe  chase,  and  soon  tby  dainly  pnkle 
I  tldlc  with  the  toothsome  rat ;  and  when 

h  boll  pnp  thy  province  doth  invade, 
.  ,S  ll>e  field  and  wilh  unerring  aim 
W  nke  out  pell  and  opiics ;  faithful  friend, 
1,  n  the  gbastly  hours  of  darkeil  night 
— '  "o  *oMhe  me  into  slumber  sweet, 

.    "•  lalUby  :  Ihy  kindness  makelli  me  weep  ; 
^  distresj  thyself  on  my  account. 
ige  lo  pnll  through  without  the  music; 
k  thr  couch  and  slumber  until    daylight. 
Pcue  canary. 
IShe  doesn't  slumber  to  any  appreciable  ex- 
tent.    A  smothered  snuffle  is  heard,] 
What,  SDeciine.  Tabby?  From  that  direful  omen, 
I  Itmr  that  thou'rt  contracting  inlluenia 
Ool  in  the  chilly  night  air;  or,  perchance. 
Sat*0  wandering  hayseed  hath  itself  ensconced 
Wldria  thy  noitril. 

fllit  ball  opens  in  earnest.     A  chorus  of 
yOm  is  heard,  mingled  with  a  rippling  sound 
adtf  the  whiz  of  flying  fur.] 
A14k  !  I  ninit  infer  frum  this  rude  clamor 
(Aon  ha»t  entered  on  the  held  of  battle. 

U  ia  Tabby  I  make  of  tooth  and  toe-nail 
*  tuc,  and  that  my  frail  tympanum 
[,  I'll  gently  plug  my  ears  up, 
e  fmy  U  o'er,  and  noiie  of  battle 

B  fight  is  finished.   The  bard  speculates 
b  extent  of  the  damages.] 
OmUol  am  I  that  the  racket's  ended  ; 
link  hnnicane  again  subsided, 
I  •■  left  once  more  to  sleep  in  ijuiet. 
imaa  4  lirely  *eI-to  J  ah.  poor  Tabby, 


I  much  do  fear  that  in  thi^  little  pic-nic, 
Wherein  for  glory  ye  do  raslily  barter 
The  warmL'st  friendshi[),  also  divers  portions 
Of  your  anatomy,  thai  thou  host  gotten 
A  fatal  wound,  or  that  thuu  host  e'en  suFTered 
Complete  diK integration  ;  hut  whatever 
Hast  been  thy  fate — whether  a  gory  victor, 
Or  scattered  o'er  Ihe  liclU  in  shapeless  fragments. 
Until  the  daylight  endeth  all  conjccluies, 
Good  night,  sweet  songster. 


LIBERALITY   OF   THOUGHT. 

Among  the  minds  with  which  we  are 
brought  into  contact,  Ihe  one  which  attracts 
us  the  most,  is  the  one  which  is  JibL'ral  and 
well  balanced.  The  mind  which,  though  great 
in  a  single  field,  is  incapable  of  looking  outside 
of  it,  is  not  the  one  to  court  companion- 
ship, unless  of  unusual  ability  in  it.s  own 
pursuit,  and  even  then  draws  but  few  to 
itself,  and  is  comparatively  isolated.  Not 
only  is  intercourse  with  them  unsought,  but 
is  it  not  to  the  majority  even  disagree- 
able? Although  it  is  force  of  circumstan- 
ces which  sometimes  confines  a  jierton's 
mind  to  one  thing  and  prevents  it  from  ex- 
panding, still  this  is  not  generally  the  case  ; 
but  a  person  who  follows  one  line  uf  thought, 
looking  ui)on  and  capable  of  apjireciating 
nothing  else,  is  regarded  as  possessing  a 
narrowness  which  is  repulsive  to  those  whom 
he  may  meet.  All  who  are  not  attracted  to 
him  by  identity  of  occupation,  feel  that  he  is 
not  only  not  a  co-worker,  but  that  he  is  un- 
sympathetic, and  such  a  quality  renders  him 
exceedingly  uncongenial. 

It  m.iy  be  truthfully  urged  that  progress  in 
any  one  branch  demands  the  eoncentraiion  of 
thought  upon  it,  and  that  improvements  are 
always  due  to  those  who  do  this. 

This  is  readily  admitted,  but  the  concen- 
tration of  thought  should  not  be  at  the  ex- 
pense of  all  interested  in  outside  things.  There 
is  a  happy  mean  between  the  making  of  an 
efficient  human  machine,  and  the  making  of 
a  dabbler  in  all  things  who  does  good  work 
nowhere.  Tiiere  is,  it  seems,  at  the  present 
time  a  special  tendency  toward  the  produc- 


i8 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


tion  of  persons  of  one  idea,  and  is  not  this 
largely  due  to  the  inordinate  desire  of  the 
present  generation  to  become  exceedingly 
wealthy  ? 

No  young  man  of  the  present  generation  is 
content  to  think  of  making  a  comfortable  liv- 
ing, but  his  one  dream  is  wealth,  and  his  one 
effort  to  get  as  much  of  it  and  get  it  as  soon 
as  possible.  He  applies  himself  diligently  in 
his  particular  pursuit,  shuts  his  eyes  to  all  out- 
side, too  often  totally  neglects  all  cultivation  of 
mind,  becomes  a  person  of  one  idea,  and 
eventually  may  be  a  genuine  "  crank." 

There  is  some  cause  for  asking  whether  we 
are  not  becoming  in  some  respects  too  prac- 
tical. A  prominent  writer  has  recently  ex- 
pressed himself  to  this  effect,  and  alludes  to 
our  civilization  as  a  "  commercial  '*  one.  There 
is  too  much  of  a  tendency  to  expend  all  our 
thought  in  money-making,  and  there  is  some- 
what of  a  tendency,  we  think,  to  despise  that 
which  is  not  of  use  in  effecting  this  end. 
This  is  certainly  a  mistake.  Life  does  not 
mean  simply  the  building  of  railroads,  the 
perfecting  of  steam  engines,  or  the  improve- 
ment of  manufactures  ;  these  are  simply  means 
of  providing  for  the  comfort  and  happiness 
of  mankind,  and  although  they  are  of  the 
highest  importance,  still,  we  should  not  forget 
other  things,  which,  while  having  no  part  in 
the  supplying  of  our  everyday  needs,  are  pro- 
ductive of  pleasure  through  the  mind,  and  are 
just  as  worthy  of  consideration  as  our  prac- 
tical operations. 


-»-♦■ 


WHEN  I  FIRST  CAME  TO  STEVENS. 

II. 


Visiting  Stevens  the  second  time,  I  noticed 
the  sign,  "ring  twice.*'  Obliging  as  I  am,  I 
"  rang  twice,"  as  hard  as  possible,  and  stepped 
in  through  the  massive  door.  It  was  just 
election  time,  and  the  excitement  ran  high. 
Bets  were  being  made  on  the  issue  of  the 
campaign  with  a  recklessness  which  flavored 
of  the  insane.  (I  have,  however,  not  been 
able  to  ascertain  as  yet  whether  any  one  lost 
or  won.)  I  hastened  my  footsteps,  till  I 
passed  through  the  foggy  atmosphere  of  the 
pool-room,  alias  library  ;  then  I  entered  the 
workshop.  It  was  on  a  Friday;  that  is  a  day 
on  which  there  is  no  shopwork,  as  you  know, 
probably   (as  I   thought)    because  Professor 

L is  a  Mohammedan — L — a  (Allah)  be 

praised !     I   was    thus  at  liberty  to    imbibe 
the  delicious  odor  of  machine  oil  without  the 


sweet  admixture  of  steam,  iron  fllii 
wood  turnings.  At  the  far  end  of  the 
espied  a  pitch-black,  formless  mass  a 
your  fist,  which  on  minuter  examinatioi 
to  be  some  waste,  the  only  sample  of 
in  the  whole  shop.  That,  other  thinj 
considered,  the  workshop  is  perfect  i 
be  mentioned.  One  sad  recollectio 
ever,  damped  my  admiration  ;  I  kn 
this  room  had  formerly  been  the  gyn 
and  that  the  latter  has  entirely  disapp 
a  college  institution. 

Slowly  I  ascended  the  broad  stain 
dropped  in  at  one  of  the  class-rooms, 
in  the  door  right  under  the  knob  was 
**  sad   relic   of   the  departed  "  lock, 
hats  and  coats  alone  were  there,  tumi 
melancholy  glances  on  the  divers  c 
rather    fragments   of    chairs,    promi 
grouped  around  in  every  position  but 
right.      Another    class-room,    which 
attempted  to  enter,  was  locked  !  yes, 
A  gruff  voice  howled  out  from  the  ir 
exceedingly  polite   remark  of   "  Coi 
But  I  did  not  go  in  for  spite  ! 

Excelsior  !  one  more  flight  (/.  e.y  o 
and  I  am  in  the  drawing-rooms,  not 
rooms  where  people  draw  on  the  kir 
the  host,  but  drawing-rooms  when 
draw  on  paper.  How  beautiful  !  I 
sketches  of  graceful  curves  and  of 
sections  looking  out  of  frames  of  ant( 
simplicity  break  the  glaring  monotoi 
walls.  At  various  places  T-squares 
hanging  openly,  while  others  may  be  { 
hidden  away  in  obscure  corners  so  2 
lead  "borrowers"  into  temptation.  Tal 
strongly  resembling  those  depicted  b 
Dutch  and  Flemish  masters,  crowd  t 
covered  they  are,  but  not  with  huge 
ale,  as  might  be  expected  ;  an  extensi^ 
paper  table  cloth  veils  the  thumb  t: 
fasten  the  white  paper  beneath.  I 
there  the  table  cloths  (or  rather  tab! 
are  ornamented  with  a  sketch  fa 
sembling  some  wild  animal,  or  per 
artist  ;  these  covers  are  also  oft 
instead  of  autograph  albums  for  pay 
pliments  (?)  to  some  one,  instead 
wipers,  and  at  times  for  some  unknc 
pose  merely  indicated  by  a  missing  c 
would  advise  some  speculative  mine 
janitor,  to  hire  out  these  tables  for  ac 
purposes,  say  posting  boarding-hous( 
paper  articles  about  ivory  soap  (!) 
pectuses  of  the  Eccentric  ^<?// and  th 
Eccentric,     Suddenly  a  noise  burst 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


19 


»tillness  of  the  place.    Occasional  inarticulate 
nowls  alternated  with  distinguishable  yells  of 
'*  pope  "  and  "  S— t — e — "  ;  the  sounds  were 
evidently  issuing  from  the  room  at  the  other 
end  of  the  floor.     I  rushed  thither  to  see  who 
^iras  being  hurt,  but  on  opening  the  door,  I 
realized  the  whole   situation.     Juniors  were 
singing!     I  thought  then  that  it  was  getting 
too  dangerous,  especially  since  I  saw  the  pro- 
fessor also  rush  in,  undoubtedly  to  listen  to 
the  harmonious  strain.     You  have  heard,  of 
course,  of  the  power  which   music   has  of 
drawing  animals  out  from  their  recesses.     It 
drove  me  away,     I  hurried  across  the  room 
toward  what  was,  as  I  am  willing  to  bet  with 
anybody,  a  door ;  but  still  it  would  not  open. 
I  had  to  turn  back.     In  my  excitement   I 
ahnost  upset  one  of  the   Juniors,  who  sent 
after  me,  beside  his  well-trained  foot  (he  was 
no  mule,  but   a   football  player),  a  volley  of 
of— f— f — those  benedictions  so  characteristic 
of  the  Stevens  man. 

Down  the  stairs  I  came  like  the  stick  from 
a  sky   rocket,   and   struck  hard   against  an 

infernal  machine  placed  there  to Well ! 

what  could  it  be  ?     Electric  wires  connected, 
it  may  be,  with  some  hidden  dynamitard  ;  the 
complicated  works  were  visible,  and — since 
«f  did  not  go  off,  according  to   my  expecta- 
tions—/ did !     The  first  thing  which  I  per- 
ceived that  was   worthy   of  closer   attention 
was  Prof.  Thurston's  lecture-room.     In  I  went 
with  my  usual  unconcemedness,  in  order  to 
examine  more   closely  the   place,  so  oft  re- 
sounding with  the  words  of  that  celebrated 
gentleman.      About    two-score    chairs    were 
there,  each  provided  with  a  broad  attachment 
at  the  right  side,  probably  used  directly  for 
an  elbow  rest,  and  indirectly  for  a  support  to 
the  "  gently  nodding  "  head.     A  multitude  of 
scientific    papers  were  strewn    all   over  the 
floor,  and  reminded  me  of  the  "  battle  of  the 
books,"  which  mi^t  be  revised  and  named 
the  "  paper  battle,"  to  make  it  more  general. 
I  have  no  doubt  but  that  these  are  beneficial 
ni  assisting  to  keep  the  students  wide  awake. 
Thousands  of  pictures  adorn  the  four  walls, 
while  millions  of  models  of  all  sizes  are  put 
ap  in  glass  cases  all  around  the  room,  very 
likely  in  order  to  protect  them  from  the  frag- 
ments of  chalk  which  find  their  way  in  some 
mysterious  manner  through  the  air  to  the  floor. 
After  looking  around   and  examining  the 
complicated   engines  till  my  head  began   to 
buzz  in  unison  with  the — but  they  were  not  in 
modon ;   I  had   merely  been   "  dizzied "  by 
looking   steadfastly  at  them,  to  unravel  the 


connections.  My  legs  soon  caught  the  con- 
tagion, and  also  moved  off,  leaving  me  behind 
(in  my  mind) !  A  Fresh  Man. 


INVENTIVE  GENIUS. 


Perhaps  there  are  but  few  students  of  me- 
chanical engineering  who  have  not  at  some 
period  of  their  career  had  a  fit  for  inventing. 
Probably  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  it  was 
our  little  puttenng  with  tools  that  was  the 
ultimate  cause  of  our  being  students  at  Ste- 
vens. We  had  our  little  workshop,  which 
always  had  that  attraction,  which  made  us 
bestow  upon  it  many  of  our  spare  moments 
and  much  of  our  pocket  money.  But  even 
before  we  were  old  enough  to  handle  a  tool, 
except  an  old  jack-knife  for  which  we  swap- 
ped a  top  and  three  China  teapot  agates,  our 
imaginations  were  at  work  devising  some  me- 
chanical apparatus  for  our  amusement. 

What  fun  to  begin  to  lay  "  imaginary  quan- 
tities" of  water  mains  out  in  the  back  yard, 
and  before  the  trench  is  a  foot  deep,  we  have 
rigged  a  tripod  derrick  out  of  three  clothes 
poles,  some  pulleys,  the  clothes  line  and  a 
water  pail  (the  one  used  for  drinking  water,  of 
course;  we  couldn't  find  any  other).  How 
we  tugged  and  hoisted,  showing  our  playmates 
how  far  we  had  to  pull  the  rope  to  hoist  the 
pail  half  the  distance  ;  how  the  ropes  got 
twisted  and  ran  off  the  pulleys,  and  at  last — 
snap  goes  the  rope — dumping  a  whole  pail  of 
dirt  on  our  little  brother  who  is  digging  down 
below.  Now  we  fill  a  tub  with  water,  carry- 
ing it  to  the  second  story,  slopping  it  all  over 
the  stairs  and  wall-paper,  and  then  making  a 
siphon  of  a  piece  of  old  hose,  we  are  ready 
for  our  squirt.  We  try  to  start  the  flow  by 
sucking  at  the  lower  end,  we  think  the  water 
is  not  coming,  and  are  just  about  making  a 
second  attempt  when — spurt — out  comes  the 
water,  completely  drenching  us.  Thus  early 
we  begin  with  our  inventing  and  experiment- 
ing. Later  comes  the  rigging  of  some  old 
clock  works  to  a  boat,  railroad  train  or  con^ 
tinuous  ringing  of  some  bell  which  we  start  in 
the  middle  of  the  night  by  "pulling  the 
string."  One  day  the  clock  stops.  "  Pa,  le* 
me  fix  it."  "  What,  you,  Charlie  ?"  "  Yes,  I 
bet  yer  I  can  fix  it."  Well,  so  he  lets  you 
try,  and  after  much  monkeying,  lo  and  be- 
hold !  it  actually  goes  all  right.  Supreme  mo- 
ment of  happiness,  your  destiny  is  settled  from 
that  hour.  And  so,  beginning  with  a  few  old 
tools,  we  pass  through  the  various  stages  of 
our  childhood,  through  canoe  or  boat  build- 


20 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


ing,  and  a  double  runner  constructed  after 
our  own  notions,  to  the  jig-saw  and  perhaps  a 
turning  lathe,  while  some  have  even  made  an 
actual  running  steam-engine. 

Thus  it  is  that  the  inventor,  like  the  poet, 
is  not  made,  but  is  born.  Thus  we  see  the 
germs  sprouting  and  growing,  until  his  home 
is  full  of  the  products  of  his  originality  and 
his  handiwork.  So  when  it  is  time  for  him  to 
choose  his  life  labor,  his  talents  are  so  well 
defined  that,  if  the  means  are  at  hand,  he  is 
sent  to  intermingle  with  his  natural  founda- 
tion a  scientific  education. 

In  looking  around  and  noting  different  in- 
ventors, we  will  find  many  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing living  person  is  a  type.  He  is  a  man 
of  no  mean  ability,  but  has  spent  his  life  upon 
small  patents  little  needed  by  mankind.  Hav- 
ing depended  upon  his  patents  for  a  living,  he 
is  consequently  poor.  Intense  thinking  on 
one  subject  has  made  him  cranky.  He  has 
become  thin,  nervous  and  round  shouldered. 
When  you  talk  with  him  it  is  painful  to  watch 
him.  He  launches  into  his  favorite  subject. 
Those  black  eyes  snap  at  every  word.  The 
nervous  arms  gesticulate  more  wildly  than 
those  of  a  Hoboken  Dutchman.  He  talks 
incoherently,  and  if  you  do  not  understand 
what  he  means  at  once,  he  thinks  the  fault  is 
in  you  and  not  in  himself.  He  is  next  door 
to  crazy. 

Now,  boys,  look  out.  We're  not  going  to 
revolutionize  the  world  with  a  patent  egg- 
beater.  And  let  us  not  get  so  far  "  gone  " 
on  any  subject  as  some  of  the  "  'Stute  boys  " 

are   on  the  French  governess  on  H St. 

Now,  although  we  have  got  to  choose  a  life 
work,  and  become  interested  in  it,  let  us  not 
get  as  "cranky**  over  it  as,  in  another  sense 
of  the  word,  certain  Profs,  are.  Let  our 
brains  be  at  work  on  useful  subjects,  and  our 
inventive  genius  will  bring  credit  to  ourselves 
and  to  Stevens.  A. 


«^  » » 


A  CAMERA-ITISH  TALE. 


With  spring  and  pleasant  weather  comes  the 
season  for  picnics,  summer  excursions  and 
vacations,  and  along  with  these  charming 
recreations  comes,  too,  the  ever  present 
amateur  photographer,  the  representative  of 
a  mighty  tribe.  In  your  meanderings  among 
the  mountains  or  seashore  you  find  him  and 
his  camera,  with  ail  the  adjustable  automatic 
patent  contraptions  conceivable,  planted  ready 
for  an  "exposure."  Thus  it  is  that  you  are 
prevented  from  taking  your  best  girl  out  for  a 


walk  along  some  favorite  path,  and  yc 
either  compelled  to  leave  her  at  home  o: 
the  walk  and  treat  her  like  a  sister,  ] 
even  think  of  casting  a  furtive  and  Ic 
glance  into  her  hazel  eyes,  even  at  the 
templation  of  such  a  deed  you  are  st 
by  a  mysterious  sound  which  to  the  tr 
amateur  fotografites  is  known  as  "  takii 
slide  out,  preparatory  to  an  exposure." 
tinning,  if  you  do  gaze  into  her  bewit 
orbs  with  a  countenance  beaming  with  i 
tion,  and  she  reciprocates  the  beam — c 
click — six  consecutive  clicks,  and  you  \ 
to  the  despairing  reality  that  your  be: 
adoration  has  been  transferred  to  six  i 
taneous  dry  plates,  and  you  and  youi 
girl,  beams  and  all,  are  booked  for  the  a 
ment  of  posterity. 

Again,  suppose  you  see  a  lovely  spot 
some  mountain  road,  and  you  climb 
enjoy  its  quiet  and  give  yourself  up  to 
templation,  no  sooner  are  you   settled 
feeling  at   ease   in  your    supposed    so 
than  a  voice  from  somewhere  calls  out: 
you  please  take  your  hat  off  for  a  m« 
and  move  your  left  arm  a  little,  so  that 
get  in  that  waterfall.     I've  got  an  Am 
Co.'s   improved  camera  and  one  of    S 
quicker  than  lightning  plates,  and  won' 
turb  you  but  for  an  instant."     Being 
accommodating  spirit,  you  take  your  h 
and  your  left  arm  assumes  the  desired 
tion.     "That's  all,"  calls  the  voice,  an( 
are  again   contemplative.     But  shortly 
the  other  side  of  your  resting  place  cc 

"  Will  you  kindly ;  "  but  those  three 

are  sufficient,  and  you  leave  your  quiet 
and  hurry  away,  leaving  the  amateur  to 
alone  in  his  glory. 

And  so  you  travel  to  other  parts,  t 
where  you  will  the  innocent  looking  c 
and  its  "  Will  you  kindly,  etc.,"  accor 
ment  is  sure  to  confront  you.  The  trib 
I  a  large  and  flourishing  colony  at  the  Ins 
and  we  publish  the  experience  of  one  • 
"  inveterates "  in  the  West,  believing 
"  points  "  may  be  gained  by  its  perusal, 
story  as  told  by  a  western  paper  is  as  foi 
"A  breach  of  promise  case  is  now  penc 
Marysville  which  exhibits  some  pc 
features.  It  seems  the  defendant,  a 
man  named  Augustus  Scudberry,  is  a  m 
of  that  rapidly  increasing  class  of  p' 
known  as  amateur  instantaneous  photc 
cranks.  This  individual  had  become  j 
thused  over  the  achievements  of  Eur 
photographers  in  obtaining  negatives  of 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


21 


flying,  horses  running  away,  tigers  seizing  their 
prey,  etc.,  that  he  made  himself  a  holy  nui- 
sance prowling  around  after  people  with  his 
portable  camera,  electric  slides  and  things. 
One  day  he  would  be  found  ambushed  beside 
the  railway  track,  and  filling  up  the  switch 
tcndere  with  beer,  in  the  happy  anticipation  of 
catching  a  good  impression  of  a  first  class 
smash  up ;  the  next,  he  was  trying  to  bribe 
some  dying  man's  family  to  allow  him  to  take 
a  snap  shot  at  the  patient  just  when  the  death 
rattle  set  in.  In  fact,  it  is  stated  that  once, 
when  some  miners  were  having  a  terrible 
quarrel  in  a  bar  room,  Scudberry  suddenly 
appeared  in  the  doorway  with  his  instrument 
over  his  head  and  exclaimed  excitedly  : 

"*  Wait  until  I  put  on  a  dry  plate  before  you 
shoot,  gentlemen  !  Get  your  pistols  ready  and 
fire  together  when  I  say  three.  I  want  to  get 
in  all  the  flashes.'  Well,  as  we  were  going  to 
say,  this  same  Scudberry  was  engaged  to  a 
girl  named  Pliflfey,  and  somehow  had  got  the 
idea  into  his  head  that  Amelia — her  name  was 
Amelia,  and  she  wore  a  number  four  shoe, 
wiiich  is  mighty  good  for  a  Marysville  girl — 
was  untrue  to  him  ;  in  fact,  that  she  was  still 
encouraging  the  attentions  of  a  dry  goods  clerk 
named  Boggs. 

"So  Scudberry,  having  just  received  an  auto- 
matic clock  work  attachment  to  his  apparatus, 
carried  his  machine  over  to  his  fiance's  house 
on  pretence  of  taking  the  pictures  of  the 
family.  He  took  Amelia's  mother  in  the  act  of 
spanking  the  baby  ;  he  took  the  baby  in  the 
act  of  swallowing  a  pin  ;  took  the  cat  in  the  act 
ofcatchingamouse;  took  dinner  and  then  took 
his  leave.  Scudberry  explained  that  he  was  to 
be  out  of  town  that  evening,  and  asked  that  his 
camera  be  allowed  to  stand  in  the  comer  of  the 
parlor  until  his  return  the  next  day. 

"That  night  Boggs,  the  alleged  rival,  called 

on  Amelia,  and  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that 

they  were  both  unaware  that  the  photographic 

apparatus  in   the  comer — the  lens  of  which 

was  adjusted  so  as  to  rake  the  sofa  fore  and 

aft,  so  to  speak — ^was  automatically  adjusted 

to  take  an  instantaneous  negative  at  precisely 

11.30  p.m.,  that  being  the  hour  when  the  jealous 

Scudberry  supposed  the  festivities  would  be 

in    progress,   if    at   all.     At  all   events,   the 

coaple  were  startled  at  about  that  period  by 

a  peculiar  click  from  Scudberry's  machine, 

and  which  they  understood  better  the  next 

day,  when  that  gentleman  indignantly  broke 

liis  engagement  and  exhibited  a  picture  which 

lie    sarcastically  labelled    *No.   461,  Graeco 

Roman  Hugging  Match.' 


"  Miss  Pliffey  immediately  brought  suit  for 
breach  of  promise,  Boggs  testifying  that  he 
was  only  rehearsing  a  contemplated  tableau 
with  the  plaintiff.  Meanwhile  Scudberry  has 
filed  the  photograph  as  evidence,  and  the  whole 
town  is  waiting  anxiously  for  the  verdict." 


-•-♦■ 


FL T.-(An  Ode.) 


Who  is  that  lass  with  gait  so  light, 
With  eyes  how  bright, 
And  flowing  tresses  dark  as  night  ? 
Oh  !  glory,  men  !  yes,  glory  all ! 
Before  this  beauty  prostrate  fall  ! 
Venus  has  from  heaven  descended  ! 
All  our  loathsome  pains  are  ended, 
All  our  briny  tears  are  flown, 
Lovely  Venus  reigns  alone  ! 

But  mistake  not !  Lovely  Venus 

Is  a  goddess,  is  ethereal ; 

And  this  beauty  is  corporeal. 
Therefore,  mark  well !  she's  not  Venus  ! 

"  Let  me  then  be  up  and  doing  ;** 
Beauty's  charms  are  for  the  wooing  ! 


Stepping  slow, 
I  bow  quite  low. 


And  cheeks  aglow. 
So  lovingly  glancing 
With  looks  how  entrancing, 

For  listen  !  List  ! 
She  softly  cries : 

*'  Ah  there,  my  size  !** 


But  mark  and  hearken  ! 
With  eyes  that  "sparken," 


This  earthly  beauty 
Is  now  my  booty  ! 


^«» 


BILL. 


AN   INCIDENT   OF   BORDER   LIFE. 


They  were  rather  a  thriftless  set  at  Jones's 
Ranch.  Somehow  there  had  never  been  much 
steadiness  among  them.  There  was  always 
something  gloomy  about  Texas  life  on  the 
Border ;  there  was  always  something  to  ap- 
prehend in  a  certain  recklessness  that  infested 
the  place — a  sense  of  having  shifted  outside 
of  the  protection  of  divine  and  human  laws. 
The  cattle  dealers  about  Jones's  had  never 
defined  the  rights  of  humanity.  Their  ideas 
of  religion  were  as  unasserting  as  their  moral 
code.  But  there  was  a  spirit  of  careless  dar- 
ing about  this  little  colony  of  cosmopolites 
that  had  penetrated  even  beyond  the  Colo- 
rado Hills  into  the  civilized  life  of  East  Texas. 
And  occasionally  in  the  dusk  of  Autumn  even- 
ings, while  the  yellow  red  glow  of  the  sky  still 
flooded  the  trembling  sea  of  prairie  grass  and 
flowers,  some  dusty,  world-worn  traveller 
would  struggle  into  camp  and  sit  quite  home- 
like around  the  fire,  where  if  not  wholly  wel- 
comed he  was  seldom  turned  away.  And  so 
the  camp  grew.  But  they  had  never  flourished 


22 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


regularly,  and  somewhere  near  the  winter  of 
'79  things  went  wrong  altogether.  The  cold 
northers  set  in  unexpectedly  ;  there  had  been 
some  heavy  rainfalls  already;  the  cattle  were 
poorly  sheltered  and  ill-fed ;  the  provision 
wagon  had  not  been  heard  of  on  Jones's  side 
of  the  hills,  and  the  northers  had  set  in 
vigorously.  They  were  "clean  stuck,"  Bill  said. 
And  his  opinion  had  not  failed  to  carry  weight. 
Jones's  set  up  to  be  quite  a  celebrity  in  a 
literary  line.  In  an  obscure  ignorant  way  it 
was  not  without  its  appreciation  of  the  power  of 
knowledge.  And  the  neighborhood  was  pond- 
ering over  Bill's  decision.  The  force  of  learn- 
ing had  of  late  often  been  a  means  of  defence 
to  the  boy,  excusing  a  certain  wildness  of 
habits  and  a  disposition  to  prowl  about  the 
neighboring  chicken  sheds.  It  was  not  as  if  it 
had  been  mere  theoretical  matter — open  to 
question.  The  family  of  Bill  boasted  in  the 
possession  of  substantial  proof.  In  a  spirit  of 
ostentation  they  had  hung  over  their  chimney 
place  a  rough  hewn  shingle,  on  which  in 
great  straggling  chalk  letters  the  word  "bIlL  " 
had  been  printed.  It  had  happened  a  year 
and  more  ago.  Bill  was  just  a  little  shaver 
then,  and  he  had  stood  one  morning  on  the 
door  step  of  his  father's  cabin,  slinging  his 
rough  bare  foot  backward  and  forward  in  the 
fresh,  sweet  April  air,  and  idly  expectorating 
in  the  direction  of  his  toes.  Such  games,  how- 
ever, were  not  common  about  the  place.  You 
see,  he  was  the  only  being  that  resembled  a 
child  in  the  camp.  His  mother  had  come  out 
along  with  old  Jones  in  the  early  days  of  the 
settlement,  and  what  with  growing  rapidly  ac- 
customed to  the  roughness  of  the  men's  ways, 
and  the  gradual  adoption  of  their  more  un- 
obtrusive apparel,  there  was  little  of  womanli- 
ness left  about  the  woman.  But  just  about 
seven  years  ago,  somehow  Bill  was  born,  and 
since  then  the  crude,  raw  cow  boys  at  the 
ranch  had  regarded  the  mother  with  some- 
thing of  wonder  and  of  shame.  Fisty  Bob,  the 
most  lawless  of  her  old  companions,  had 
attempted  once  to  define  this  feeling.  "  You 
see,"  he  said,  "  it  kinder  blowed  a  man  to  have 
it  flung  up  at  him  how  he  came  into  the 
world  arter  such  a  fashion."  But  the  child 
grew  to  be  something  of  a  favorite  with  the 
men.  They  looked  upon  him  in  the  light  of 
their  first  native  speculation.  And  though 
the  boy  was  one  of  them,  standing  on  old 
Jones's  door  step  more  than  a  year  ago,  there 
had  seemed  to  be  little  that  resembled  the 
natural  product  about  his  drooping,  tangled 
curls  of  yellow  hair,  and  the  baby  light  of  blue- 


ness  that  still  lingered  in  his  wide  op- 
— ^making  almost  an  active  protesi 
against  the  patient,  tired  outline  of  the 
tant  Colorado  and  the  sluggish  degrs 
which  was  the  atmosphere  of  the 
That  morning  a  party  of  strangers  had 
into  camp.  They  had  ridden  over  frc 
Texas  and  were  armed.  They  had  coi 
an  idea  of  settling  if  the  place  suitec 
One  of  the  men  had  stopped  to  speak 
"Is  this  the  ranch,  boy?"  he  aske 
dunjio,"  the  child  responded  coolly, 
drawn  himself  up  in  a  line  of  defenc 
the  woman  had  been  listening  inside 
door.  She  put  her  head  out.  "  Wh 
matter  wi'  yer?"  she  screamed.  "C 
yertell  'im  'twas  Jones's  Ranch?"  "C 
he  ask  if  'twas  Jones's  Ranch  ?"  the  t 
The  stranger  threw  back  his  head  and 
loudly.  **What  might  the  youngster 
be  ?  "  he  questioned  generally.  And  1 
thrust  his  brown,  skinny  wrists  dee] 
into  the  pockets  of  his  bulgy  breeches, 
how  he  never  seemed  to  grow  up  t 
breeches.  He  looked  up  at  the  man  sh 
"  What'll  yer  gimme  if  I  tell  yer?"  1 
The  strangers  had  departed  the  follow 
The  country  did  not  please  them, 
would  look  farther  out,  they  said.  T 
spoken  rather  contemptuously  of  the 
the  settler.  "  Praps  he  calculated  r; 
fine  crop  of  buzzards,"  one  of  them  su 
jocosely.  **  You  should  move  farther 
argued.  "  I  tell  you  there's  gold  in  th 
of  the  river."  But  the  cattle  dealer 
a  progressive  man.  His  organ  of  spe< 
was  rude  and  undeveloped.  "  If  C 
Jack  and  Fisty  would  go,"  he  remarkec 
what  dubiously.  And  in  general,  whe 
ness  was  concerned,  there  was  an  abf 
liveliness  about  the  inhabitants  of 
Ranch.  The  man  had  taken  a  fancy 
He  had  shown  him  how  to  print  his  na 
shingle  with  a  bit  of  chalk  stone.  " 
much  gold  in  the  banks  of  the  rive 
child  had  asked  curiously. 

Things  were  now  looking  badly, 
last  seven  days  had  brought  no  c 
The  storm  continued  to  rage  wit! 
violence,  and  a  party  of  men,  who  1 
the  ranch  the  day  before,  scouring  t 
for  stray  cattle,  returned  with  a  rep( 
the  streams  were  greatly  swollen — t 
"  big  "  ford  was  up.  The  provision  wa, 
not  been  heard  of  on  Jones's  side 
hills.  Along  the  camp  loud  sounds  • 
rymaking  and  boisterousness  issued  frc 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


23 


lelujah  roost,  as  "  Califomy's "  cabin  was 
called,  where  the  boys  were  drowning  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  a  dreaded  to-morrow  in  the 
whiskey  that  still  held  out  through  to-day. 
But  the  woman  was  alone — sitting  on  the 
hearth  of  Jones's  cabin,  with  her  rough,  un- 
kempt head  resting  dejectedly  against  an  old 
wooden  bench.  There  was  a  sullenness 
about  the  silence  in  the  room.  It  was  not 
that  her  old  hardihood  had  gone  from  her. 
It  was  not  that  she  drooped  under  what  had 
been  endured,  or  that  she  could  not  yet  have 
borne  still  more.  It  was  that  she  could  not 
bear  it  alone.  Apart  from  the  men  for  whom 
she  had  given  her  all,  there  arose  a  vision  of 
the  old  life — the  old  comparative  sinlessness. 
And  the  woman  wept.  The  child  had  found 
her  thus  and  had  gone  out  and  left  her,  clos- 
ing the  door  with  rough  kindness  behind  him. 
Perhaps  there  was  something  that  touched  the 
boy  in  the  tears  of  the  only  woman  he  ^  had 
ever  known.  They  were  the  only  tears  he 
had  ever  seen.  After  awhile  he  turned  sud- 
denly and  again  thrust  his  head  in  at  the 
door.  "  Yer  hev  me  ter  look  ter,"  he  said. 
And  he  drew  himself  up  with  a  new  sense  of 
responsibility.  The  woman  lifted  her  head 
wearily.  "  Yer  was  always  a  good  little  un. 
Bill,"  she  answered.  Just  then  a  fresh, 
rough  burst  of  hilarity  was  heard  along  the 
ranch.  Presently  the  door  of  the  roost 
opened,  and  Fisty  Bob  stumbled  out  and 
along  the  prarie  road.  The  boy  put  his  hands 
up  to  his  mouth.  "Fi-i-sty!"  he  called. 
The  man  turned.  "  Hove  ahead,  old  pard  !  *' 
was  the  answer,  and  the  child,  running,  caught 
up  with  him  and  swung  on  to  his  arm.  He  had 
an  old,  cast  off  spade  in  his  hands.  "  Which 
way  is  the  Yedda,  Fisty  ?  "  he  asked,  panting 
breathlessly.  The  man  nodded.  **Yer'd 
have  to  take  it  dem  straight,  Billy,"  he  ans- 
wered, sportively.  And  thus  they  walked 
along,  the  man  and  the  boy  together,  farther 
and  still  farther  on.  In  the  last  hour  the  rain 
had  ceased  to  fall,  and  the  sunlight,  struggling 
with  the  clouds,  lent  an  appearance  of  murki- 
ness  to  the  atmosphere.  It  was  very  cold, 
and  as  they  walked  their  heavy  leggings 
sunk  at  every  step  into  the  wet  sod  of  the 
plains.  In  the  indefinite  light  the  individual- 
ity of  the  man  and  of  the  boy  seemed  to  blend 
into  a  solitary  figure  of  motion,  amid  the 
great  sea  of  prairie  stillness. 

The  following  day  the  provision  wagOn 
had  driven  up  to  the  ranch.  It  was  received 
with  such  a  greeting  as  men,  even  of  reckless 
natures,  usually  give  to    life    and    security 


when  they  have  all  but  felt  the  breath  and 
looked  into  the  jaws  of  death.  The  clouds 
had  drifted  away ;  the  sun  shone  once  more 
brightly,  and  the  weather  moderated.  The 
teamsters,  a  couple  of  Mexican  herders,  had 
seen  rough  weather  on  the  trip,  but  they  had 
come  safely  into  camp  at  last.  It  was 
not  until  the  noon  of  the  day  afterward  that 
the  boy  was  discovered  to  be  missing.  Nor 
did  he  "turn  up,"  as  the  "lassie,"  a  brawny 
Texan,  had  predicted,  either  that  day  or 
the  next.  And  on  the  third  morning  the 
clouds  gathered  again  suddenly,  and  the  rain 
fell  in  overwhelming  torrents  through  the  day. 
Toward  night  some  one  knocked  at  the  door 
of  Jones's  cabin.  Several  of  the  men  were 
drinking  and  playing  poker  around  the  fire, 
and  there  was  a  tipsy  shout  of  welcome  when 
the  door  opened  to  disclose  the  dark,  hag- 
gard figure  of  Fisty.  "  The  rain  had  held  up," 
he  said  hoarsely.  "  He  was  off  arter  the 
boy.  They  could  come  if  they  liked."  As 
he  spoke,  the  wind  whistled  shrilly  through 
the  chinks  in  the  cabin  walls  and  in  at  the 
open  door.  The  cattle  dealer  glanced  at  the 
long  necked  black  bottle  on  the  table,  and 
then  at  the  resolute  attitude  of  the  man 
standing  in  the  doorway.  He  shivered.  "And 
blasted  if  I  don't  call !  "  he  cried  excitedly  a 
minute  afterward,  and  spread  his  hand,  four 
greasy,  finger  marked  kings  out  upon  the 
board.  "  Not  to-night.  Bob,  old  chap,"  he 
added  feebly.  "  Not  to-night."  For  a  mo- 
ment there  was  some  commotion  among  the 
men  around  the  table.  Hot,  heavy  words, 
uttered  in  thick  and  scarcely  intelligible  voices, 
deafened  the  silence.  And  then  the  woman 
got  up  from  her  comer  and  pinned  an  old  army 
blanket  over  her  head  and  shoulders.  "I'll 
walk  a  piece  with  yer,  Fisty,"  she  said.  The 
man  at  the  door  turned  his  head  rather 
awkwardly  out  into  the  uncomfortable  night. 
"It's  no  fit  tramp  for  yer,  pardner,"  he  ob- 
jected not  unkindly.  But  the  woman  ans- 
wered almost  fiercely  :  "  Who  should  go  out 
arter  him  sooner  than  her  as  brung  him  into 
misery !  "  And  the  man  waited  outside  in 
silence,  stamping  his  ill-covered,  frozen  feet 
for  warmth  against  the  bare,  frozen  earth. 

They  had  not  gone  alone.  One  and  another 
of  the  men  had  joined  them ;  at  first  with 
lighted  torches,  which,  however,  in  the  high 
winds  on  the  prairie  were  soon  extinguished. 
As  they  passed  the  roost  even  Califomy  had 
sauntered  out  with  an  assumption  of  his  usual 
gay  humor.  "  He  would  take  a  hand  in  the 
deal,"  he  remarked ;   "  though  'peared  like 


24 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


'twas  a  losing  game."  There  was  a  good  deal 
of  talking  among  the  boys  ;  rough,  uncouth 
anecdotes  of  exploits  with  the  pistol  and  the 
rope  ;  anecdotes  from  their  purely  personal 
nature  at  times  becoming  dangerous,  and  the 
occasional  notes  of  a  profane  drinking  song. 
But  as  the  night  wore  on,  a  sense  of  depres- 
sion and  of  silence  fell  upon  the  little  band. 
The  atmosphere  grew  clearer,  and  at  length 
the  moon  shone  whitely,  steadfastly  above 
them,  casting  long,  softening  lines  of  light 
across  the  plains  and  the  dark,  hard  features 
of  the  men.  It  was  late  when  they  reached 
the  river — the  thin,  small  stream  of  theYedda, 
which  was  now  a  roaring,  tossing  flood  of  un- 
controllable waters,  spreading  far  and  wide 
over  and  beyond  its  banks.  Instinctively  the 
men  had  sought  the  river,  and  instinctively 
they  lingered,  wandering  helplessly,  forlornly 
up  and  down  its  shores.  Something  in  the 
greedy  roaring  of  the  whirlpool  seemed  to  tell 
them  that  ihey  need  not  seek  further.  And  a 
little  more  than  a  mile  up  the  river  they  came 
across  the  spade  the  boy  had  last  been  seen 
with,  fastened  securely  in  the  ground,  at  the 
head  of  what  seemed  to  them  a  new  and  shal- 
low grave.  The  men  wondered.  "  He  were 
always  a  queer  little  chap,"  one  of  them  said. 
And  they  were  never  to  know — perhaps  they 
would  not  even  have  understood  the  foolish, 
ignorant  love  thai  had  sacrificed  the  life  of  the 
child.  For  suddenly,  as  they  retraced  their 
steps,  there  had  been  a  terrible  cry,  and  Fisty 
Bob  was  struggling  in  the  surging  mass  of 
water,  swimmmg  with  vigorous  and  resolute 
strokes  in  the  direction  of  a  whirlpool  of 
debris  and  uprooted  tree  trunks— and  what 
seemed  in  the  strange  uncertain  glimmer  of 
the  moonlight — he  had  reached  it,  this  dreaded 
something  !  He  had  taken  a  firm  hold  upon 
it !  No  ;  the  resistless  force  of  the  torrent 
had  borne  him  down.  And  now  again  the 
great  strength  of  the  man  had  prevailed.  He 
had  grasped  his  burden  almost  fiercely,  and 
came  powerfully,  laboriously  toward  the 
shore.  It  was  then  that  the  little  group  of 
watchers  on  the  land  lost  sight  of  him  once 
more  in  the  bellowing,  relentless  current.  A 
few  breathless  seconds  elapsed,  and  suddt;nly 
he  appeared  again  almost  near  them.  He  had 
stemmed  the  torrent.  A  do«n  men  rushed 
recklessly  into  the  river  to  drag  them  back  to 
land.  A  dozen  hands  were  extended  to  re- 
lieve him  of  his  burden.  But  the  man,  weak 
and  tottering,  pushed  them  from  him,  and 
smoothed  with  a  certain  tenderness  the  little 
head    of    mattod,  yellow     hair,     "  Ver    see. 


pardners,"  he  said,  smiling  feebly,  " 
set  store  by  the  chap." 

They  laid  him  in  the  hollow  that  i 
himself  had  dug  by  the  side  of  the  r 
their  ignorance  they  imagined  that  i 
wish.  And  Califomy,  grumbling,  toe 
coat  from  his  own  back  to  wrap  t 
lifeless  figure.  "  Such  a  blasted  cold 
he  added,  in  a  general  sort  of  apolo) 
group.  But  the  woman  stood  ap 
tionless  and  silent.  "'Feared  like 
enough,"  Fisty  had  muttered,  dra 
wet  coat  sleeve  sheepishly  across 
And  so  the  men  still  lingered  dou 
gardless  alike  of  the  merciless  clc 
gathered  overhead  and  the  more 
increasing  torrent  —  lingered  until 
that  had  swept  the  mother's  soul, 
more  potent  than  the  senseless,  rockir 
broke  forth  into  one  long,  comp 
wail,  and  she  fell  forward  In  the  sa 
ing  upon  God  to  help  her.  In  the 
moments  the  men  had  gathered  c 
gether,  looking  out  upon  the  irresol 
of  water  and  over  the  drearier  plains. 
for  the  chap,"  one  of  them  said  at  la 
one  after  another,  Califomy  last  of 
knelt  around  the  woman  as  she  lay  si 
the  sands.  They  did  not  pray.  ' 
not  know  the  words  of  any  prayer — 
knelt  in  awkward  silence.  And  \ 
was  enough. 

A  part  of  this,  among  some  othi 
was  told  to  me  in  '80,  down  at  Hawl 
the  rest  I  have  only  guessed  roughly 
was  at  Hawley's  that  I  first  made  the 
ance  of  the  man  they  called  "  Fis 
He  was  not  an  attractive  looking  n 
ihey  said  he  was  leading  a  respec 
there,  and  entirely  supported  the  ' 
his  old  companion,  Jones. 

The  New  York,  West  Shore  &  Bui 
way  Co.  have  adopted  for  a  portion 
line,  what  they  consider  the  best  ; 
automatic  block  signals  that  could 
The  portion  thus  supplied  with  the 
the  thirteen  miles  of  track  south  of 
and  was  equipped  by  Mr.  George 
house,  of  Pittsburgh.  It  combines  1; 
matic  and  electric  signals,  the  powei 
pressing  the  air  being  furnished  b} 
horse  power  engines,  located  at  each 
of  that  portion  of  the  line.     The  cc 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


25 


air  is  conveyed  through  a  pipe  laid  between 
the  tracks,  and  at  requisite  distances  sema- 
phore signals  for  each  track  are  placed,  con- 
nected by  a   pipe  with   the   main   air   pipe. 
These  signals  are  operated  by  compressed  air 
cylinders,  and  are  controlled  by  short  circuit- 
ing electric    currents,   the    current    passing 
through  the  wheels  and  axles  of  the  train, 
from  rail  to  rail.     When  a  train  passes  into 
the  block,  the  signal  immediately  behind  the 
train   shows     danger.       In    addition,    every 
switch  upon  this  portion  is  so  connected  with 
the  circuit   in  the  track,  that  whenever  the 
switch  is  opened,  or  a  car  standing  upon  the 
side  track  is  removed  to  a  point  where  it  will 
mterfere   with   traffic,  danger  signals  are  in- 
stantly   shown.      Two   drawbridges  are   also 
connected  with  this  system  in  the  following 
manner :   When  a  train  passes  over  a  point 
8,000  feet  from  the  bridge,  an  electric  bell  at 
the  bridge  is  sounded  continuously  until  the 
train  has  passed  over  a  second  point,  7,000 
feet  from  the  bridge,  when  the  gong  ceases  to 
sound  and  the  draw  is  locked  by  electricity. 
If, however,  the  draw  be  open  before  the  train 
has  arrived   at    the    above-named   points,   a 
danget  signal  is  automatically  set  by  the  turn- 
ing of  the  draw.     Should  any  break  or  other 
accident  occur  in  the  system,  all  signals  are 
set  at  danger  until  the  break  has  been   re- 
paired.   Thus  all  responsibility  of  accidents 
happening  to  trains  in  this  section  of  the  line, 
rests  solely  upon  the  engineer  of  the  train, 
everything  depending  upon  his  observance  of 
the  signals. 

Mr.  John  Collett,  State  Geologist  of  Indiana, 
has  been  making  experiments  in  regard  to  the 
crystallization  of  iron  when  subjected  to  a 
continuous  strain,  and  has  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  best  iron  bridges,  especially 
those  of  railways,  will  inevitably  become  dan- 
gerous from  continuous  use.  Specimens  of 
iron  which  Mr.  Collett  has  collected  were  to 
We  been  sent  here  for  Professor  Thurston's 

• 

investigation,  but  these  have  not  yet  reached 
here.  Mr.  Collet  is,  however,  quite  mistaken 
when  he  declares  all  railroad  bridges  to  be 
open  to  this  objection.  He  has  probably  been 
examining  some  of  the  older  bridges,  which 
have  since  been  subjected  to  heavier  loads 
than  they  were  intended  to  carry.  The 
^Tiurican  Engineer  criticises  Mr.  Collett 
stoongly,  and  says  that  a  well  built,  properly 
dimensioned  and  properly  cared  for  iron  bridge 
is  a  permanent  structure  in  the  strictest  sense 
<rf  the  word,  and  as  safe  after  fifty  years  of 
service  as   after  the   day  it  was  opened  for 


traffic.  Attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that 
there  is  a  great  difference  in  the  concentrated 
wheel  loads  of  a  freight  engine  built  twenty 
years  ago  and  the  modern  consolidation 
engine.  There  is  no  need  to  look  to  crystal- 
lization for  explanation  of  the  wearing  out  of 
these  bridges,  when  the  present  methods  of 
loading,  and  the  old  methods  of  dimensioning 
in  iron,  are  understood  and  appreciated. 

A  rotary  snow  shovel  has  been  invented  by 
a  Canadian,  intended  for  use  in  railroad  snow 
blockades.  It  consists  of  a  screw  constructed 
like  a  huge  post  hole  cutter,  and  is  operated 
in  a  similar  manner,  being  mounted  on  a 
strong  steel  plate  frame.  The  screw  cuts  into 
the  snow,  slicing  away  the  drift  and  throwing 
it  into  a  revolving  fan,  which  projects  it 
through  a  shoot,  delivering  it  in  a  stream  to 
one  side  of  the  railway.  The  power  is  sup- 
plied by  a  double  cylinder  engine,  which,  with 
boiler,  water  tank  and  coal  bunkers,  is  carried 
on  a  heavy  double  truck  car.  The  cutting 
screw  and  the  carrying  fan  turn  in  opposite 
directions,  so  that  the  snow,  put  in  motion  in 
a  direction  opposite  to  that  in  which  the 
screw  is  revolving,  is  caught  by  the  fan  and 
projected  to  a  distance  in  the  same  direction. 


<  ^  » »- 


d.     d.     w» 


Contrary  to  the  expectations  of  many,  the 
S.  S.  S.  has  been  quite  successful  with  its 
sociables.  The  first  of  the  series  has  been 
already  described,  and  the  duty  of*  picturing 
the  second  one  falls  to  my  lot.  Last  Wed- 
nesday evening  heralded  the  second  of  the 
series  of  sociables  given  by  the  Stevens  Senior 
Social,  and  notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of 
the  weather,  all  who  were  expected  made 
their  appearance.  A  pleasant  change  was 
noticed  in  the  hall,  the  walls  being  tastily 
decorated  with  a  number  of  large  flags,  tennis 
rackets  and  lacrosse  sticks.  Everything  about 
the  hall  had  a  home-like  and  pleasing  appear- 
ance, and  when  at  nine  o*  clock  the  band 
struck  up  the  first  waltz,  every  one  knew  that 
the  success  of  number  two  was  assured.  At 
eleven  there  was  an  intermission,  after  which 
the  cotillion  began  under  the  excellent  leader- 
ship of  Mr.  Glasgow,  and  continued  with  but 
a  short  intermission  for  more  than  two  hours. 
The  favors  were  very  pretty,  and  will  help 
serve  as  remembrances  of  a  very  enjoyable 
evening.  At  two  o'clock  every  one  had  gone 
home  tired  out,  but  with  smiles  of  satisfaction 
on  their  faces  at  the  second  success  of  the 
S.  S.  S.  Elgy. 


I 

\ 


26 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


^he  S^eve^g  IndieatoP. 


rUBU&HBO  ON  TMB 


IBth  \>F  EACH  MONTH.  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAN. 


BY  THB 


INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVen^  Institute  of  Tecjnolos].  ' 


TERMS :— fl.SO  per  Yetr.  in  AArance.     Sinolo  Copy.  20  CMtt. 


I>M<  QP«  M 


dSM 


Extra  copUs  can  be  obtained  at  Lutkin^s  book  store, 
Hoboken^  N,  J, 

Subscribers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
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must  accompany  the  article ^  as  assurance  of  good  faith 
and  reliability ;  but  it  will  not  be  published^  unless  desired. 

Exchanf^es,  contributions ^  subscriptions,  advertisements 
and  all  other  communications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
to  The  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Hoboken, 
N.J. 


IN  our  January  number  we  have  introduced 
two  illustrations,  kindly  furnished  by  Mr. 
Williams,  'St;.  It  is  our  intention  to  continue 
this  as  often  as  convenient,  but  not  to  con- 
sider it  a  standing  feature  of  the  Indicator. 
The  new  headings  for  the  different  depart- 
ments of  our  paper  have  also  been  designed 
by  Mr.  Williams,  who  without  doubt  well  de- 
serves the  reputation  he  enjoys  in  the  Institute 
of  being  quite  an  original  artist.  Now  that 
the  new  Board  of  the  Indicator  has  over- 
come its  inertia,  and  is  in  working  condition, 
we  hope  to  be  able  to  improve  our  journal 
with  every  additional  number.  Inviting  the 
students  and  others  to  make  free  use  of  our 
columns  for  any  communications,  we  beg  the 
hearty  support  of  all  interested  in  our  enter- 
prise. 

WE  notice  with  pleasure  the  evident  in- 
terest with  which  the  students  regard 
the  idea  of  taking  up  the  study  of  Political 
Economy.  That  our  course  in  Logic  is  so  ex- 
tensive as  to  be  well  nigh  superlative,  is  ad- 
mitted by  all  ;  no  one  denies  the  fact  that, 
isidering  the  two  subjects  as  connected  with 


our  business,  it  should  entirely  supplant 
rather  than  be  neglected.  But  this 
necessary  ;  we  should  have  some  knowle 
the  fundamentals  of  Logic,  and  of  this  1 
edge  we  certainly  can  obtain  a  sui 
amount  in  one-half  the  time  now  allotte 
would  seem  that  the  time  thus  left  free 
be  spent  in  the  study  of  Political  Ec< 
with  such  good  results  as  to  warrant  the 
ening  of  the  course  in  Logic. 

The  plan  proposed  by  one  of  the  stu 
in  a  communication  which  appeared  i 
December  number,  seems  to  us  an  ex< 
suggestion,  and  it  may  be  well  to  re] 
here.  The  idea  is  to  give  to  Logic  on( 
only,  and  to  take  up  Political  Econor 
other  term.  For  instance,  it  is  propoj 
take  up  English  Literature  during  the  '. 
man  year,  and  during  the  Sophomore  > 
study  Fowler's  English  Language,  Logi 
Political  Economy,  giving  to  each  one 
It  is  evident  that  it  would  be  more  suitj 
take  up  Literature  during  the  first  year. 
Freshman's  tender  mind  would  more 
grasp  that  subject  than  the  other  mo 
vanced  studies. 

Seriously  speaking,  even  our  Profes 
Belles  Lettres  seems  to  be  in  favor  of  Pc 
Economy,  as  shown  by  the  essay  s 
which  he  has  given  the  Sophomore  cla 
this  month.  The  subject  referred  i 
"  What  are  the  advantages  and  disadva 
of  a  division  of  labor  to  the  public,  t 
ployers,  and  to  the  employed  ? "  T 
is  easily  seen,  is  without  doubt,  a  subjc 
eluded  only  under  Political  Economy,  a 
giving  the  students  such  a  subject  for  an 
it  is  plain  that  he  thereby  shows  his  ap 
of  its  being  studied.  Is  it  too  much  fo 
hope  that  we  shall  see  this  change  in  th 
catalogue  ? 


*^»  * 


r^0rCfl5P0R  GARBS. 


S.  I.  T.  Glee  Club.— On  Tuesday,  Fel 
lo,  most  of  the  members  of  the  Football 
and  a  few  others  assembled  as  usual  t 
McLean's  residence  to  hold  the  weekly  bu 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


27 


meeting  of  the  Glee  Club.    Mr.  W.  S.  Dilworth, 
in  his  capacity  of  business  manager,  reported 
that  no  collections  had  been  received  either 
from  the  Freshmen  or  from  the  Senior  Class 
committee.    (Applause  of  the  Sophomores  and 
Juniors  !)     It  was  decided  that  the  concert  be 
Held  in  the  second  week  of  March.     A  com- 
mittee,  consisting  of    Messrs.    Burhorn   and 
McLean,  has  been   appointed  to  assist    Mr. 
Dilworth  in  making  the  arrangements  ;  tickets 
vrill  be  ready  before  long,  while  the  programme 
wll    probably   not    be   drawn    up    till   next 
month.      I'he  interest    evinced  by   "  young 
Hoboken"  during  the  practice  singing,  entered 
upon  after   the   meeting,  was   great.      They 
crowded    Bloomfield    Street   in  front  of  the 
liouse    whence    the   music    was   ** escaping" 
(later  in  the  form  of  the  club's  little  man,  Mr. 
Hart),  and  very  soon  after  a  few  howls  of  ap- 
probation, stone  bouquets  were  thrown  at  the 
door  and  windows.     Mr.  Hart,  who  somehow 
did  not  appreciate  this  homage,  soon  made 
them  "  skip,"  as  we  have  intimated  above. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Camp,  the  director  of  the  club, 
has "  snap  "  enough  for  a  dozen  college  glee 
clubs;  in   our   place,   he  is  "making   things 
bum,"  as  the  boys  say.     We  do  not  hesitate 
at  all  to  say  that,  considering  the  work  done 
at  present  by    our   football   men,  or    rather 
ikc-trs^  and  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Camp, 
the  concert  will  be  of  a  character  which  will 
pennit  of  favorable  comparison  with  the  va- 
rious attempts  of  other  colleges. 

Brainard,  '84,  the  president  of  last  year's 
club,  will  probably  be  the  warbler  of  the  occa- 
sion. Messrs.  Bristol,  Mitchell  and  Thomas, 
'84,  have  been  elected  honorary  members. 

Those  desiring  to  encourage  the  club  may 
do  so  by  securing  tickets  from  any  of  the 
following  committee,  exclusive  of  the  business 
manager :  Baldwin  and  Clark,  '85  ;  Cotiart 
and  Morton,  '86  ;  Flack  and  Hart,  '87  ;  and 
McLean  and  Hubbard,  '88. 

Remember,  also,  that  all  you  do  for  the 
glee  club  will  go  also  toward  starting  the 
gymnasium  fund,  for  the  benefit  of  which 
another  concert  will  be  held  if  the  first  one 
prove  successful. 

Prof.  Leeds  has  lately  called  the  attention 
of  the  Junior  class  to  the  state  of  the  labora- 
tory. He  remarked  to  them  in  his  customary 
humorous  way  that  "  somehow  papers  and 
weak  acids — as  aqua  regia — found  their  way 
to  the  floor  without  anybody's  assistance." 
Now  he  will  hold  every  student  directly  re- 
sponsible for  the  condition  of  his  immediate 


surroundings.  We  fully  sympathize  with  the 
Professor  in  this  matter,  and  would  only  add 
that  he  forbid  the  perambulations  of  some  of 
the  men,  who  meander  all  over  the  room  ask- 
ing everybody  "whether  these  fumes  (and 
here  they  poke  the  sweetly-smelling  stuff  right 
under  one's  nose)  are  those  of  acetic  ether  or 
burnt  feathers."  On  the  other  hand  we 
would  also  suggest  that  the  supplies  of  re- 
agents, instead  of  being  out  of  sight  whenever 
they  are  needed,  be  placed  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  one  of  the  assistants,  who,  however, 
must  not  then  be  playing  tag  at  the  distance 
of  ^'w^  miles  from  the  Institute.  The  incon- 
venience of  having  only  two  water-sinks  for 
the  whole  room  is  also  felt  very  severely.  Still 
we  agree  with  Prof.  Leeds  in  thinking  it  is 
possible  to  keep  the  laboratory  in  a  relatively 
decent  condition  by  the  co-operation  of  stu- 
dents with  assistants. 


■♦-^ 


SOCIAL. 

Professor  Thurston's  reception  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Senior  Class  occurred  on  January 
30,  and  was  one  of  the  most  pleasant  affairs 
of  an  unusually  gay  season.  The  class  was 
received  by  Professor  and  Mrs.  Thurston,  to- 
gether with  Miss  Thurston  and  Miss  Bough- 
ton,  who  came  down  from  Vassar  for  the  oc- 
casion, ably  assisted  by  several  of  their  young 
lady  friends  from  Hoboken  and  vicinity.  The 
hum  of  conversation  was  interspersed  with 
selections  by  the  Glee  Club,  which  was  in  ex- 
*  cellent  voice.  About  half  past  ten  a  collation 
was  served,  after  which  was  more  music  by 
the  Club,  ending  in  an  open  air  serenade,  and 
later  dancing  was  indulged  in. 

Professor  and  Mrs.  Wall,  and  Miss  Wall, 
assisted  by  a  number  of  young  ladies,  held  a 
very  pleasant  reception  on  Saturday,  February 
9.  The  Senior  Class,  together  with  several 
members  of  the  faculty,  with  their  wives,  were 
present.  Tea  was  served  at  five  o'clock  by  the 
young  ladies,  and  after  a  pleasant  chat  the 
guests  left  at  an  early  hour. 

Prof.    MacCord   entertained  a  few  of  the 

Seniors  on  Friday  the  6th  inst.     The  evening 

was  spent   in   a  very  pleasant  manner  with 

games,  cards,  etc. 

«  ^  » > 

GRADUATION  EXERCISES. 


The  exercises  to  take  place  at  this  year's 
commencement  have  not  yet  been  definitely 
settled  upon.  The  graduating  exercises  will 
not,  in   all  probability,  differ  from  those  of 


28 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


previous  years  ;  but  in  those  preceding  gradu- 
ation there  will  be  some  new  departures, 
prominent  among  which  is  a  proposed  excur- 
sion. The  proposition  is  favorably  regarded 
by  the  greater  portion  of  the  class ;  but  its 
feasibility,  and,  if  practicable,  the  best  method 
of  carrymg  it  out,  have  not  yet  been  settled. 
The  committee  are  continuing  their  investi- 
gations, and  we  shall,  doubtless,  before 
very  long  have  definite  information  with 
regard  to  it.  Another  new  feature  which 
has  been  proposed  is  a  ball,  which  was  to  have 
been  held  before  commencement ;  but  it  is 
thought  advisable  by  many  to  postpone  it  un- 
til commencement,  when  it  will  be  rendered 
much  more  pleasant  by  the  presence  of  the 
relatives  and  friends  of  the  students.  Both  of 
these  projects,  if  they  can  be  carried  out  at  a 
reasonable  expense,  would  be  very  pleasant : 
whether  they  shall  be  held,  and  if  so,  in  what 
manner,  remains  to  be  decided. 


THE  COLLEGE  PIN. 


There  are  chronic  growlers  everywhere,  and 
here  at  Stevens  we  evidently  have  our  full 
share.  Not  long  ago  we  had  occasion  to  men- 
tion those  who  continually  growled  at  the 
officers  of  the  Athletic  Association,  and  who, 
when  asked  to  support  said  association,  that  it 
might  be  run  more  in  accordance  with  their 
own  ideas,  promptly  shook  their  heads.  Even 
the  Indicator  m  its  |)ast  history  has  fallen 
somewhat  under  this  evil ;  but  the  latest  ob- 
ject of  attack  of  the  chronic  growler  has  been 
the  College  Pin. 

Just  before  Thanksgiving,  a  joint  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  three  men  each  from  the 
Junior,  Sophomore  and  Freshman  classes,  met 
to  sec  about  procuring  designs  and  estimates 
for  the  College  Pin.  Soon  after  the  members 
of  the  committee  submitted  designs  from  sev- 
eral pn)minent  manufacturing  jewellers,  but 
these  were  set  by  until  the  college  had  been 
given  a  chance  to  send  in  desi^s.  The  in- 
terest shown  by  the  students  m  this  matter 
was  entirely  in  keeping  with  their  wonted  in- 
ditTerence  to  anything  relating  to  the  college. 

At  a  meeting  in  December,  the  committee 
}^ssed  judgment  on  more  than  a  dozen  de- 
signs, and  selected  several  of  them  to  be 
placed  on  the  bulletin  Kvard*  with  a  notice 
that  the  ct^mmittee  had  selected  them  to  be 
voted  upon.  Another  notice  was  )>osted 
•oUciting  contributions  of  designs  from  the 


students.  This  was  a  golden  opportui 
the  chronic  growlers.  They  gathered 
the  bulletin  board  and  uttered  anathem: 
the  committee.  No  one  contributed 
signs,  but  all  were  willing  to  criticise  t 
the  committee.  Altogether  the  colle 
more  stirred  up  than  it  had  been  f 
months.  The  designs  were  taken  dow 
ever,  in  order  to  give  some  of  the 
growlers  a  chance  to  draw  some  ad 
designs,  and  were  not  put  up  until  ai 
holidays. 

Up  to  this  time  the  matter  had  n 
strictly  a  college  affair,  as  the  Seniors  \ 
the  matter  upon  the  table  at  their  las 
meeting.  A  college  meeting  was  now 
and  the  committee  reported  that  a  sec 
of  designs  had  been  on  the  bulletin  be 
a  week.  The  designs  were  then 
sketched  upon  the  blackboard,  and  a 
the  college  taken.  The  college  was  < 
between  a  bevel  gear  wheel,  surmount( 
governor,  designed  by  Mr.  Kolb,  '88 ; 
wheel  set  upon  a  Maltese  cross,  bear 
college  colors  in  enamel ;  and  a  pla 
wheel,  with  the  college  colors  in  enai 
tween  the  spokes.  The  vote  tied  on  tv 
resulting  in  another  ballot,  which  ga 
choice  to  the  last  mentioned  pin.  A 
was  made  to  adopt  that  as  the  colh 
After  an  animated  discussion  the  mot 
put  and  declared  lost,  A  motion  wj 
made  to  refer  the  matter  back  to  th 
mittee,  with  instructions  not  to  be  lira 
price. 

A  member  of  the  committee  took 
the   first  designs— which   had  been  l< 
on  account  of  its  price — and  modified 
Kolb  also  made  another  drawing  of  \ 
altering  it  slightly.     The   chairman   c 
class  committee  canvassed  his  class  fo 
and  at  a  college  meeting  held  the  sam< 
noon  it  was  reported  to  the  college  t 
vote,  75  per  cent,  of  the  students  had 
the   first  design   as  modified.     The  i 
accepted  the  report  and  carried  the  i 
making  this  design  the  College  Pin. 

The  pin  consists  of  a  gear  wheel,  sur 
ed  by  a  transit,  above  which  is  a  goven 
the  centre  of  the  wheel  is  a  front  vie 
locomotive,  while  underneath  the  whe 
ribbon  bearing  the  legend,  8 — stevi 
in  black  enamel. 

Those  wishing  to  procure  pins  may 
by  handing  their  order,  cu'companied 
cash^  to  Mr.  Merritt,  '86  ;  Mr.  Theber 
or  Mr.  Kolb,  '88. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


31 


tions  published  in  the  "  Sliiffing  Box  "  of  the 
last  number  of  The  Indicator.  He  says  that 
we  either  would  or  could  not  distinguish  be- 
tween increasing  and  decreasing  functions. 
According  to  him,  "  the  greater  the  ignorance 
the  smaller  the  safety."  If  that  be  the  case, 
*e  would  suggest  to  ihe  professor  that  he 
change  the  ijrinciple  ;  instead  of 

"  The  factor  of  safety  is  a  factor  of  igno- 
rance," he  may  state  that 

"  The  factor  of  safety  is  a  factor  of  -. 

Ignorance. 

Here  comes  a  yaller  dog.  What  is  his 
naine  ?  It  is  James  Donaldson.  Is  he  ever 
called  James  Donaldson  ?  No  ;  life  is  too 
short  for  that.  What  then  do  they  call  the 
yaller  dog?  He  is  called  Donald.  Has  he 
any  other  name  ?  Yes,  he  is  sometimes  called 
"  Jersey  Lightning."  What  is  "  Jersey  Light- 
ning?"  It  is  a  mixture  of  H,S  and  C^H^O. 
Is  it  a  patent  medicine  ?  Yes,  it  is  the  inven- 
tion of  o.  w.  janitor.  What  does  it  cure  ?  It 
cures  colds,  headache,  etc.  Would  it  cure  the 
W)ld  in  the  editor's  room  when  there  is  no 
steam  on  ?  That  depends  on  how  much  there 
's  in  the  bottle.  Where  can  I  gel  this  patent 
medicine?  You  might  put  up  a  notice  on  the 
pulletin  board.  What  is  a  bulletin  board  f  It 
IS  the  place  where  o.  w.  janitor  puts  the  board- 
J^'g  house  advertisements.  Do  they  have 
"Warding  houses  here?  Well,  some;  as,  for 
"tample,  the  Police  Court  and  the  Tingle 
Tangle.  What  is  that  last  place  ?  It  is  a 
place  where  you  can  get  HaS+C,H,0.  Will 
you  show  me  the  way  to  the  Tingle  Tangle  ? 
"'s  rather  guess  not ;  ask  o.  w.  janitor. 

Scene  in  one  of  the  Junior  recitation  rooms; 
Qeath  like  stillness  sticks  out  all  over  every- 


thi 


ing;, 


n  strained  positions,  hardly 


<*aring   to   breathe;   a    musty   smell 

primary -school -number- one  A.  D.    1812    hue 

predominate  ;  a  scarcely  perceptible  noise  is 

»eard  from  the  back  of  the  room  ;  the  Prof. 

glares  steadily   and   immovably  at  the  origin 

^f  coordinates  of  the  noise,  while  the  students 

twild  their  breaths  and  await  the  explosion  of 

'^^  dynamite  (interval  of  five  minutes);  finally 

1  student  is  called  up  ;    by  some  chance  his 

^y*^   wander  from  the  Prof.  ;  another  round 

IS  had  with  Deathlike  Stillness  (interval  of  ten 

"finutes,  during  which  it  is  so  still  that  the 

silence  stops  eleven  watches  and  the  self-feed- 

iiiS  stove)  ;  every  lung  is  paralyzed  pro  tern.  ; 

t™  disintegration   of    (he    nitro-glycerine  is 

SKondly  expected  ;   the  student  on  his  feet 

i         ihinks  that  every  minute  will  be  his  next ; 


several  students  get  black  in  the  face  ;  but  a 
relief  party  is  heard  approaching  ;  a  jangling 
of  chains  and  clicking  of  toe  nails  herald  the 
coming  of  the  Deliverer.  Ha  !  he  slops  at 
the  door;  will  he  come  in  and  break  the  spell, 
or  will  he  go  on  up  the  six  flights  of  stairs  ? 
he  sniffs  the  odor  laden  air  ;  with  a  sense 
long  trained  he  finally  separates  the  H,S  from 
a  familiar  perfume,  and  rushes  in  the  refrigera 
— or  rather  room  ;  the  spell  is  broken  ;  the 
nitro-glycerine  explodes  in  the  form  of 
NEXT  !  !  And  the  procession  moves  on, 
minus  one  member,  who  fell  a  victim  by  the 
wayside,  but  verily  he  will  appear  unto  us 
again  at  the  next  seance.     Selah  ! 


Van  Nostrand's  magazine  for  February  is  as 
interesting  as  usual,  and  we  wish  for  more  to 
study  the  valuable  matter  contained  in  it. 

We  are  glad  to  see  that  the  North-  IVestcrn 
hopes  to  get  a  new  cover  before  long.  We 
think  a  great  deal  of  a  neat,  attractive  cover. 

We  are  amused  by  the  new  kind  of  novel 
issued  by  the  Yale  Record.  The  thought  is  a 
new  and  happy  one.  We  look  forward  with 
pleasure  to  the  next  "standard  novel."  The 
style  might  be  called  short,  and  an  ideal  of 
the  cheap  literature. 

We  are  always  glad  to  receive  the  Polytech- 
nic. It  never  fails  in  being  interesting  in  all 
its  departments.  The  January  number  con- 
tains a  short  sketch  of  some  of  the  earlier  and 
later  works  of  George  Eliot,  which  is  well 
discussed.     We  congratulate  the  Polytechnic. 

From  The  Michigan  Argonaut  we  learn  of 
the  lack  of  a  gymnasium  at  the  University  of 
Michigan.  There  seems  to  be  too  much  talking 
there,  as  here,  and  no  doing.  We  can  heartily 
sympathize  with  them  in  that  matter,  and  we 
agree  that  too  much  talking  is  done.  We 
think  our  exchange  is  to  be  congratulated  on 
its  news  departments. 

Aniuiig  our  exclianges  we  see  a  new  one, 

Tfu  Holead,  and  as  we  read  pieced  of  it  we 

are  favorably  impressed.     Its  principal  article 

'  is  on  Edgar  Allan  Poe,  his  life  and  character. 

The  Holcad  is  not  bO  elaborately  gotten  up  as 


32 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


some  of  ourexchanges,  but  it  will  hold  its  own 
with  all  for  the  good  sense  of  its  articles. 

Mechanics  for  February,  as  usual,  is  full  of 
information.  Links  in  thf  history  of  the  loco- 
motive occupies  a  prominent  place.  It 
tains  a  fac -simile  of  a  sketch  of  the  Rocket, 
taken  in  1830  by  Mr,  Nasmith.  We  are  al 
ways  struck  by  the  excellence  of  the  illustra- 
tions. 

We  are  glad  to  see  the  change  in  the  cover 
of  the  Burr-.  The  design  is  a  good  one  and 
we  are  not  one  bit  surjirised  that  the  Burr 
should  adopt  the  color  of  The  Stevens  Indi- 
cator. We  admire  their  taste.  If  the  Burr 
would  only  follow  The  Indicator  in  some 
other  respects,  fewer  editorials,  for  example, 
we  have  no  doubt  it  would  be  much  improved. 

We  are  indeed  sorry  to  have  fjiven  the 
Eighty-Four  the  idea  that  we  think  it  a 
rival.  No,  we  do  not  consider  it  such.  That 
the  "  84  "  will  hold  its  members  together  we 
are  sure,  and  we  wish  great  su<cess.  It  is  very 
interesting  to  us  to  read  over  the  letters  from 
some  of  the  old  friends  we  have  formed  here, 
and  to  see  how  they  are  getting  on  during  this 
their  first  year  of  work.  May  we  ask  the 
F.i^hty-Four  for  its  continued  support. 

To  us  the  most  interesting  article  in  The 
American  Engineer  is  on  the  Critical  Methods 
of  Delecting  Errors  in  Plane  Surfaces.  One 
method  used  is  that  of  rays  reflected  into  a  tele- 
scope from  the  surface  to  be  tested.  Another, 
by  means  of  the  spherometer,  for  which  it 
is  claimed  the  capability  of  detecting  errors 
bordering  on  one-five-hundred-thousandth  of 
an  inch.  The  same  article  is  concluded  in  the 
next  number  of  the  paper.  Both  numbers  are 
full  of  interest. 

Time  allows  us  to  glance  only  at  the  two 
copies  of  the  WiUiams  Aihemeum  just  come. 
The  usualvariety  and  interest  is  seen  and"  No. 
54"  is  a  good  sample  of  the  "That  won't 
go  down," 

The  Virginia  University  magazine  comes 
to  hand  just  in  time.  It  is,  as  usual,  interest- 
ing and  good.  It  contains  several  long  articles, 
among  which  "Oliver  Goldsmith"  occupies 
the  prominent  place. 

The  following  are  at  hand  :  The  Amherst 
Student,  The  Chronicle,  Da  Pauti>  Monthly, 
The  Electrician  and  Electrical  Engineer,  Tech., 
The  Lafayette,  The  Weekly  Courier,  Queen's 
College  Journal. 


An  exchange  has  an  article  entitled" 
Hgion  at  Harvard."  It  is  not  known  \~ 
got  there, — Boston  Post. 


The  dudes  of  '86  have  to  carry  lead 
in  their  pockets  in  the  Chemical  hsJtyoiaXasf 
now,  as  the  draught  is  so  strong  in  the 

Little  Johnny  went  to  a  full  dress  dimitit 
the  other  day,  and  when  he  came  home 
mother  asked  him  what  the  ladies  wore  ? 
don't  know,"  he  said,  I  forgot  to  look  undCf 

the  table," 

Aspecimen  of  class  room  wit:  Prof,:    "GeO« 

tlemen  will  please  close  their  books." 
a  lapse  of  a  few  seconds,  observing  that  \ 
polite    command    had    not    been    obeyed,   1 
adds  :  "  Those  who  are  not   gentlemen    w 
please  close  their  books," — Brooklyn  Union. 

The  '87  man  who  "  understands  Oennui 
tolerably  well  and  can  sometimes  carry 
conversation  in  the  language,"  has  evidently 
got  away  ahead  of  his  class,  judging  fTom  die 
glaringlegend  pinned  up  on  the  bulletin  board, 
'  Wanted  :  a  Die  Anna-Lise  ;  apply  to  w,  f,  d, 
c,"  etc. 

An  inventor  of  Parkesburg,  W.  Va.,  is 
])orted  to  have  discovered  a  substance  that  U 
as  impervious  and  durable  as  glass,  and  like  it, 
a  non-conductor  of  electricity,  and  useful  lot' 
many  purposes.  It  cannot  be  broken  by  ordi- 
nary means  ;  acids  have  no  effect  upon  it,and 
it  can  be  used  as  a  substitute  for  India  rubber. 
— Brooklyn  Union. 

Gracie  (aged  7):  "Oh,  pa,  did  you  knoW' 
brother  Bill  was  sick  T'  Fond  Father:  "  Yoii^ 
must  say  Will,  not  Bill,  my  daughter.  What 
ailsyourbrother?"  Gracie  (carefully):  "Why, 
ma  says  he's — he's  bil — willious,"  Readen- 
desiring  to  laugh  at  the  above  will  see  ninth 
page  for  full  directions,  diagram,  etc.  If  not 
satisfactory,  send  stamp  and  receive  by  return 
mail  ene  bag  of  laughing  gas.  No  laugh,  do 
pay. —  Washington  Hatchet. 


||v^^|i\(]i^&loP 


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33 

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^^V          *  /teysBj  lojHbte  OFSwI^Dolofy.  * 

THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


THE 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technology, 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING,  ^^ 

FOUNDED    BY    TllK    LATE    EDWIN    A.   STEVENS. 


k\ 


HOBOKEN.  N.  J. 


HENRY  MORTON    Ph.  D.. 
ALFRED  M.  MAVER.  Ph.  D.. 
ROBERT  H.  THrjRSTON.  A.  M.,  C.  E., 
DE  VOLSON  WOOD.  C.  E., 

C.  W.  McCORD.  A.  M 

ALBERT   R.  LEEDS,  Ph.D. 
CHARLES  F.  KROEH.  A.  M..     . 
REV.  EDWARD  WALL.  A.  M.. 

J.  E.  DENTON.  M.  E 

A.  RIESENBEKGER.  M.  E., 

C.  A.  CARR.  Ass  I  EngV  U    S.  N.. 

W.  E.  GEYER.  Ph.  D 


President- 
Prof.  Physia* 
Prof.  Mech.   Enginecriiif* 
Prof.  Math,  and  Mechanicrf 
Prof.   Mech.  Drawing 
Prof  Chemistry'- 
Prof.  Languages) 
Prof.  Belles-jettrei  j 
Prof,  of  Experimental   Mechanics  and  Shopwork| 

Instructor  in  Mech.  Drawing' 
Prof,  of  Marine  Engineering  and  Instructor  in  Mathematics  . 

Prof,  of  Applied  Electricity  ; 


'I  I*'  •.••i:i-i'  ill  '\\*i,  ^^:^:^ *'n>  In<;!'M 
of  a  M»r''i;-:ii«.  .li  ri';/ii#  ci.      I'i\  l:ifi!  •  II 


'*  i:i  ••'  f't;ir   years  tli'.raii-i'i.  an.!   'rover.-  all  that  ..j.-^crtan-:  to  the  frufcssiott 
\v-..ikO.-'i|v-  ,:ro\i-!0'i  will.  o\L"i!s-nt  ir.a'.'hinery.  l'i.vNji,.il  1.?.: ••.r.-tortrs  vh-we 
■  '111  tli..'  tino-l  <..il«MjM*  of   1  n ••:•.::. •jsii:'.  cvciv  •:m  •  if.rii.iv  w:  the  a%,'r.;'.5ii:yft  , 


of  th(iroiu-:i  .\\\\  ji.ii  tscn!  kno\\l».(]i;L  is  r.fTi;i«le;l.     W'X  fuvllicr  pairi-  'x  .\x>  .vMr^'ss  !ho  rrc-.  i-.T:' 


IT.  Mf  )HTON.  Hobokou.  N.  J. 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 


THE    ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 


.<»r  riii: 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

RIVER  STREET,  bet.  5th  and  cih.  HOBOKEN,  N.  J.. 

OPENS  SEPTEMBER    17,   1884. 

ExaminatiDna   for  Admission  on  the  IBtr;  ani  :6ih  of  £ep*-err.ter. 


INSTRUCTION  GIVEN  IN  THE  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN  LANGUAGES;  IN  FREE- 
HAND AND  MECHANICAL  DRAWING. 


JUNIOR   DEPARTMENT, 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT, 


.      860.00  PER  ANNUM. 
•    8I60.00  PER   ANNUM. 


Th.i»tt«   terius   include   all    the   sluiliefc. 


For  Catalcguea  apply  to  the  I*lbrarian  of  Stevena  Institute. 


'elloWecl  *J\cl  l\p  laelloWeJ/X 


1 


THEt 


jSTfeeve^^s  JfldiQal©!^. 


Vol.  2. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  MARCH,  1885. 


No.  J. 


A   FACT. 


It  was  a  land  surveyor, 

With  his  mysterious  load 
Of  bright,  three  legged  instruments, 

Came  striding  down  the  road. 

And  just  before  the  district  school 

He  paused  to  take  a  sight, 
And  all  the  children  came  and  stared 

At  his  theodolite. 

The  little  schoolma*am  hurried  out, 

To  see  what  caused  the  stir, 
.\nd  one  and  all  they  took  the  man 

For  a  photographer. 

"  And  oh  !  "  the  little  schoolma'am  cried, 

"  How  happy  I  should  be 
If  you  would  take  our  likenesses — 

My  scholars  all,  and  me." 

The  man  (he  was  a  wily  wag). 
Replied  :  '*  'Twould  cost  a  sight 

To  photograph  a  district  school 
With  a  theodolite  !  " 

But  still  the  little  schoolma'am  begged, 

And  longed  to  have  her  way. 
She  searched  her  pocket  book,  and  found 

Two  dollars  she  could  pay 

He  said  :  '*  Although  that  isn't  much 

For  taking  such  a  view, 
Yoa*re  so  bard  up  for  likenesses 

I  guess  I'U  make  it  do  !" 

The  schoolma'am  scrubbed  her  little  ones 

With  lavish  soap  and  care, 
And  straightened  down  their  pinafores 

And  **  slidced  "  their  stubborn  hair. 

And  then  it  was  a  goodly  sight 

To  view  that  stiS  thirteen ; 
Six  boys  and  girls  on  either  side, 

The  schoolma'am  in  between. 

His  big  bandana  then  he  spread, 

And  'neath  it  took  a  look ; 
And  sighted  them  sufficiently 

And  laughed  until  he  shook. 

The  picture  promising  to  send. 

Nor  waiting  for  the  pay, 
This  graceless  man  took  up  his  traps 

And  hurried  on  his  way. 


The  picture — it  was  but  a  sketch 

In  pencil,  nothing  more — 
Of  those  thirteen  confiding  ones 

Grouped  round  the  school  house  door. 

And  underneath  \^\%  photograph 

Was  writ :  *'  This  is  the  sight 
I  took  by  Smithville's  district  school 

Through  my  theodolite." 

— Independent. 

<  #  »  > 


COMMANDER  GORRINGE  AND  HIS 
GREAT  WORK. 


In  aH  probability  there  is  in  modem  times 
no  great  work  of  engineering  which  created  so 
great  excitement  at  the  time,  and  was  so  soon 
forgotten,  as  the  transportation  of  the  obelisk 
from  Alexandria  to  New  York.  This  obelisk 
is  the  companion  to  the  one  now  on  the 
Thames  embankment,  London,  and  originally 
stood  before  the  Temple  of  the  Sun,  Helio- 
polis. 

The  removal  of  this  great  relic  was  first 
suggested  in  1869,  but  it  was  not  until  1879 
that  the  matter  had  progressed  so  far  as  to 
call  forth  from  William  H.  Vanderbilt  a  letter, 
addressed  to  the  man  whose  name  was  to 
become  immortalized  by  his  daring  departure 
from  accustomed  modes,  Lieut.  Commander 
Henry  H.  Gorringe,  U.  S.  N. 

It  was  in  June,  1879,  that  Commander 
Gorringe  began  draughting  his  plans,  and  on 
January  22,  1882,  fifteen  months  after  the 
work  of  removal  began,  the  obelisk  was  landed 
on  the  pedestal  in  Central  Park.  Few  people 
have  any  idea  of  the  engineering  difficulties  to 
be  overcome,  and  still  less  of  the  political 
hindrances  attending  this  removal.  To  use 
Commander  Gorringe 's  own  expressive  words, 
"  the  work  cost  pounds  where  it  might  have 
cost  dollars.'' 

At  the  outset  it  was  seen  that  the  obelisk 
could  not  be  towed  across  the  broad  Atlantic, 
although  this  manner  of  conveyance  would  be 
well  enough  in  the  cases  of  the  Paris  and  the 
London  obelisks,  where  the  voyage  was  merely 
a  coastwise  one.  It  was  necessary  to  carry  the 
shaft  in  a  vessel    with    adequate    propelling 


^4 


TliE    ^TEt^EkS    tNDtCAtOk. 


power  of  her  own.  To  build  a  vessel  around 
the  obelisk  would  have  cost  very  nearly  as 
much  as  the  entire  amount  to  be  paid  for 
removal.  This  made  it  necessary  for  the 
commander  to  confine  his  plans  to  ordinary 
steamers. 

At  this  juncture  three  plans  were  proposed 
to  the  commander,  which  can  be  best  ex- 
plained in  his  own  words  :  "  The  first  one 
was  proposed  by  the  owner  of  a  bark  that  had 
been  engaged  in  transporting  heavy  blocks  of 
granite  on  deck  ;  the  weight  of  one  block 
never  exceeded  thirty  tons.  He  exhibited  a 
photograph  of  the  obelisk  which  showed  water 
near  by,  and  a  plan  of  the  deck  of  his  bark, 
and  said  :  *  I  will  moor  my  vessel  here,  lower 
the  stone  down  on  her  deck,  and  then  sail. 
When  we  reach  New  York  we  will  not  be  in 
any  hurry  to  set  it  up,  for  we  will  cart  it  about 
the  country  and  make  a  good  thing  out  of 
it,  exhibiting  it  to  the  country  folks.'  "  The 
engineer  then  gives  four  objections  to  using 
this  plan.  I  quote  two  of  them  :  "  3d.  His 
bark  was  only  four  hundred  tons  capacity,  and 
the  obelisk  weighs  two  hundred  and  twenty 
tons.  It  would  have  been  interesting  to 
witness,  from  the  deck  of  some  other  vessel, 
the  performances  of  the  bark  at  sea  with  the 
obelisk  on  her  spar  deck.  4th.  There  was 
not  room  enough  anywhere  on  the  deck  of  the 
bark  for  the  obelisk." 

The  second  plan  was  to  get  the  obelisk 
somehow  oh  the  bottom  of  the  bay  with  chains 
under  it ;  these  having  been  carried  on  board 
a  steamer,  the  obelisk  was  to  be  raised  until 
supported  directly  below  the  keel.  As 
Gorringe  ironically  remarks,  "no  plan  was 
submitted  for  getting  it  on  the  bottom  of  the 
bay,  and  no  arrangement  was  proposed  for 
securing  the  services  of  mariners  for  the  voy- 
age. 

The  third  proposition  was  to  encase  the 
obelisk  in  wood  enough  to  float  it,  and  then 
tow  the  mass  without  steering  it.  There  were, 
however,  many  objections  to  this  plan  also. 

My  intention  is  not  to  repeat  a  description 
of  the  methods  employed  by  the  engineer  in 
the  removal  of  this  ponderous  mass,  but  to 
briefly  relate  a  few  incidents  tending  to  show 
that  the  difficulties  were  by  no  means  removed 
by  the  completion  of  the  plans.  The  first 
balk  occurred  when  Commander  Gorringe  and 
his  assistant,  Lieut.  Schroeder,  tried  to  charter 
a  steamer,  first  in  America  and  then  in  Eng- 
land. They  were  entirely  unsuccessful,  and 
decided  to  purchase  one  when  needed.  When 
the    party    reached    Alexandria     they    were 


assailed  by  the  newspapers,  denounced  at 
public  meetings,  threatened  with  personal 
violence  by  letter,  and  insulted  on  the  street 
After  the  authorities  had  given  their  consent 
and  the  work  was  begun,  an  Italian  arrived  on 
the  scene  and  claimed  the  ground  as  his  prop- 
erty. This  resulted  in  a  slight  complication 
between  Gorringe,  the  Italian,  the  American 
Consul  and  the  Italian  Vice  Consul.  Mat- 
ters were  straightened  out,  however,  by 
Gorringe's  threat  to  sue  for  heavy  damages,  and 
the  affair  was  amicably  settled  by  an  agree- 
ment in  regard  to  rent  for  the  ground. 
Another  attempt  to  prevent  the  removal  of  the 
obelisk  was  made  through  a  creditor  of  the 
Egyptian  Government,  who  attempted  to  serve 
a  writ  on  the  obelisk  until  his  claim  was  paid. 
But  when  Gorringe  gave  the  court  to  under- 
stand that  no  notice  would  be  taken  of  the 
writ,  and  that  he  was  prepared  to  resist  any 
use  of  force  to  take  possession  of  the  obelisk, 
the  writ  was  withheld.  During  the  early  part 
of  the  work,  and  when  the  men  were  exca- 
vating to  reach  the  foundation,  the  mob  of  on- 
lookers was  at  times  very  threatening.  One 
day,  when  the  commander  had  reason  to  fear 
that  the  work  might  be  interfered  with,  he 
wrapped  the  stars  and  stripes  around  the  shaft, 
and,  pointing  to  it,  said  significantly  :  ''  That 
obelisk  is  the  property  of  the  United  States ; 
touch  it  if  you  dare  !  "  After  that  day  there 
were  no  more  attempts  at  destro5ring  the 
obelisk. 

Another  example  of  what  Mark  Twain 
would  call  the  "  cussedness  "  of  the  Egyptians 
is  shown  in  the  fact  that  the  authorities  re- 
fused to  allow  of  the  transportation  of  the 
obelisk  to  the  place  of  embarkation.  In  vain 
Commander  Gorringe  offered  tc  repair  all 
damage — they  said  that  they  were  afraid  the 
weight  would  crush  the  sewers — ^and  the  trans- 
porting cradle,  costing  $5,100,  had  to  be 
thrown  away.  The  difficulties  and  expenses 
of  the  ten  mile  journey  in  a  caisson  were  enor- 
mous, and  hindrances  seemed  to  multiply  at 
every  step  in  the  removal.  It  is  needless  to 
enter  into  a  detailed  account  of  how,  at  the 
last  moment,  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  gov- 
ernment store  house  managed  to  evade  the 
order  to  furnish  the  commander  with  the  tim- 
ber used  by  the  English  a  few  years  before ; 
how  the  surf  of  one  day  destroyed  the  work 
of  many  days ;  how  the  caisson  refused  to  slide 
down  the  ways,  and  had  to  be  pushed  inch  by 
inch  by  hydraulic  pumps  ;  how  a  gale  came  up 
when  the  caisson  was  almost  afloat  and  caused 
the  whole  structure  to  dash  wildly  about ;  how 


The    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


35 


;e  quietly  got  the  proper  authorities  on 
the  steamer  Dessong  to  haul  down 
yptian  flag,  while  he  hoisted  United 
nsigns  at  the  peak  and  mast  heads  ;  and 
last,  a  little  coastwise  steam  launch  was 

0  the  government  dry  dock  and  taken 
js  so  that  Gorringe  wouldn't  have  the 
he  dock. 

1  a  crew  was  finally  got  together  (each 
serted  as  soon  as  enlisted),  the  steamer, 
t  obelisk  and  pedestal  in  her  hold,  set 
t  was  at  2  p.  m.  of  Saturday,  June  12, 
hat  the   Dessong  steamed  out  of  the 

and  the  persevering  engineer  felt  at 
\  say  "at  rest ;  but  he  was  on  a  vessel 
:  nationality.  She  was  not  an  Ameri- 
ilt  vessel  and  was  not  entitled  to  an 
an  register.  It  was  obviously  incon- 
and  risky  to  sail  under  the  Egyptian 
in  the  alternative  the  commander  de- 
id  to  sail  without  nationality  or  register, 
taking  the  risk  of  having  his  steamer 
by  any  vessel  of  war  at  sea,  or  by  the 
ties  of  any  port  he  might  be  obliged  to 
It" 

following  document  is  all  that  there 
the  "  ship's  papers  :  " 

XDRiA,  2d  Dec.  1879,  12  o'clock   m. 

:onsideration  of  the  sum  of  ;^5,ioo 
;,  paid  by  Captain  Gorringe,  the  Di- 
jeneral  of  Ports,  duly  authorized  by  the 
an  Government,  transfers  the  S.  S. 
ig,  with  her  equipment,  into  his  pos- 
,  and  recognizes  that  he  is  the  sole  pro- 
from  this  moment. 

The  Director  General  of  Ports, 

Caillard. 

>ne  at  all  cognizant  of  Custom  House 
;ments  and  general  shipping  documents, 
>ve  bears  not  the  slightest  resemblance 
one  of  a  **  ship's  papers." 
n  Commander  Gorringe  left  Egypt  he 
:  sail  away  from  his  troubles.  A  few, 
•atively  few,  met  him  in  New  York. 
¥as  when  his  great  work  was  all  accom- 

that  his  brother  ofiicers,  jealous  of  his 
made  the  navy  rather  uncomfortable  for 
id  he  resigned.  Not  that  he  was  a  man 
fifected  by  petty  jealousies  ;  but  he  had 
r  to  superintend  a  ship  building  yard  at 
:lphia,  and  knowing  the  feeling  against 
certain  naval  circles,  he  wisely  resigned, 
indomitable  pluck  in  mastering  the  de- 

his  anomalous  undertaking,  his  perse- 
i,  and  the  masterly  way  in  which  he 
i  the  incidents  of  his  life   work,  should 


win  for  him  eternal  glory  in  the  domains  of 
science  and  art. 

C. 


ELECTRICAL  UNITS. 


Until  recently  it  has  been  the  practice  to 
form  new  scientific  names  by  anglicizing  Greek 
and  Latin  words.  This  plan  presents  many 
advantages,  particularly  to  those  who  have  had 
the  benefit  of  some  instruction  in  those  lan- 
guages. Not  only  is*  it  sometimes  possible  to 
determine  the  meaning  of  terms  thus  formed, 
but  one  of  the  chief  advantages  consists  in  the 
facility  with  which  they  are  committed  to 
memory.  The  nomenclature  thus  formed  has 
also  the  merit  of  consistency.  Within  the  last 
few  years,  however,  especially  in  electrical 
work,  this  practice  has  seemingly  been  given 
up  and  a  new  nomenclature,  which  consists  in 
the  application  of  the  names  of  noted  dis- 
coverers in  that  science  to  the  new  units,  and 
this  nomenclature  seems  to  have  been  gener- 
ally adopted. 

It  seems  to  me  that  this  procedure  is  greatly 
to  be  deprecated.  Without  an  extensive  knowl- 
edge of  the  history  of  the  science,  which  few 
men  beside  the  advanced  scientists  are  able  to 
attain,  it  is  impossible  to  attach  any  meaning 
to  the  new  names;  and,  even  with  such  knowl- 
edge, it  is  very  difficult  to  assign  the  proper 
definition  to  each  without  considerable  con- 
fusion. Of  course,  the  idea  is  to  do  honor  to 
the  eminent  men  who  have  founded  the  science, 
and  this  idea  is  a  very  praiseworthy  one,  but  it  is 
doubtful  whether  the  same  end  could  not  have 
been  attained  as  well  in  some  other  way,  with- 
out confusing  us  and  hindering  us,  as  it  in- 
evitably must  do  to  a  greater  or  less  extent. 

Confusion  and  labor  have  also  been  caused 
by  the  incongruity  of  the  values  given  the  new 
units,  which  renders  conversion  into  ordinary 
units  difficult  and  laborious.  Thus,  the  Watt, 
the  unit  of  horse  power,  is  equivalent  to  107 
ergs  per  second  ;  the  dyne  or  unit  of  force  is 
0.98  neg.  Much  trouble  would  be  saved  by 
changing  these  units  so  that  their  values  may 
be  some  multiple  of  ten  in  the  metric  system. 

It  is  proposed  to  change  the  unit  of  horse 
power,  which  is  at  present  33,000  foot-pounds 
per  minute,  in  order  to  make  it  coincide  with 
the  electrical  unit,  which  is  44,233  foot-pounds 
per  minute.  It  is  hard  to  see  what  advantage 
would  be  gained  to  engineers  by  this  proceed- 
ing. To  be  sure,  the  old  horse  power  is  not 
very  convenient,  and  does  not  correctly  meas- 


36 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


ure  the  capacity  of  an  average  horse,  as  it  pro- 
fesses to  do;  but  the  new  unit  in  point  of  con- 
venience is  much  worse  off,  as  it  is  also,  as  far 
as  measuring  the  actual  horse  power  is  con- 
cerned, and  when  we  add  the  inconvenience 
and  confusion  which  would  arise  during  the 
time  of  making  the  change,  as  well  as  the  ex- 
pense of  changing  our  text  books,  etc.,  it 
seems  unwise  to  take  such  a  step.  The  system 
of  units  proposed  by  Mr.  John  W.  Nystrom, 
and  published  in  Mechanics^  a  few  months  ago, 
seems  to  offer  many  advantages  over  the  pres- 
ent ones.  The  units  are  all  formed  from  the 
metric  system  of  decimal  relation,  and  are  de- 
rived from  each  other  by  extremely  simple 
formulas.  If  these  units  are  not  adopted,  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  some  other  way  may  be  found 
out  of  the  present  difficulties. 

R. 

[The  proposed  system  of  units  here  referred 
to  takes  the  main  standard  of  quantity  to  be 
that  which  represents  the  work  of  one  kilo- 
grammeter.  For  distinction  in  the  application 
of  these  terms  to  quantities  of  electricity,  it  is 
also  proposed  to  abbreviate  them  as  follows  : 
Kramet  for  kilogrammeter,  gramet  for  gram- 
meter,  milgramet  for  milligrammeter. — Eds.] 


-#-•-#- 


WHEN  I  FIRST  CAME  TO  STEVENS. 

III. 


But  I  must  show  you  into  the  Laboratory ! 
The  first  door  to  the  left  as  you  come  in  from 
Hudson  street,  sir, — ^just  follow  your  nose  ! 
Cave  canem  !  Beware  of  the  dog  !  No,  he 
is  not  in  at  present,  but  the  professor  is.  Take 
off  your  hat,  if  you  please,  and  hide  it  under 
your  overcoat,  or  else  outsiders  will  be  unable 
to  distinguish  between  your  breath  and  the 
other  perfumes  which  are  sure  to  cling  to  you, 
filling  up  all  hollows,  chinks,  and  vacua ;  re- 
frain from  opening  your  mouth  for  the  same 
reason!  There  is  one  of  the  assistants  (ahem!) 
vulgarly  denominated  the  "  Kid"  because  he 
has  all  the  distinguishing  characteristics  of 
that  species,  except  cleanliness.  As  a  rule 
you  will  find  him  blowing  explosive  glass 
bubbles,  sucking  at  a  student's  "  squirt  bot- 
tle," or  setting  fire  to  the  only  dram  of  alcohol 
there  is  in  the  room.  To-day,  however,  the 
professor  being  present,  he  seems  to  be  very 
busy  labelling  an  empty  jug  "  Distilled  Wa- 
ter, C.P." 

Make  yourself  at  home !     Don't  mind  the 


dark  color  of  the  walls  and  the  ceiling;  yoii 
know  that  sulphide  of  lead  is  black,  do  yo^ 
not  ?     It  is  true  that  those  windows  need  mul' 
titudinous  applications  of  "  Ivory  Soap,"  bu<^ 
you  must  not  be  too  exacting.     Every  student 
has   a   set   of    reagent  bottles  labelled   very 
neatly  with  the  name  of  the  substance  it  is 
alleged  to  contain,  and  with  the  name  of  the 
student  himself.     I  did  not  know  before  that 
acetic  acid  has  the  same  appearance  as  Ho- 
boken  mud  ;   nor  that  the  solution  of  ferric 
chloride  is  green.     Sheets  of  paper  partially 
hide  the  acid  etchings  on  the  desk,  corroded 
as  they  are  themselves  by  close  acquaintance 
with  acids.     The  aprons,  also  showing  numer- 
ous attacks,  are  evidently  often  used  to  wipe 
the   H  CI,  H  NO3,  etc.,   from  the   suffering 
fingers.     In  one  case  I  actually  can  not  say 
positively  whether  those  digital  appendices  are 
colored  yellow  by  frequent  "  approximations  " 
with  cigarettes  or  aqua  regia.     The  hood  you 
know  all   about,   tCest-ce  pas  ?  as   also   those 
white  fumes,  occasional  explosions,  and  crack- 
ing test  tubes,  which  aid  in  varying  the  other- 
wise monotonous  Chem.- Lab. -life.     So  let  us 
take  our  hats,  and  leave.     Shake  your  hand- 
kerchief, saturated  with  the  Florida  water  she 
has  sent  you  for  your  last  birthday,  until  you 
think  the  new  odor  in  the  majority,  take  two 
or  three  good  breaths  to  put  your  blood  once 
more  into  circulation,  and  come  along  to  the 
other   Lab.,   the   Physical  one,   reserved   for 
seniors. 

They  ought  to  be  in  to-day;  but,  of  course,  as 
usual,  the  Senior  thinks  the  Laboratory  can  do 
without  him — we  fully  agree  with  him  in  this 
particular.  The  Ph.  L.  is  a  capacious  room, 
resplendent  with  light,  and  with  an  atmos- 
phere highly  charged  with  electricity,  as  shown 
by  the  bristly  appearance  of  Senior  P.'s  mous- 
tache. Glass  cases,  containing  apparatuses, 
the  names  of  which  are  unknown,  inasmuch  as 
they  are  not  labelled,  divide  the  hall  into  sev- 
eral divisions,  each  provided  with  a  table  for 
sitting  and  a  chair  for  the  feet.*  At  the  first 
desk  nearest  the  door  Professor  M.  was  seated 
working  at  something  or  other;  at  the  second, 
one  of  the  exceptionally  punctilious  Seniors 
sat  reading  the  February  number  of  the  Indi- 
cator; at  a  third  I  actually  noticed  Senior  P. 
hard  at  work  in  trying  to  damage  some  meas- 
uring apparatus.  In  the  centre  of  the  room 
three  or  four  men  stood  discussing  some 
weighty  (at  least  I  judge  it  so  from  the  grin 


*  For  the  benefit  of  the  uninitiated  I  desire  to  state  that  the  above 
seems  to  be  the  way  in  which  those  two  articles  are  ordinarily  use<l 
at  Stevens. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


37 


on  their  faces)  question  with  Professor  G.  I 
was  not  allowed  to  stay  long  in  that  place,  for 
one  of  the  gentlemen  kindly  helped  me  out. 

Then  I  thought  of  the  High  School  next 
door.  The  "  Preps."  had  already  been  sent 
home  to  their  mammas,  and  the  air  was  conse- 
quently pretty  clear.  Nothing  special  was  no- 
ticeable except  a  shattered  bulletin  board,  free 
from  boarding  house  advertisements,  though 
the  school  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  same 
"spirited  "  Janitor  as  the  Institute  !  The  ab- 
sence of  any  wall  pictures  was  also  remarkable. 

Finding  that  the  article  I  was  looking  for, 
viz.,  the  Prep.,"  was  not  to  be  seen,  though  I 
opened  eight  drawers  and  spilt  the  contents  of 
thirteen  waste  baskets,  1  wandered  demurely 
away,  after  having  cast  one  inquisitive  glance 
into  that  highly  classical  arena  of  Prof.  Kroeh, 
wherein  Freshman  and  Junior  alike  fight  ter- 
rible battles  with  French  and  German,  being 
always,  however,  eminently  successful  in  dan- 
gerously mutilating  those  two  innocent  idioms. 

*  ***** 

Some  of  the  annotations  here  recorded  have 
been  ignominioiisly  stigmatized  as  invectives, 
and  I  have  repeatedly  been  threatened  with 
disintegration  by  dynamite  if  I  should  not  re- 
pudiate them  all.  The  important  lesson  I 
hare  learned  is,  that  it  does  not  pay  to  be — 

A  Fresh  Man. 


«^»» 


CUSTOM. 


"If  we  live  in  Rome  we  must  do  as  the 
Romans  do."  These  words  we  have  heard  so 
often  repeated  that  they  have  become  nearly 
2s  familiar  to  us  as  our  multiplication  table  or 
our  A,  B,  C.  We  rehearse  them  to  ourselves, 
or  declaim  them  to  others,  whenever  we  wish 
^0  explain  or  defend  our  conformity  to  custom. 
And  it  appears  that  this  powerful  argument  is 
often  sufficient  to  fully  convince  us  of  the  pro- 
priety of  an  action,  although  further  down  in 
^he  depths  of  the  heart  there  may  exist  a 
doubt  so  strong  that  we  cannot  but  feel  that 
^^  action  is  wrong.  Thus  it  is  that  we  have 
oecome  actual  slaves  to  custom.  Thus  it  is 
f^t  custom  stands  over  us  as  a  tyrant,  direct- 
^^g  us  in  everything,  from  the  most  trifling 
detail  of  our  dress  to  the  most  important  of 
?ur  moral  actions.  Let  us  first  glance  at  it  in 
Its  sphere  of  fashion. 

When  tall  hats  are  the  fashion  you  must 
^ear  a  tall  hat,  no  matter  whether  you  are  tall 
Of  short ;  no  matter  if  for  an  hour  or  more  you 
are  obliged  to  stand  with  bended  knees  while 


riding  in  the  street  car ;  no  matter  whether  it 
makes  you  look  like  an  idiot  or  the  judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court ;  no  matter  if  it  is  hard,  heavy, 
and  stiff  ;  no  matter,  if  by  stopping  the  circula- 
tion of  the  blood,  it  causes  you  a  headache  to 
wear  it  long  at  a  time,  you  must  be  in  the 
style.  And  so  with  pants.  If  fashion  says 
tight,  tight  they  must  be,  be  you  thin  or  fat ; 
no  matter  whether  your  limbs  look  like  pipe 
stems  or  Bologna  sausages ;  no  matter  if  you 
have  to  think  of  them  at  every  movement,  and 
cannot  stoop  low  enough  to  reach  anything 
upon  the  floor  ;  no  matter  if  it  does  take  half 
an  hour,  some  powder,  and  a  shoe  horn  before 
you  can  get  them  on.  What  matters  it  ?  you 
are  in  style.  Looks,  comfort,  time  and  patience 
are  nothing  when  compared  with  style.  So  the 
lady  must  wear  the  fashionable  color,  whether 
becoming  or  not.  Likewise  with  shoes,  hair, 
and  dress  ;  but,  worse  than  all,  with  those 
abominable  things — corsets.  Here  it  is  that 
the  old  tyrant,  custom,  rules  with  a  whalebone; 
yea,  often  with  a  rod  of  steel.  Here  it  is  that 
custom,  while  pretending  to  improve  the  form 
and  figure,  presses  and  distorts  it  out  of  its 
natural,  well-proportjpned  and  graceful  shape 
to  an  unnatural,  ill  proportioned  and  some- 
times disgraceful  shape.  Here  the  tyrant 
actually  rules  against  the  health  of  his  sub- 
jects. Here  is  one  of  his  laws  which  has  often 
been  an  important  factor  in  producing  sick- 
ness, both  of  mother  and  of  child. 

We  have  now  traced  his  power  from  when, 
in  small  and  trivial  matters,  it  was  compara- 
tively harmless,  to  more  important  matters, 
where  it  has,  so  many  times,  proved  a  serious  in- 
jury to  the  body.  So,  as  we  follow  it  still  further 
into  the  realm  of  moral  action,  we  will  find 
it  in  like  manner  to  affect,  not  only  the  minor 
affairs  of  life,  but  also  those  where  the  ques- 
tion of  right  and  wrong  is  undoubtedly  con- 
cerned. We  will  find  that,  in  the  minds  of 
many,  it  is  a  weighty  consideration  in  the  at- 
tempt to  settle  questions  arising  about  such 
subjects  as  balls  and  theatre-going,  which,  as  a 
general  principle,  may  not  be  wrong  in  them- 
selves when  entered  into  with  good  judgment 
and  discretion.  We  may  trace  its  power  on- 
ward, from  step  to  step,  through  a  great  variety 
of  phases,  through  "  white  lies  "  and  decep- 
tion, to  cheating  in  school  work,  for  which 
we  might  be  suspended,  and  in  which  we  would 
be  ashamed  to  be  caught^  which  injures  our- 
selves and  is  unfair  to  those  who  are  doing 
honest  work.  A  short  time  ago  I  read  an 
article  comparing  English  and  American  stu- 
dents, which  accredited  the  American   with 


38 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


being  farther  advanced  and  brighter  than  the 
English  student,  but  it  also  noted  the  point  of 
"cribbing"  as  being  much  more  prevalent 
among  the  Americans.  Now,  although  we  like 
to  be  in  advance  of,  and  smarter,  as  we  call  it, 
than  the  Englishman,  we  would  not  relish  our 
position  to  be  questioned  because  of  our  actual 
knowledge,  or  our  smartness  to  be  offset  by 
dishonesty.  Nor  more,  would  we  like  to  have 
the  standing  of  Stevens  questioned,  or  its 
reputation  sullied  by  this  cause.  We  all  know 
that  **  Honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  but  we  often 
disregard  it  to  gain  a  temporary  advantage. 
We  feel  that  some  excuse  is  needed,  and  it 
comes  out  in,  "  Well,  if  we  live  in  Rome,"  etc., 
or,  "  Thejr  all  do  it,"  which  is  only  the  same 
old  fallacious  argument  with  another  overcoat 
on.  So  we  excuse  even  the  misuse  of  our  own 
endowments  and  of  those  possessed  by  woman, 
who  was  created,  not  to  be  disgraced,  but  to 
be  loved  and  honored  by  man.  Yes,  even  to 
crimes  which  we  can  call  by  many  polite  names. 
But  stop — we  are  breaking  too  many  com- 
mandments ;  and  our  reasoning  has  always 
assumed  the  same  form.  Church  members  do 
so,  such  a  person  does  so,  or,  in  other  words, 
it  is  custom.  In  this  way,  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent,  we  allow  custom  to  trample  under  his 
feet  our  knowledge  of  right  and  wrong.  Not 
that  custom  is  always  an  evil,  for  we  may  have 
good  as  well  as  bad  customs.  The  actual  mis- 
take is  in  letting  it  rule  us,  no  matter  whether 
it  be  good  or  evil.  The  truth  we  should  come 
to  realize  is,  then,  that  custom  cannot  make 
black  white,  or  wrong  right.  And  if  we  would 
all  work  to  make  right  the  prevailing  custom, 
then,  if  the  old  Roman  saying  does  still  con- 
tinue to  hold  its  influence  over  the  mind  of 
man,  it  cannot  harm  him. 


« ^»> 


HUGGING  AT  THE  RINKS. 

A  SMALL  BOY  THINKS  THAT  IS  THE  CREAM  OF 
ROLLER  SKATING,  AND  RELATES  HIS  EX- 
PERIENCE   ON    THE    WHEELS. 


**  Say,  Jim,  did  you  ever  have  on  a  pair  of 
them  skates  with  wheels  on  ? "  inquired  one 
boy  of  another. 

*  No,  but  I  heard  a  heap  'bout  em  ;  as  how 
all  the  people  is  crazier  than  bed  bugs." 

"  Do  yer  know  what  makes  'em  crazy  ?  No, 
eh  ?  Well,  ril  just  tell  yer  what  makes  'em 
crazy.  Yer  kin  jist  bar  witness  yerself  how 
young  folkses  like  hugging.  I  know  yer  kin, 
'cans  I've  seen  yer  layin'in  the  high  grass  along- 
side yer  front  steps  watchin'  Bill  Jones  hug 


yer  sister  Annie,  when  I  was  layin'  on 
other  side.  Gosh,  he's  a  regular  lem 
squeezer,  ain't  he  ?  Well,  as  I  was  jist  j 
to  tell  yer,  it's  jist  for  huggin'  that  all  the 
pie's  got  wild  over  skatin.'  Las'  night 
lady  what  lives  next  door  to  us  sent  over 
wanted  ter  know  if  1  couldn't  go  ter  the 
with  her  *caus  her  father  and  brother  were 
away,  and  she  were  afraid  to  go  aloi 
reckon  she  ain't  got  no  feller.  Well,  m; 
made  me  go,  and  gim  me  some  mone] 
git  in  and  git  some  skates,  provided  I  w; 
ter  take  a  lund  at  pilotin'  'em  round  the 
When  we  got  to  the  rink  I  started  off  a 
door  and  said  I'd  wait  fer  her  when  she 
out,  but  she  made  me  go  in  with  her,  * 
she  wanted  me  to  skate  with  her,  seein* 
wan't  nun  of  her  gentleman  friends  goin'  t 
ther  that  evenin' — but  she  ain't  got  nun, '( 
she  is  homelier  nor  a  one  eyed  poodle, 
took  hold  of  my  elbows  and  kinder  drs 
me  in,  so  I  was  perlite  enuff  to  go.  I  go 
skates  and  put  'etn  on,  and  then  loaded 
self  on  a  pair  of  the  demed  little  wa 
Then  she  wanted  me  ter  skate  with  her, 
didn't  wait  ter  git  my  consent,  but  just  t 
hold  of  my  hands  and  started  out,  usin' 
more  like  handles  to  a  walkin'  stick  than 
thing  else.  Them  darned  little  wagons 
no  fool  things  ter  skate  on,  and  *caus< 
didn't  know  how  ter  skate,  and  I  d 
neither,  we  didn't  git  very  far  afore  sun 
happened.  The  first  thing  I  knew  abo 
one  of  her  skates  was  runnin  kinder 
'round  among  mine  and  the  other  'un  to 
tack  toward  the  seats.  Both  were  huntii 
some  place  ter  stop,  and  she  seemed  k 
anxious  ter  have  'em  git  there.  But  the  1 
act  cum  on  when  she  giv  up  tryin*  ter  go 
ways  ter  onct,  ter  ketch  her  feet,  and  thre 
arms  around  me  like  Bill  Jones  did  ai 
Annie,  only  she  threw  her  hull  weight  i 
huggin'.  My  feet  wasn't  stationary  with 
wagons  on  'em,  and  when  they  did  get  a 
it  took  a  yoke  of  oxen  ter  stop  'em,  *• 
there  was  so  much  weight  barin*  on  'en 
know,  Jim.  I  jist  dropped  the  length  c 
legs,  and  there  wasn't  no  snow  ter  ma 
soft  like  there  is  on  a  slippery  hill.  Don 
know,  Jim,  the  teacher  let  me  stan'  up  a 
time  for  the. last  two  days  ?  Well,  that's 
But  yer  see,  Jim,  here's  the  p'int.  Eff 
a  been  strong  enuff  ter  hold  that  girl  u; 
can  jist  bet  yer  shoe  strings  I'd  a  had 
huggin'.  I  jist  seen  lots  and  lots  of  girl 
and  fall  inter  the  arms  of  some  feller, 
jist  hug  her  with  all  his   might,  too.     It' 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


39 


y  of  huggin'  yer  ever  seen.  Them 
3  jist  chune  a  fellow^  right  up  ter  it 
jr  insperashun — ^but  say,  if  yer  ever 
t  git  a  big  girl  what  can't  skate,  fer 
id  weight  ain't  no  picnic.  I  jist 
)ugh,  them  rinks  are  regular  huggin' 
icago  Tribune, 


« ^  » > 


DIFFERENT  CLASSES  AT 
STEVENS. 


y  diflFerently  the  students  of  the 
ses  at  the  college  behave  is  notice- 
rybody. 

gin  with  the  Preps,  or  Sub-Fresh- 
i  at  once  struck  with  their  princi- 
jnt,  namely,  cheek.  They  certainly 
;  the  whole  of  cheek,  and  nothing 
Fortunately  the  college  students 
tie  to  do  with  them  beyond  keep- 
om  running  ofF  with  the  library  of 
e,  as  they  did  with  the  Campus. 
I  come  to  the  Freshmen.  How 
ire,  too  !  Their  chief  occupation 
knocking  off  each  other's  hats  and 
with  them,  or  else  throwing  them 
!ie  book-cases  in  the  library  if  they 
particularly  funny.  And  if  happy 
lappen  to  be  acquainted  with  one 
he  upper  class  men,  how  grandly 
ut  from  the  table,  where  he  is 
inging  his  legs  to  and  fro,  "  Hello, 
How  are  you  ?"  And  how  enviously 
I  at  by  his  brother  Freshmen  who 
ortunate  as  he  is. 

3ressible  Sophomore  comes  next, 
lis  time,  while  waiting  for  his  class 
ne  around,  in  matching  pennies, 
enny-matching  has  gone  on  until 
Sophomore  has  succeeded  in  win- 
pennies  from  his  adverseries,  he 
!  shouting  :  "  Who  wants  to  match 
It  occurred  to  me  one  day,  as  I 
:ry,  that  some  enterprising  youth 
quite  a  trade  by  stocking  himself 
5,  and  offering  nine  of  them  in  ex- 
a  dime,  to  some  unlucky  Soph. 
:  of  pennies  has  been  exhausted, 
mxious  to  go  on  with  his  game 
►ly  lose  some  more). 
3rs  ought  to  be  above  such  little 
as  those  carried  on  by  the  two 
>,  however  they  indulge  in  throwing 
•balls  and  each  other  around  the 
)ably  their  gambols  (or  gambles) 
)n  in  their  class  room,  into  the  priv- 


acy of  which  '86  men  only  dare  to  penetrate. 
The  sounds  which  issue  from  this  room  at  all 
hours  of  the  day  hint  that  the  banjo  craze  has 
settled  down  very  extensively  on  some  mem- 
ber or  members  of  '86.  Another  characteristic 
of  the  Juniors  is  their  predilection  toward 
sloping  shop  work. 

It  would  be  most  presumptuous  to  criticise 
such  a  dignified  being  as  a  Stevens  Senior. 
Looking  up  toward  them,  the  lower  class  men 
are  struck  with  the  lateness  of  the  hour  at 
which  they  arrive  at  the  college  and  the  earli- 
ness  at  which  they  leave  it.  Perhaps  some 
kind  Senior  can  explain  this  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  expect  to  be  Seniors  '^  In  the  Sweet 
By  and  By." 

Notwithstanding  these  differences  between 
the  classes,  there  is  one  feature  which  portrays 
itself  in  all  the  students  at  Stevens,  from  the 
frolicking  Freshman  to  the  sober  Senior. 
Before  examination  there  is  the  same  anxiety 
visible  on  the  countenances  of  all.  After  ex- 
amination the  same  questions  pass  from  mouth 
to  mouth  among  the  members  of  the  several 
classes :  '^  How  did  you  get  through  ?"  and 
"  What  is  your  average  ?"  or  **  Did  you  get 
any  conditions  ?" 


>^»» 


rnwO   British  torpedo  cruisers  are  being 

1      built  with  the    following  dimensions : 

Length,  220  feet ;  breadth,  34  feet ;  depth,  11 
feet ;  displacement,  1500  tons.  They  were 
estimated  to  make  16  1-2  knots  an  hour,  being 
propelled  by  twin  screw  engines  of  3,200  horse 
power.  The  armament  of  each  vessel  will 
consist  of  six  machine  guns  and  four  five  inch 
breech  loading  guns,  together  with  an  elaborate 
system  of  apparatus  for  torpedo  discharging. 

A  company  in  England  are  executing  con- 
siderable orders  in  channel  steel  of  large  sec- 
tions for  mine  roof  supporting  beams,  and 
props  are  also  being  made  of  the  same  ma- 
terial. Although  the  first  cost  of  steel  beams 
and  props  is,  of  course,  in  excess  of  that  of 
wood,  the  fact  that  it  can  be  removed  without 
damage,  for  further  use,  will  render  it  more 
economical  in  the  end.  In  addition,  the  dim- 
inished space  occupied,  as  compared  with  the 
heavy  timbering  now  required,  will  be  a  great 
advantage,  affording  a  better  working  head- 
way, especially  in  shallow  seams. 

An  indicator  has  been  invented  which  is  an 
entire  departure  from  the  former  ideas  and 
principles.     The  indicator  is  attached  by  a 


40 


THE   STEVENS  INDlCAl  OR. 


coupling  to  an  ordinary  indicator  cock,  and 
consists  of  a  cup  shaped  receptacle  which  is 
closed  steam  tight  by  a  stiff  diaphragm  of  tem- 
pered spring  steel.     Above  the  centre  of  the 
diaphragm  is  a  small  mirror  hung  upon  a  spring 
pivot  in  such  a  manner  that  it  is  tilted  by  the 
slight  movement  which  the  diaphragm  under- 
goes under  the  varying  pressures  to  which  it 
IS  subjected  in   the  working  of  the  engine. 
This  is  made  to  cause  a  beam  of  light  reflected 
from  it  to  trace  a  vertical  line  on  a  screen 
upon   which   it    may  be   thrown.      An  arm 
fastened  to  the  bridge  which   supports  the 
mirror  is  attached  to  a  reducing  motion  which 
causes  the  beam  of  light  to  trace  a  horizontal 
line  on  the  screen.     When,  by  the  combined 
motion  of  the  diaphragm  and  cross  head,  the 
mirror  is  put  into  motion,  the  spot  appears 
as  a  continuous  line  of  light,  taking  the  form 
of  the  card  which  the  engine  is  making.     The 
len^h  of  the  card  varies  with  the  distance  to 
which  the  screen  is  removed  from  the  mirror  ; 
a  distance  of  eight  feet,  for  instance,  will  give 
a  card  five  or  six  feet  in  length.     The  card 
may  be  traced  by  passing  a  pencil  over  a  paper 
hung  over  the  screen,  keeping  the  pencil  in  the 
path  of  light. 

An  improved  locomotive,  built  by  the  Lehigh 
Valley  'Railroad,  made  her  trial  trip  on  the 
New  York  division  of  that  road  a  few  weeks 
ago.  It  is  constructed  for  the  purpose  of  test- 
ing a  peculiar  valve  motion  which,  it  is 
claimed,  will  develop  great  speed.  This  is 
done  by  making  the  cylinders  with  steam  and 
exhaust  entirely  independent,  doing  away  with 
eccentrics  and  slide  valves.  The  valves  on 
each  cylinder  are  worked  by  an  arrangement 
of  valve  gear  in  which  the  motion  is  taken 
from  the  connecting  rod  and  working  entirely 
on  true  centres,  there  being  no  sliding  surfaces. 
The  steam  valves  being  independent  of  the  ex- 
haust, the  point  of  cut-off,  or  expansion,  can 
be  obtained  without  the  corresponding  back 
pressure  and  over  compression.  The  point 
of  compression  can  also  be  changed  without 
altering  the  point  of  cut-off  or  expansion,  so 
that  the  power  of  the  cylinder  at  a  given 
pressure  can  be  utilized  to  much  greater  ad- 
vantage. The  weight  of  the  engine  is  47 
tons,  with  a  grate  area  of  37  square  feet.  The 
engine  is  also  fitted  with  an  independent  steam 
pump  and  heater  for  feeding  the  boiler  so  as 
to  put  in  water  at  nearly  the  boiling  point,  the 
heater  being  under  the  boiler. 

A  pneumatic  tube  system  of  signalling  has 
been  substituted  for  the  bell  cord  on  the  trains 


of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Each  car  1 
a  rubber  tube  running  under  the  bottom,  ai 
these  are  connected  between  the  cars  in  1 
same  way  as  the  Westinghouse  air-brake  tub 
They  are  kept  charged  with  a  pressure  of 
from  a  reservoir  situated  under  the  cab  of  t 
engine,  and  which  is  itself  supplied  from  1 
air  brake  reservoir.  The  rubber  tube  leads 
a  small  whistle  valve  in  the  cab  of  the  engi.i 
which  is  so  arranged  that  if  the  pressure 
the  tube  is  diminished  the  whistle  will  sou  v 
In  each  car  of  the  train  is  a  valve  which,  up 
being  opened,  allows  the  compressed  air 
escape  from  the  signal  tube,  the  action  of  X. 
valves  upon  the  whistle  being  instantaneoi 
The  same  effect  is  produced  if  an  accide 
happens  by  which  a  car  is  detached  from  t. 
train,  the  pressure  is  lowered,  and  the  whisi 
sounds  to  warn  the  engineer. 


A  VALENTINE. 


The  Seniors  need  not  think  that  they  have 
monopoly  on  "  engagements."     The  followin 
valentine  was  stolen    from  the  pocket  of 
Freshman,  who,  if  not  engaged,  we  think  ougl: 
to  be : 

Who  smiley  to  see  you  when  you  call  ? 
Who  runs  to  greet  you  in  the  hall  ? 
AVho'd  like  to  see  you  play  foot  ball  ? 

'Tis  Aida. 

Whose  mother  speaks  with  gracious  lips? 
And  when  the  conversation  trips 
Begins  to  claim  relationships  ? 

'Tis  Aida's. 

Who  sings  "  high  C  "  with  studied  ease  ? 
Whom  do  you  find  it  fun  to  tease  ? 
Who  pouts  sweet  lips  when  you  displease  ? 

'Tis  Aida. 

Who  has  bright  eyes  and  witching  ways  ? 
Who  tennis  and  piano  plays  ? 
Whose  voice  is  sweet  beyond  all  praise  ? 

'Tis  Aida's. 

Whose  song  is  saddened  now  with  grief  ? 
Whose  lonely  heart  asks  quick  relief  ? 
Who  prays  your  absence  may  be  brief  ? 

'Tis  Aida. 

Who  secret  hopes  she  may  be  thine  ? 
Who  longs  to  have  some  tender  sign  ? 
Who  sends  you  now  this  Valentine  ? 

Tis 


In  answer  to  our  inquiries  the  fellow  con- 
fessed that  he  had  responded  in  rhyme,  and 
after  much  coaxing  produced  a  copy.  But 
we  would  spare  our  readers. 


THE    S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


41 


Sfeeve^S  iRdiGafeep. 


PUBLISHBD   ON  THK 


ICH  MONTH,  DURING   THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 


BV   THE 


"OR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

iD^  In^feitafeB  of  Tecpologj. 


D  per  Year,  in  Advance.     Single  Copy,  20  Cents. 


rd  ol  lUbnketi  Pwt  OJTcr  a«  Sffrxtfd  Cloft  Matter 


(s  can  be  obtained  at  Luthin's  book  storty 

will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
nr  addresses  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 

*s  full  name,  as  well  as  his  NOM  DE  PLUMK, 
'.ny  the  article,  as  assurance  of  j^ood  faith 
f ;  but  it  will  not  be  published^  unless  desired, 
contributions y  subscriptions,  advertisements 
ommunications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
:ns  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute, //obohen, 


'N  one  month  from  now  we  shall  be 
oying  the  advantages  of  one  of  the 
ic  fields  in  this  country;  so  let  us 
0  to  the  Stevens  Institute  Athletic 

Grounds,  and  not  as  for  years  past, 
ijoying  all  the  privileges  of  owner- 
ive  been  pleased  to  exercise  at  the 
Cricket  Grounds. 
Jeorge  eleven  has  long  ago  ceased 
id,  if  for  no  other  reason,  let  the 
made  for  the  sake  of  our  love  for 
here  is  no  such  place  as  the  St. 
r^<r/  Grounds. 

all  accounts  of  games  and  events 
ids  were  headed  Stevens  Institute 
Dunds;  but  why  the  change,  which 
ed  for  the  last  few  years,  of  calling 
t.  George  Grounds,  is  a  question 
^ond  us.  True,  the  St.  Georges 
.0  be  proprietors  to  disinterested 
ho  watch  their  method  of  spread- 
rights;  but  the  Athletic  Associa- 
lers   of  the   grounds,  should  give 

United  States  name.     Let  them 
s  the   Stevens    Institute    Athletic 


FS  our  second  term  draws  to  a  close  those 
of  us  who  are   at  all  interested  in  ath- 
letics naturally  begin  to  think  of  the  prospects 
for  our  base  ball  team  this  year.     The  "growl- 
ers "  will  tell  us  if  we  do  no  better  than  last 
year,  do  not  try  at  all.     We  cannot  agree  with 
them.     Last  year's  was  an  entirely  new  {earn, 
and,  as   it  did  not   practice  over  much,  and 
nearly  all  its  games  were  poorly  arranged,  we 
could  not  expect  them  to  do  all  we  wished  for. 
This  year  our  team  will  have  had  at  least  the 
experience  of  a  few   games,  and  besides  that 
we  hope  all  will  take  advantage  of  the  place 
now  rented  for  practice.    Let  more  time  be  de- 
voted to  it  and  we  are  sure  to  do  much  better. 
A  great  deal  rests  with  the  Directors  in  their 
choosing  of  the  team,  in  the  arrangements  for 
games.     Last  year  but  few  games  were  played 
in  Hoboken,  and  it  seems  strange   to  us  that 
the  team  was  sent  to  play  in  all  sorts  ef  places, 
when  we  have  one  of  the  best  grounds  in  the 
country  at  our  very  door. 

Again,  we  could  never  obtain  a  ball,  when 
wanted,  without  hunting  all  over  Hoboken  for 
it.  Why  not  have  one,  or,  better,  a  number,  in 
charge  of  some  meniber  of  the  team  at  the  In- 
stitute ? 

Then  no  one  could  offer  the  excuse  of  hav- 
ing no  time  to  practice.     They  have  only  to 
step  out  on  the  "  campus,'*  so  called,  and  al- 
though it  is  not  the  best  plan,  has  seen  some  ex- 
cellent practice,  and  good  playing  has  resulted 
from  the  few  minutes,  now  and  then,  spent 
there.    The  team  will  probably  be  the  same  as 
last  year's,  except  the  pitcher  and  one  or  two 
out  fielders.     There  is  certainly  enough  good 
material  at  Stevens,  and  if  the  proper  attention 
is  given  to  the  necessary  practice,  there  is  no 
reason  why  we  should  not  have  that  pennant. 
One  of  the  weakest  points  the  Stevens  team  has 
always  shown  is  in  the  batting.     Proper  prac- 
tice  in  this  direction   has  never  been   made 
much  of.     Let   it  be  different   this  year,  and 
no  one,  we  are  sure,  will  fail  to  hear  that  well 
known    cry    from    the    fence  :  "  Stevens  'as 
bet." 


42 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


cefflfflu^rGfiipieF^. 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

Through  you  1  desire  to  say  a  few  words  to 
the  students  and  alumni  of  our  college. 

After  spending  the  longer  part  of  a  college 
year 'on  the  subject,  we  have  at  last  selected  a 
college  pin  which  one  and  all  admit  is  em- 
blematic of  our  profession,  and  at  the  same 
time  is  a  handsome  ornament  to  wear. 

One  might  ask,  what  more  can  we  want  ? 
But  it  must  be  that  the  air — or  something  else 
in  Hoboken — does  not  agree  with  my  fellow 
students,  for  a/«c/  of  them,  after  waiting  until 
the  college  pin  is  selected  and  the  steel  dies 
made,  suddenly  awake  to  the  importance  of 
the  subject — or  else  to  their  own  importance 
— and  want  the  whole  matter  reopened.  And 
for  what  reason  ?  you  may  say.  Simply  be- 
cause they  (the  few)  think  that  the  majority 
have  made  a  mistake,  and  are  not  capable  of 
having  a  mind  of  their  own,  as  they  appear  to 
have  none. 

The  committee  for  several  months  worked 
with  a  determination  to  do  their  best  for  the 
interests  of  the  college  regardless  of  any  per- 
sonal likes  or  dislikes,  and  they  repeatedly 
asked  the  assistance  of  their  fellow  students, 
who,  with  but  a  few  exceptions,  failed  to  re- 
spond. We  obtained  designs  from  every  source 
we  could,  among  them  the  well  known  houses 
in  that  line  of  business  in  New  York,  and  then 
we  spread  the  designs  before  the  college,  and 
put  it  to  the  individual  vote  of  the  students; 
and  then,  at  a  college  meeting,  that  vote  was 
confirmed,  and,  without  a  dissenting  vote,  the 
design  selected  as  the  college  pin ^  and  no  one 
then,  or  afterward,  presented  any  objections 
to  the  pin  before  the  committee. 

Now,  granted  that  we  could  and  would  re- 
open the  subject,  what  prospect  would  there 
be  of  improving  our  pin  as  selected,  and 
pleasing  the  majority  of  the  students  ?  There 
is  thia  prospect :  these  feWy  after  having  been 
given  every  opportunity  to  present  their  de- 
signs to  the  committee,  or  objecting  to  those 
presented  by  others,  failed  to  do  so  or  help  the 
committee  in  any  way. 

They  can  find  no  fault  with  the  pin  selected, 
except  that  it  is  not  quite  small  enough  to  suit 
their  aesthetic  ideas.  Now,  this  infinitesimal 
part  of  the  students  say  that  they  can  design 
a  pin  that  will  startle — who  ?  which  ?  what  ? 
For  this  design  of  theirs  they  have  borrowed 
the  sign  of  their  friend  "  Uncle  Isaac,"  and, 
lopping  off  one  of  his  arms,  they  take  the  two 


remaining,  and  say  that  it  is  emblen 
the  honorable  profession  of  mechanic 
neering.  Now,  I  fail  to  agree  with  the 
I  will  grant  them  that  it  is  symbolic 
chronic  state  (dead  broke)  of  some  of 
dents  of  M.  E. 

And  now,  my  foolish  virgins,  I 
your  zeal  and  good  intentions,  but  ren 
that  for  many  ages  it  has  been  the  cusi 
world  over,  to  shut  out  those  who  com 
eleventh  hour.  Therefore  I  command 
give  up  the  ghost,  and  may  be  at  some 
time  your  fellow  students  may  come  to 
ization  of  your  importance,  and  giv 
mighty  intellects  (?)  an  opportunity  t< 
forth.  But  let  me  warn  you,  if  they  d( 
committee  life  **is  not  a  happy  one," 
pathway  is  not  covered  with  roses,  an< 
are  few  thanks  and  many  rebuffs. 

We  cannoc  all  be  pleased,  and  when 
majority  are,  we  should  one  and  all,  re^ 
of  all  personal  feeling,  join  our  hands  i 
hold  what  has  been  done,  and  for  once 
college  life  have  a  mind  of  our  own  ar 
to  it,  and  not  be  changed  with  every 
wind  from  a  wind  bag,  and,  remeniberi 
we  are  all  fellow  students,  let  us  act  i 
mony  and  good  fellowship  for  one  anot 

Hoping  what  I  have  said  may  be  t2 
the  spirit  it  is  written — that  of  a  friei 
fellow  college  mate — I  remain, 

Very  truly,  yours, 

C.    J.    FlKLD, 

Chairman  College  Pin  Commi 


« ^  » * 


SOCIAL. 

A  series  of  receptions  have  been  gi^ 
Senior  Class  during  the  winter  months  t 
fessor  and  Mrs.  Leeds,  at  their  reside 
which  the  students  have  been  entertai 
the  hospitable  manner  characterizing 
entertainments  of  the  host  and  hostess, 
lady  friends  have  been  present,  and  in 
and   conversation    the  evenings   have 
very  pleasantly. 

Professor  and  Mrs.  Thurston  tendei 
Junior  Class  a  reception  on  the  evening 
13th  of  February.  Miss  Thurston  an 
Boughton  came  down  from  Vassar,  thi 
accompanied  by  a  number  of  Vassar 
ladies.  With  this  welcome  addition  '86 
an  unusually  enjoyable  evening.  After  t 
lation  dancing  began,  and  the  Hoboken 
ladies  vied  with  those  from  Vassar  in  1 
the  occasion  one  long  to  be  remembere 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


43 


COMMENCEMENT  NOTES. 


Martinelli's  has  been  chosen  as  the  place 
for  the  class  supper  at  the  coming  graduation 
exercises. 

The  following  students  have  been  chosen 
to  take  part  in  the  class  day  *^exercises : 
Abbey,  class  orator ;  Hussey,  class  poet ; 
Glasgow,  author  of  Pipe  Ode ;  Burchard,  to 
deliver  "Grinds;"  Adriance,  to  deliver  Ivy 
oration  ;  Dilworth,  to  deliver  closing  address. 
It  was  decided  to  have  no  class  prophet,  but 
that  a  class  history  be  given,  the  historian  to 
be  nominated  by  the  committee. 


THAT  BALANCE. 


When  the  report  of  the  editors  of  The 
Stevens  Indicator  was  read  at  the  college 
meeting,  it  was  stated  that  there  was  a  bal- 
ance in  favor  of  the  paper  ;  care  being  taken, 
however,  to  make  it  plain  to  those  concerned 
that  this  balance  consisted  mostly  of  unpaid 
subscriptions.  The  business  manager  has 
sent  bills  to  the  delinquents,  hoping  to  swell 
the  balance  thereby. 

Some  have  paid,  others  not,  and  what  is 
worse,  declare  **  that  they  have  paid,"  and 
naturally  object  to  paying  twice  for  the  same 
thing. 

Unfortunately,  we  have  no  positive  means 
of  determining  for  ourselves  the  true  state  of 
the  case,  even  if  we  desired  to  doubt  the 
words  of  these  people,  which,  however,  we  do 
not. 

The  advertising  department  of  The  Indi- 
cator has  paid,  thanks  to  the  efficient  man- 
agement of  the  first  business  manager,  better 
than  the  subscription  department. 

The  books  of  The  Indicator  have  never 
been  up  to  a  business  man's  standard.  This 
is  due,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  haste  and 
uncertainty  with  which  we  were  compelled  to 
start,  when  the  idea  of  maintaining  a  monthly 
was  put  in  a  tangible  form. 

When  the  old  board  went  out  of  office,  there 
was  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  newly 
elected  officers  to  straighten  out  the  financial 
affairs,  which  was  only  partially  successful. 

We  have  had  trouble  all  4ilong  with  differ- 
ences, which,  however,  are  small,  and  will  not 
interfere,  to  any  great  account,  with  a  correct 
balance,  seldom  exceeding  one  or  two  dollars. 
The  following  is  as  correct  a  statement  of 
the  financial  affairs  of  The  Indicator  as  can 
be  had  : 


Due  from  advertisers,  - 
"         subscribers, 
P.  and  L.,    - 

Total,  - 


-  $60  04 

34  00 

-  I  91 

$95  95 


Printers'  bill,        ;         -         -  $29  15 
Indicator  Publishing  Co.,      45  00 


Total,  - 


Assets, 
Liabilities, 


S73  15 

-  $95  95 
73  15 


Gain  to  The  Indicator,    $22  80 


The  above  accounts  have  not  been  settled, 
because  most,  if  not  all,  of  our  advertisers  are 
companies  that  pay  quarterly,  and  will  not 
trouble  themselves  with  a  small  bill  at  any 
and  all  times.  As  for  the  unpaid  subscrip- 
tions, we  have  no  control  over  that  money  at 
all  ;  however,  we  are  doing  our  best  to  collect 
as  much  of  it  as  possible. 

There  will  be  enough  good  money  to  pay 
the  printers'  bill,  which  is  the  only  account 
outside  the  college  against  us. 

The  $22.80  balance  will  have  to  come  out 
of  what  remains.  If  we  cannot  get  it,  the 
college  will  not  be  out  of  pocket  one  cent  (as 
we  look  at  it),  because  she  advanced  nothing 
in  a  financial  way,  and  but  a  microscopic 
amount  of  literary  work  ;  to  the  latter  cause 
was  due  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Editors  in 
resigning  as  a  body  last  January. 

Following  this  action  came  the  organiza- 
tion of  The  Indicator  Publishing  Co.,  to 
which  we  wish  every  success. 

Manager. 


S.  I.  T.  GLEE  CLUB. 

The  concert  of  the  Glee  Club  is  to  take 
place  definitely,  rain  or  shine,  hot  or  cold,  on 
Thursday  evening,  March  19,  at  "  Odd  Fel- 
lows' Hall."  There  is  not  the  least  doubt  as 
to  its  success  from  the  point  of  view  of  a 
musical  critic.  The  choicest  and  most  popu- 
lar college  airs  will  be  represented  on  the  pro- 
gramme, among  others  "  George  Washington  " 
and  "  Three  Little  Kittens  "  by  special  request. 
The  enthusiasm  shown  by  all  the  members  of 
the  double  octette  is  something  extraordinary. 
Thrice  each  week  have  they  made  the  walls  of 
Mrs.  Mac  Lean's  parlor  re-echo  with  their  sweet 


44 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


harmony;  there  indeed  they  have  left  an  in- 
delible mark  "on  the  carpet,  owing  to  the 
various  rehearsals  of  the  "dance''  in  G.  W. 
The  various  men  have  also  distinguished  them- 
selves in  the  different  classes,  by  taking  a  lead- 
ing part  in  the  numerous  songs,  or  bitter  at- 
tempts at  songs,  performed  by  their  classmates, 
who  are  without  that  "superior  training"  which 
the  Club  has  enjoyed. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  only  college  tunes 
are  studied  by  the  Club,  to  the  almost  entire 
exclusion  of  so-called  "classical  music."  The 
arguments  advanced  in  support  of  this  are, 
first,  that  students  can  do  justice  to  songs  that 
come  home  to  them^  as  it  were,  while  they  can 
seldom  be  brought  to  such  a  degree  of  perfec- 
tion as  would  be  necessary  for  the  delivery  of 
music  of  a  different  kind;  secondly,  the  audi- 
ence that  attends  a  students'  concert  does 
not  expect  an  artistic  performance,  such  as  is 
alleged  to  be  given  at  the  multitude  of  con- 
certs (?),  etc.,  but  it  expects,  and  is  not  disap- 
pointed in  our  case,  a  display  of  college  spirit. 

Still,  to  assure  the  musical  success  in  every 
direction,  the  excellent  and  popular  "  Valencia 
Orchestra  "  has  kindly  promised  to  assist  with 
several  numbers.  Miss  Dunn,  a  popular  so- 
prano soloiste,  will  also  charm  the  audience. 
Playing  on  the  banjo,  as  well  as  a  hop  after  the 
concert,  tends  to  add,  in  connection  with  the 
other  features,  that  necessary  "  spice." 

So  much  as  regards  the  *' musical  success." 
Now,  with  reference  to  \.\i^  financial  success 
of  the  affair,  we  hope  that  tout  le  monde  will 
put  in  an  appearance,  /.  e.,  in  other  and  matter 

of    fact  business  words,  will buy  a  ticket 

for  fifty  cents  !  !  ! 


AMERICAN  INSTITUTE  OF  MINING 

ENGINEERS. 


The  Society  held  their  second  session  at  the 
Institute,  Wednesday  morning,  February  i8, 
Professor  Thurston  giving  up  his  lecture  room 
for  their  use.  The  meeting  was  a  full  one, 
and  a  number  of  valuable  papers  were  read. 
Some  of  the  more  important  points  of  the  pro- 
ceedings we  note  for  The  Indicator,  from 
the  account  published  in  the  Iron  Age, 

The  first  paper  of  the  session,  read  by  the 
secretary,  was  by  W.  J.  Pierce,  of  New  York 
City,  on 

The  Cost  of  Gold  Mining  and   Milling 

IN  Nova  Scotia. 

Since  1862,  when  statistics  were  first  kept, 
350,000  ounces  of  gold  have  been  produced 


from  470,000  tons  of  rock.  The 
been  from  10  dwts.  to  i  ounce  2  dv 
with  an  average  of  14  dwts.  The 
show  a  steadily  decreasing  yield  ol 
ton,  due  chiefly  to  the  more  extens 
machinery,  which  has  permitted  tl 
lower  grade  ores.  The  paper  cont 
interesting  matter,  but  our  space  is  1 
Mr.  P.  Barnes,  of  New  York  city, 
with  a  paper  on 

Fuel  Economy  in    Engines   and 

The  paper  set  forth  the  need  of  r 
ligent  and  economical  preparation  a 
steam,  pointed  out  the  directions  in 
economy  was  to  be  sought,  and  ro 
suggestions  as  to  remedies  and  mear 

Professor  Thurston,  in  the  discuss 
followed,  briefly,  but  graphically,  sk( 
requirements  and  the  limitations  ol 
nomical  working  of  the  steam  engine 
ers,  and  indicated  the  direction  in 
provements  would  be  met  with  in  tl 

The  paper  of  Mr.  John  Fulton, 
town.  Pa.,  was  read  by  Dr.  Raymc 
subject  was 

The  Source  and  Behavior  of  ] 
IN  THE  Mines  of  the  Cambi 
Company,  Johnstown,  Pa. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  paper  t 
of  the  (Cambria  Iron  Company,  th 
and  surroundings  of  Johnstown,  sit 
cutting  of  the  lower  productive  coal 
500  feet  deep,  were  sketched;  a  bri< 
tion  of  the  coal  beds  and  ore  mines 
from  which  it  appears  that  six  of 
coal  mines  and  the  iron  ore  mines 
10  to  200  feet  above  the  valley  w 
and  but  one  coal  mine,  now  clos" 
The  paper  also  gave  detailed  statem 
fire  gas  in  each  mine  and  the  exp 
connection  with  it.  The  most  desti 
plosions  so  far  have  occurred  in  the 
The  source  of  fire  gas,  causing  flas 
explosions  in  mines,  has  not  receive 
ful  consideration  as  its  importance  w 
to  demand.  From  the  fact  that  it 
found  in  all  the  coal  beds  mined  intc 
town,  it  has  been  inferred  that  each 
with  its  rich  associated  bituminous  j 
produced  the  gas  met  with  in  their 
mine  workings. 

This  inference  was  doubtless  su^ 
part  at  least,  from  the  condition  of  t 
cite  fields  in  the  north  east  section  oi 
For  it  appears  evident  that  the  fire 
in  these  large  coal  beds  was  eliminai 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


45 


:ransformed  the  normal  coal  into  its 
ndition  of  glassy  anthracite,  each  bed 
g  the  chief  source.  It  is  quite  pos- 
in  the  mining  operations  in  the  an- 
slds  that  gas  may  ascend  from  the 
he  upper  beds  of  coal,  if  the  latter 
lined  into.  Three  objections  seem 
lelm  the  assumption  that  the  coal 
I  Allegheny  are  the  sources  of  fire  gas: 

fact  that  where  one  coal  bed  has 
d  in  part  or  entirely  under  another, 

coal  bed  workings  are  entirely  free 

e  coal  beds  are  the  sources  of  fire 
.  portion  of  the  Allegheny  field,  then 
les  eastward  in  the  same  field  should 
re  gas.  No  gas  has  yet  been  found 
ge  number  of  mines  east  of  Johns- 
le  same  absence  of  gas  is  noticed  in 

of  the  Clearfield  and  Cumberland 
I)  regions.     Some   of    these    mines 

worked  above  and  below  water  level 
J  past  twenty-five  years  without  the 
2nce  of  the  presence  of  gas. 

discoveries  of  natural  gas,  the  fire 
nes,  during   the  past   year  in  large 

under  the  lower  coal  measures  in 
Pennsylvania,  beginning  at  Johnstown 
ising  westward  to  Pittsburgh,  afford 
solution  in  this  portion  of  the  Appa- 
?ld,  at  least,  of  the  true  source  of 
s,  or  mine  fire  gas. 
the  interest  in  the  discovery  of  nat- 
in  the  latter  part  of  1884,  the  Cam- 
Company  had  a  test  well  sunk  on 
mds  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
issenger  station  at  Johnstown.  The 
s  test  well  is  11 89  feet  above  ocean 

12  feet  under  the  cement  coal  bed, 

workable  coal  bed  of  the  lower  coal 

At   a  well    depth  of  640  feet,  or 

bove  tide,  natural  gas  was  reached, 

down  40  feet,  beginning  in  slate  and 
g  in  sand  rock.  The  gas  was  ignited 
of  the  drill  hole,  giving  a  flame  3  feet 
le  supply,  however,  soon  showed  signs 
ling.  At  800  feet,  389  feet  above 
xond  gas  horizon  was  found,  less 
e  than  the  first.  No  gas  was  found 
.     Salt  water  was  reached  at  680  feet 

of  well,  509  feet  above  tide,  and  a 
rge  supply  2130  feet  below  top,  941 
V  tide  level.  At  2800  feet  drilling 
ioned. 

rst  bore  hole  indicated  very  clearly 
I  of  the  gas  met  with  in  the  coal  and 
lines  of  the  Cambria  Iron  Company. 


The  gas  has  evidently  ascended  through  the 
cracks,  clearage  plane,  openings  and  fissures 
of  the  intervening  rocks,  reaching  the  coal  and 
iron  ore  beds  above.  This  is  corroborated  by 
the  fact  that  all  issues  of  gas  yet  discovered 
have  been  found  in  the  portions  of  the  mines 
whose  strata  of  underlying  rocks  have  been 
fiexured  and  broken,  affording  openings  for 
the  upward  movement  %i  the  gas. 

It  is  difficult  to  establish  the  exact  place  of 
the  gas  in  the  rocks  here,  whether  the  horizons 
in  which  the  gas  was  found  have  been  its  nor- 
mal home  or  secondary  reservoirs ;  it  seems 
reasonable  to  infer  that  it  had  its  source  in  the 
Pocono  sandstone,  and  also  near  the  ho- 
rizon of  the  carboniferous  measures  of  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  In  the  flashes  and 
explosions  of  fire  gas  .in  these  mines,  the  gas 
itself  has  always  been  the  originating  cause. 
The  fine,  dry  dust  has  not  been  observed  to 
contribute  materially  to  the  energy  of  the  ex- 
plosions, although  certain  qualities  of  this  dust 
in  mines  will  aggravate  the  destnictiveness  of 
explosions. 

It  is  not  the  design  of  the  writer  to  assume 
that  the  source  of  fire  gas,  met  with  in  bitu- 
minous coal  mines,  is  always  found  under  coal 
measures;  but  from  developments  at  Johns- 
town the  inference  leans  in  this  direction, 
qualified  by  exceptional  localities.  The  hori- 
zons of  the  gas  wells  in  Western  Pennsylvania 
are  all  beneath  the  coal  measures.  It  will 
also  be  evident  that  in  coal  mining  operations, 
where  the  gas  may  be  met  with  at  uncertain 
places,  without  warning,  and  from  its  impon- 
derable character,  not  being  generally  sensible 
to  smell,  always  invisible  and  only  occasionally 
heard,  great  difficulty  must  continue  to  exist 
in  defending  the  mines  from  explosions.  The 
danger  from  this  fire  gas  increases,  as  a  general 
rule,  westward;  the  past  terrible  explosions  in 
the  Connellsville  region  are  examples  in  point. 
The  only  present  well  assured  preventives  con- 
sist in  ample  ventilation,  using  brattice  cloth 
and  safety  lamps  in  advanced  workings. 

The  third  paper  of  the  session  was  "  Notes 
on  the  use  of  high  explosions  in  the  blast  fur- 
nace, and  of  a  water  spray  for  cooling  or  blow- 
ing down,**  by  W.  J.  Taylor,  Chester,  N.  J. 
The  last  paper  was  an  illustrated  one  on  '*  A 
new  regenerative  hot  blast  oven,"  by  John  C. 
Long,  Mechanicsburg,  Pa. 

At  the  close  of  the  session  the  members  and 
their  ladies  were  entertained  by  President  and 
Mrs.  Morton  at  luncheon.  The  afternoon  was 
devoted  by  the  members  to  visiting  points  of 
interest  to  which  invitations  had  been  extended 


46 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOk. 


HIGH  SCHOOL  NOTES. 

High  School  Athletic  Association  flourish' 
ing ;  $2-5 1  in  treasury. 

The  High  School  base  ball  team  last  year 
won  six  games  and  lost  none.  The  foot  ball 
team  won  five  games  and  lost  one. 

The  Preps,  are  anxious  to  arrange  practice 
games  of  base  ball  with  the  college.  Oblige 
them,  by  all  means. 

Senior  "Prep."  to  baby  "Prep."  How 
catne  Prof.  Nollimah  to  get  that  bruise  on  his 
face?  B.  P.— He  told  us  he  fell  down  on 
F — th  street.  S.  "  Prep."  goes  to  F—th  street 
and  notices  blood  on  lamp  post.     "  Tumbles." 

The  nurses  seen  on  the  "Campus"  at  dif- 
ferent times  do  not  come  to  "  mash,"  but  to 
get  Prof.  Al— ch  and  R— t — 's  "Preps." 


At  the  invitation  of  Mr.  Shippen,  a  number 
of  students  have  organized  a  Polo  Club,  which 
will  play  at  the  Hoboken  Rink.  The  number 
of  members  has  been  limited  to  twenty,  and 
the  list  is  already  full.  The  officers  elected 
are  as  follows  : 

President — Wm.  A.  Adriance. 

Secretary— k.  W.  Burcharu. 

Treasurer — Oscar  H,  Baldwin. 

The  uniform  which  has  been  adopted  con- 
sists of  gray  jersey  knickerbockers  and  stock- 
ings, and  a  crimson  cap. 

The  Rink  is  at  the  disposal  of  the  club  from 
five  o'clock  until  seven  p.  m.,  and  also  after 
ten  p.  m.  Practice  is  expected  to  begin  at 
once,  sticks,  etc.,  being  already  provided.  A 
challenge  has  already  been  received  from 
Rutgers,  but  it  was  considered  advisable  not 
to  accept  it  at  present. 

By  the  energetic  work  of  the  directors,  a 
much  more  favorable  arrangement  has  been 
made  with  the  St.  George  Club,  both  as  re- 
gards the  finances  and  the  privileges  of  Ste- 
vens' men.  The  lacrosse  team  can  now  play 
anywhere  on  the  grounds.     The  team  has  re- 


cently been  admitted  into  the  local  associ^ion 
of  New  York  and  vicinity^  and  it  is  hoped  will 
take  a  prominent  place  among  the  competing 
teams. 

Messrs.  Munkwitz  and  Cotiart  represented 
Stevens  at  the  late  inter-collegiate  athletic 
meeting.  No  business  of  particular  interest 
to  Stevens  was  transacted. 


Vive  la  German  language  ! 
Where  does  cast  steel  come  from  ? 

Examinations  loom  up  dimly  on  the  hori- 
zon. 

The  deadly  roller  skating  rink  has  come 
among  us. 

The  favorite  poet  of  the  chemical  labora- 
tory— Hood. 

The  ho-moginous  man  of  '86  prefers  to 
make  his  Z  hete-roginous,  viz.,  n. 


Three  cheers  for  the  Mining  Engineers ! 
May  they  come  again  some  other  Wednesday 
morning. 

"  1  have  this  subject  at  my  fingers'  ends," 
said  the  student,  as  he  unfolded  his  crib  at  ex- 


For   patent  gas  fixtures,  apply  to  W.  W. 

Th .    The  above  advertisement  is  inserted 

free  of  charge. 

Appeal  to  O.  W.  J. :  "  Don't  you  think  the 
skylights  in  the  drawing  rooms  and  the  floor 
of  the  sanctum  need  cleaning  ?" 

Professor  (to  student  reciting  on  trusses)  : 
"  What  is  the  live  load  on  a  roof  ?" 
Voice  in  back  of  room  :  "  Cats." 

In    chemistry — Professor  :    "  What    is     the 
commercial  name  of  arsenious  anhydride  ?" 
Bright  student ;  "  Rough  on  rats,  sir." 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


47 


"  Do  you 


Professor  to    Monsieur   C 
know  what  pig  iron  is  ?" 

Monsieur  C :  "  Oui !  Oui !  Oui !" 

Professor  :  **  Mr. y  you  see  that  this  per- 
son is  distinguished  by  the  verb  ending  ez. 
That  is  the  reason  it  is  so  e-z  to  memorize." 

Frofessor  :  "  I  would  recommend  you  to  get 
1  lesson  perfectly  oncQ.  You  don't  know  what 
a  luxury  it  is  to  be  confident  in  regard  to  your 
answers." 

A  new  alphabet  has  been  discovered  ;  it  is 
the  a,  b,  c,  of  the  M.  E.'s  profession.  For 
hither  particulars,  r/^  Rankine's  '*  Machinery 
ofMillwork/'  p.  1763 J. 

TheFreshies  need  their  pin  feathers  plucked, 
according  to  one  of  the  Profs.  Alas  !  some  of 
the  pin  feathers  pull  so  hard  that  the  entire 
student  is  "  plucked  "  with  them. 

The  Freshmen  are  agonizing  over  the  sub- 
ject, "What  are  the  Effects  of  III  Luck  upon 
Success  in  Life  ?'*  Ah  !  Professor,  that's  rather 
hard.   So  soon  after  Fowler,  too. 

We  would  advise  those  interested  in  Kine- 
matics to  read  Section  149  of  Prof.  MacCord's 
book,  which  treats  of  the  spherical-equiangular- 
logarithmic  -  spiral  -  conical  -  multilobe  -  bevel- 
gear-wheels. 

Prof.  G (lecturing  to  Seniors)  :  "  Now, 

hy  an  elaborate  mathematical  process^  we  are 
enabled  to  arrive  at  the  complex  conclusion 

that   • 


100 


100 


loo+i-l-i        102. 

A  specimen  of  grammar  school  wit  : 
^cher :  "  Credible  :  what  can  be  believed. 
^0  can  give  me  an  example  ?"  Small  boy 
an  back  seat):  "  That  Jonah  swallowed  a 
»'*aie  IS  a  credible  story." 

[^o  Juniors  are  working  at  the  following 
of  k^  in  mechanics  :  What  is  the  moment 
J  ^"^  effort  of  the  professor  when  he  sits 
^^  pti  a  student  ?     |  Ed.'s  Rem.  :  "  I  don't 


^iiink 
AS 


*t  is  of  any  moment  to  know."] 


^  '^Ophomore  has  discovered  the  alarming 


dedica. 


^t  even  stars  skate.    He  says,  in  a  poem 
ted  to  Miss : 

"  Your  lovely  eyes,  my  darling  mate, 
Like  heavenly  stars  do  zoryxscatc*' 

^  Preventive  of  sea  sickness,  according  to 

not.  \j ^  J5  ^Q  keep  your  eye  on  the  horizon, 

H\T\ce  **  it  is  the  natural  tendency  of  man  to 

*^<^?  straight:'      We  would  advise  O.  W.  J. 

to  look  at  the  horizon  the  next  time  he  is 

"baW  seas  o'er." 


Professor  :  "  You  have  heard  of  the  rose  of 
a  watering  pot?  Very  well;  now  tell  me,  why 
is  the  rose  the  queen  of  flowers  ?  Give  it  up  ? 
Because  it  reigns  (rains)  over  them  all. 

Funny  Student  :  "  Shall  we  put  that  in  our 
note  books,  professor  ?** 

One  noon,  when  the  fire  bell  rang,  a  dozen 
Freshmen  started  for  Engine  No.  i.  After 
dragging  the  machine  around  the  principal 
streets  of  the  town,  it  was  ascertained  that 
there  was  no  fire.  After  laboriously  climbing 
a  hill,  the  boys  left  the  machine  and  returned 
to  the  Institute.  Each  participant  expects  to 
be  invited  to  the  hop  of  Engine  No.  i. 

Will  somebody  inform  us  who  it  was  that 
addressed  E  F.  W.  by  '*  Wee- Wee"  ?  Was  it 
done  because  E.  Y.  is  diminutive?  In  that 
case  we  beg  to  differ.  E.  F.  W.  is  "  great,"  or 
at  least  thinks  he  is,  and  consequently  ought  to 
be  called  "  I,  /,"  or  perhaps  '*  We,  We."  How- 
ever  that  may  be,  the  epithet  will,  without 
doubt,  stick  to  him  to  the  end  of  his  Institute 
career. 

A  spirited  debate  was  held  the  other  day 
between  several  members  of  the  Junior  class, 
as  to  whether  pig  iron  is  pig  iron  before  it  is 
cast  in  pi^s.  The  professor  to  whom  the 
question  was  ultimately  referred  decided  that 
pig  iron  must  be  in  pigs  in  order  to  be  pig 
iron.  Query  :  Is  cast  iron  cast  iron  before  it 
is  cast  ?  and  is  weld  iron  weld  iron  before  it  is 
welded  ?  and  is  wrought  iron  wrought  iron  be- 
fore it  is  wrought  ? 

The  class  of  '88  are  working  in  the  shop 
under  a  systematic  and  well  laid  out  roster, 
which  Mr.  Lackland  says  is  very  satisfactory. 
The  entire  course  for  each  man  is  spaced  up 
into  a  certain  number  of  days  for  each  depart- 
ment, and  the  dates  for  beginning  and  finish- 
ing each  particular  course  are  assigned.  It  is 
hoped  that  this  plan  will  do  away  with  many 
of  the  evils  which  existed  when  no  definite 
plan  was  adhered  to. 

Sample  questions  in  the  chemistry  room  : 
"  Is  this  er-r — was  the — er — basic  charge — er 
— entirely  basic — er  ?" 

Student  :  "  Not  prepared  on  that  part." 

"  What — er-r — is  the — ef-r — cause  of  elim- 
ination of  the — er-r-r — elements  by  that  time 
— er-r — the  time — er-r — the  time — er-r — the 
iron — er-r — had  taken  up — er  ?" 

Student  (who  has  forgotten  the  first  part  of 
the  question)  :  "  Yes,  sir  ;  I  think  it  is." 

A  student,  statistically  inclined,  counted  83 


THE   STEViNS    INDICATOR. 


"  ers  "in  11  minutes  last  chemistry  recitation. 
This  i*ould  make  45a-35  +  ""  a"  •'""'■- 
Be  gentle  to  the  er-r-ring. 

juniors'  song. 
I'hough  we  pore  o'er  Wood's  Kesixnnce, 


Of  I 


1  Kankine  ail  the  day, 
us,  we  are  not  obliviou!- 
iir  maidens  Tar  away. 


Though  we  live  in  far-off  places. 

Working  ever  day  by  day, 
We  remember  your  dear  faces 

Through  ihe  long  and  buiyday. 
Living  up  in  dUmal  attics, 

Urin  a  daisy  liltic  flat, 
Reading  toughest  mal hematics. 

Physic,  science  or  Kinemal'. 
Fumbling  leaves  of  dictionaiy, 

Drawing  plans  for  our  the-Jii, 
We  remembier  pretty  Jessie. 

Lively  C«rrie  and  Louise. 
TliouEh  we're  dtep  in  autt^raphic 

TcMls  of  old  iron  from  a  rail, 
We  cast  aside  things  malbcmaiic 

When  the  postman  brings  our  mail. 


K<.')^if</ 


We  are  siirjirised  to  see  TfiA  make  a  mis- 
take. We  can't  imagine  why  it  should  address 
Us  as  the  "Stephens  Indicator." 

Another  exchange  always  pleases  us,  the 
Adelphian.  Its  cuts  are  always  good  and  also 
its  reading  matter. 

The  American  Engineer,  we  need  hardly 
say,  is  interesting.  It  always  is,  and  this  time 
"The  Mexican  Railway  System  "  occupies  a 
prominent  place.  It  contains  a  numher  of 
short  articles  and  notes. 

The  Amhent  Student  lor  February  is  full 
of  interest  to  us.  News  takes  up  most  room 
and  the  collection  of  articles  is  very  good.  They 
complain  of  their  "  worthy  janitor."  Stevens 
men  will  not  think  that  out  of  the  way  we  are 
sure. 

The  Baverfordian  is  a  model  publication 
from  cover  to  cover.  It  is  well  jirinted,  well 
arranged,  and  best  of  all,  well  written.  All  its 
articles  are  sensible  and  worth  reading.  "  The 
story  of  Port  Royal  and  Louis  XIV.,"  taken 
from  Prof.  Davenport's  lecture,  occupies  a 
goodly  space  and  is  very  interesting.  We  com- 
mend ihe  Havtrfoidian  to  the  attention  of  all. 


We  are  glad  to  see  a  little  appreciation 
the  January  Indicatob,  especially  as  it  is  fM 
one  of  our  exchanges.     We  quote  from  t 
Hudson  County  Democrat- Advertiser  for   I 
benefit  of  those  (the  "chronic  growlers ")«1 
do  not  subscribe  nor  take  any  interest  in  f 
Indicator  (they  do  read  it  though,  straiMe 
say).     "  The  first  copy  of  the  Stevens  fit 
CATOB,  published  under  the  new  manageiae 
has  made  its  appearance,  and,  though  muc 
behind  time,  is  a  decidedly  creditable  prodai 
tion.     Its  contents  arc  an  improvement  u| 
the   former  issues,  and  the  attractiveness 
the  monthly  is  enhanced  by  a  fairly  well  <b 
cartoon  on  the  first  page." 


B^^ 


The  Mother  Hubbard  it  of  such  frightful  mien, 
That  to  be  hated  needs  but  to  be  seen ; 
But  when  surmounted  by  a  pretty  face 
We  first  endure,  then  pity,  then  embi«ce. 

—  Wootter  Collegiam. 

"  Make  a  minute  of  that  duel  at  Princeton, 
Mr.  Shearer,"  said  the  chief  to  the 
editor.  "Can't  do  it,"  replied  the 
"  Why  not  ?  "  "  "Cause  there  are  only  two 
seconds  in  it,  "  [Verdict  of  accidental 
caused  by  a  sudden  increase  of  salary.^— 
Targitm. 

A  Mormon  editor  of  Salt  Lake  City  had 
following  in  a  recent  issue  of  his  paper  :  "  "i 
unknown  woman  who  was  killed  at  this  fiMtH 
about  three  months  ago  by  the  cars,  pn 
to  be  one  of  the  wives  of  the  editor  m 
paper."  A  new  count  appears  to  have 
vealed  the  iaci~C<ir/  PretsePs  Weekly. 

Professor,  who  has  been  trying  for  the 
half  hour  to  explain  a  formula  on  the  ' 
turns  with  his  finger  on  his  nose,  which 
rather  prominent,  and  says,  "  Is  it  now 
ent  to  you  all?"  {Freshmen  grin.)  "\m 
aware,  gentlemen,  that  it  is  long  (Freshmel 
grin  audibly),  but  I  hope  you  see  the  point.' 
(Slight  pedal  applause).  "  It  is  call^  ptm 
asinoriim,  of  which  I  hope  you  see  the  ip 
plication. "<I^ud  and  continued  applause.)— 
De  Pamv  Monthly. 


Technology, 


SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOD^fDEr)    IIY  THE    L./\TI',    EDWIN   A.  STEVEN9._ 
— u  — 

HOBOKEN,   N.  J. 


rHSNRV  MORTON    Ph.  O, 
AUFREU  M.  MAYER,  Ph,  D., 
R0DER7   H    Tn-'P^TOM     ft   M..  C    I 

DE  VT  ■^'>'-'    M,-,N.r.     ,■    F.   , 

I  c.  w 

I  AU^■  :i 

I  CMA;   ■  ■     !■> 

1  HHV  ,    :  ■, 
E.  . 


Prof   a(  Erfrtrnri;! 


I  •HiV!. 


H.   MOKTDN^    Llr.lx 


^STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL!^ 


THE  ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 

STEVENS  INSTlTUrrOF  TECHNOLOGY^ 


fi/r.«;/r  STRrrnr  \-'  r 

■'^   irtJ  S'.ft.  HOBOKEN.  N.J.. 

i-;ER   IB,  i885. 

-    ■'■■■     •'     ■  ---Tibffr, 

FLTLL  COnRSEri  OF  STimV.  VV. 

\xliCOaEG! 

JUNIOR    DEPAFfTMCNr.                                           «76.UO    PEW    ANNUM. 
SENIOR   DEPANTMCHT,                                     VtOO.OO   PER   ANNUM. 

„♦»_       

1                          for  '>»Ml>icy»«  oitwy  v  •!>*  tftororwn  of  3'Avarn  IntiiW^i. 

I 


TH  E 


^!^'" 


"^UevQflB  JpidisafeSF. 


b--*?? 


VcL  a. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  APRIL,  1885. 


No.  4. 


9SB  BeTlRBIF^S  gsysE.* 

As  on  the  street,  in  idle  thought, 

I  wftndered  slow  one  day, 
A  withered,  bent,  misshapen  man 

Across  my  path  did  stray. 

Gnj  were  his  locks  ;  his  wof ul  air. 

So  hopeless  of  relief, 
TcM  pliiinly  that  for  many  a  day, 

He^  wrestled  with  a  grief. 

**  AUi !"  said  T,  **  poor,  wretched  man. 
What  hmth  yonr  grace  destroyed  ? 
~  Mayhap  your  baby  Hngers  rash 
wHh  dynamite  have  toyed  ? 

**  Or»  when  a  careless,  happy  chiUi, 

(y  fimcefnl  air  and  look. 
Upon  the  flying  bobtail  car  f 

Von  have  essayed  to  hook, 

*"  Until  the  thing  has  lurched,  and  then. 

To  your  intense  surprise, 
Did  tbnyw  jron,  and  your  baby  form 

Attempt  to  pulverize." 

The  stianger  stopped  ;  fast  down  his  cheek 

The  briny  flood  did  flow. 
I  mndi  did  grieve  to  see  that  I 

Had  agonized  him  so. 

**  AlaSi  fiar  worse  !    I  am,"  said  he, 

Id  tones  most  dolorous, 
*'  A  victim  of  that  engine  dire 

Known  as  the  boarding  house. 

*"  While  yet  a  youth,  bright  eyed  and  strong, 
And  quick  of  thought  and  word, 

I  fai  no  eril  hoar  did  seek 
A  boarding  house  to  board. 

"  In  yonder  halcyon  days  no  woe 

My  heirt  did  desolate  ; 
My  stomach  had  not  gone  astray, 

Aad  both  my  legs  were  straight. 

**  The  toagfa  and  ductile  buckwheat  cake  X 

No  homr  had  for  me  ; 
Daath's  aagd  larking  in  the  pie 

I  Imd  not  learned  to  see. 

«*  And  with  a  simple,  childlike  faith 
1  dhewed  the  mystic  hash, 

cm  the  bogas  sirloin  steak  § 
Mj  yonthfal  teeth  did  smash. 


so  boaidiiy  hoiney,  con<4ilt  "  Baxter's  S  tintt*  Rest." 

i  the  AnUgooistic  Properiies  of  the  Bob  Tail  Car, 
'iJ£f  FirmMim  ItutUuU,  vol.  Ixii..  1883. 
WSmn  ThomiMOii  **  On  the  Buckwheat  Cake,"  p.  67. 
of  sfa-loin  steak,  see  Materials  of  En- 


hr.    [In 


] 


"  But  this  for  any  stomach  was 

Too  much,  however  stout, 
And  this  pernicious  sort  of  grub 

Did  quickly  knock  me  out. 

**  Palate  and  appetite,  once  so  keen. 

Did  soon  begin  to  fail ; 
It  matters  not  now  if  I  dine 

On  snipes  on  toast  or  nails. 

"  The  swan's  down  mattress  on  my  couch 

Was  far  fiom  being  fat. 
And  soon  upon  my  fle^h  I  bore 

The  impress  of  the  slat. 

'*  Extending  on  a  three  foot  bed, 

This  six  foot  frame  of  mine. 
Was  not  a  thing  conducive 

To  a  rectilinear  spine. 

''  And  this  the  reason  is,  that  now, 

Most  painful  to  the  view. 
My  once  artistic  vertebrae 

Crooks  like  the  letter  U. 

"^  Bad  light  and  smoky  atmosphere 

Did  acid  unto  my  woes — 
My  right  eye  scans  the  zenith,  while 

My  left  surveys  my  toes. 

"  And  now,  sir.  can  you  wonder 

That  at  the  bitter  end. 
Beneath  this  heavy  load  of  grief. 

My  legs  began  to  bend  ? 

"  Mo  longer  are  ihey  shapely, 

No  longer  strong  and  straight ; 
My  knees  have  had  a  quarrel, 

And  sworn  to  separate. 

"  And  so  I  wander  sadly, 

Of  shape  and  grace  bereft  ; 
Of  all  my  former  beauty 

There's  none  to  speak  of  left." 

The  relic  closed,  and  sadly 

His  painful  way  pursued, 
And,  with  a  sigh  of  pity, 

His  retreating  form  I  viewed. 

Some  thought  I'd  had  of  boarding. 

But  needless  'tis  to  state 
'Twas  fully  frightened  out  of  me 

By  the  relic's  frightful  fate. 

The  original  John  Smith. 


50 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


ANTHONY    TROLLOPE'S  METHOD  OF 
LITERARY  WORK. 


Anthony  Trollope  was  a  most  unhappy 
youth.  He  was  a  pupil  in  several  good 
schools,  where  the  best  of  instruction  and 
pleasant  associates  might  have  been  enjoyed. 
But  he  was  disagreeable  and  awkward,  his  pa- 
rents were  poor,  and  he  had  no  ambition  to 
learn,  so  that  he  was  disliked  by  all  and  came 
out  of  school  with  but  little  more  knowledge 
than  he  had  when  he  entered.  His  education 
was  completed  in  after  life  by  his  own  efiforts. 

Throughout  the  first  half  of  his  literary 
career,  Mr  Trollope  was  engaged  in  other 
business.  He  was  employed  by  the  English 
government  in  the  post  office  department,  in 
such  a  capacity  that  his  duties  required  consid- 
erable travelling.  Indeed,  a  very  large  portion 
of  his  time  was  on  the  boat  or  in  the  rail- 
way coach.  He  was  now  fully  convinced 
that  his  living  must  be  earned  by  his  pen,  and 
that,  too,  by  his  novel  writing  ;  and  as  he 
could  not  afford  to  give  up  his  position  in  the 
post  office,  his  time  for  literary  work  was  nec- 
essarily limited.  Realizing  the  great  amount 
of  time  spent  in  travelling,  he  invented  a  port- 
able desk  which  could  be  used  on  the  cars  or 
boat.  He  very  soon  accustomed  himself  to 
writing  under  these  circumstances,  and  by 
utilizing  this  time  he  accomplished  a  great 
amount  of  work.  Some  of  his  very  best  works 
were  written  under  such  circumstances.  In 
later  life,  after  the  post  office  had  been  aban- 
doned, it  was  his  habit  to  rise  at  half  past  five, 
and,  in  the  quietness  of  early  morning,  with 
clear  head  and  refreshed  body,  devote  three 
hours  to  his  work.  This  time  was  not  spent 
in  nibbling  his  pen  or  vainly  seeking  for 
thoughts  and  words,  but  inconstant  work.  He 
was  for  the  time  in  another  realm.  He  knew 
what  he  wanted  to  say  and  could  transfer  his 
thoughts  to  words  with  wonderful  rapidity. 
Anthony  Trollope  did  not  have  to  wait  until 
he  was  inspired  before  he  could  take  up  his 
task,  but  could,  as  the  appointed  hour  came 
daily  round;  inspire  himself. 

By  this  strict  application,  and  by  his  natu- 
ral fitness  for  the  work,  he  acquired  a  rapidity 
of  writing  such  as  few  authors  have  ever  pos- 
sessed. Long  training  enabled  him  to  write 
two  hundred  and  fifty  words  in  every  fifteen 
minutes  that  he  was  at  work,  and  finally,  he  so 
systematized  his  labor,  that  this  practice  be- 
came a  rule  which  was  rarely  broken.  Hence, 
as  a  result  of  rapidity  and  daily  labor,  a  vast 


quantity  of  work  was  produced.  Ac 
to  his  own  statement,  he  has  contnbut< 
to  English  literature  than  any  other  li^ 
thor. 

With  his  duties  thus  methodically  ai 
he  was  able  to  reckon  his  time  with  gi 
curacy.  If  a  novel  was  promised  to  tl 
lisher  at  a  certain  time,  he  knew  that  il 
gan  it  just  so  many  days  beforehand  i 
be  completed  at  the  appointed  day.  1 
was  free  from  the  hurry  and  bustle  o 
.  who  are  continually  late,  and  from  the 
and  worry  of  those  who  never  know  a 
point  they  will  be  able  to  accomplis 
work.  He  was  always  punctual.  He 
always  tell  just  how  many  pages  of  a  n 
had  written,  and  just  how  many  mort 
would  be  required  for  its  completion. 
His  plan  was  to  show  strict  honesty 
his  work.  As  he  held  it  important  to  c 
integrity  in  business  transactions,  so 
his  literary  work  the  same  rule  was  eve 
rigidly  carried  out.  Whenever  he  ol 
anything  from  other  resources  than  hi 
and  that  was  very  seldom,  it  was  alway 
acknowledged.  Those  who  borrowed 
material  from  other  authors,  and  gave  i 
as  their  own,  were  held  in  low  estimat 
this  novelist,  who  never  lacked  matter 
own  use. 

Not  only  in  the  performance  of  hi: 
labors  did  he  have  a  definite  plan,  but 
development  of  his  characters,  and  in  tl 
trayal  of  his  pictures  he  always  had  a 
purpose  in  view,  which  was  that  his  cha 
should  act  naturally.  Whatever  the  plot 
ever  the  scene,  whatever  the  crisis,  he  e 
ored  ever  to  make  his  novels  represen 
of  real  life,  that  the  reader  might  see 
him  human  nature  in  its  varied  aspects, 
he  sometimes  succeeded  in  this  is  she 
the  criticism  of  Hawthorne,  who  said, 
novels  are  just  as  real  as  if  sortie  giai 
hewn  a  great  lump  out  of  the  earth,  at 
it  under  a  glass  case,  with  all  its  inhal 
going  about  their  daily  business  and  m 
pecting  that  they  were  being  made  a  she 
Anthony  Trollope  tried  to  show  men  the 
character,  to  point  out  their  faults  a 
before  them  the  beauty  and  manliness 
upright  life. 

He  was  intimately  acquainted  with  hii 
actfers.  They  were  to  him  as  real  p( 
Although  he  had  a  large  number  of  f 
and  took  great  pleasure  in  the  society  o 
ary  men,  yet  when  sitting  in  his  stud 
thinking  over  his  works  he  was  in  just 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


51 


.  company  of  friends  and  in  just  as 
e  society.  Every  face  was  as  distinct 
nd  as  was  the  face  of  any  real  per- 
?  knew  every  triiit  of  character  and 
manner  of  dress.  Thus  it  was  that 
write  about  them,  for  he  knew  of 
;  was  writing.  By  having  a  method, 
Lo  the  time  of  working  and  as  to  the 
0  be  done,  and  by  having  a  purpose 
while  developing  his  characters,  he 
limself  to  regular  habits  of  life  and  to 
lical  way  of  thinking.  Indifferent  to 
res  at  the  outset,  he  worked  quietly 
is  daily  task,  taking  for  his  motto, 
dies  sine  lineay'  and  remembermg  that 
dropping  wears  the  stone.  Every  day 
i  a  step  in  advance,  every  day  he  ac- 
ed  something,  and  thus  only  can  he 
who  hopes  to  make  the  most  of  his 


MATHEMATICS. 


i> 


a  remarkable  and  consoling  fact, 
k'ell  known  writer,  **  that  many  great 
e  hated  arithmetic.  They  have  had 
llowers,  who  have  resembled  them  in 
slse." 

latred,  shown  already  at  the  threshold 
matics,  has  prevented  many  of  those 
nen "  to  enter  the  gaudy  edifice  of 
rs  "  with  the  same  delight  that  they 
;  threshold  of  a  coffee  house,  or  a  Jar- 
ille.  And,  verily,  it  must  be  acknowl- 
lat  there  is  more  attraction  in  an  in- 
of  the  latter  species  than  in  that  cold, 
though  lofty  vault  where  numbers, 
mulae,  and  the  like  lie  interred  like 
5.  There  no  sound  is  heard  but  the 
3st  obsolete  whizz  of  the  rattan,  the 
ous  "one  times  one  is  one,"  the  a^, 
Cold  and  passionless,  embalmed  in 
innumerable  as  the  stars,  surreunded 
des  by  mystic  signs  apparently  of  the 
rith  glaring  eyes  look  the  wild  num- 
o  the  uninitiated  necromancy  is  not 
prehensible. 

nder,  then,  that  men  of  a  vivid  imagin- 
a  dull  understanding  ;  of  a  desultory 
f^eness,  or  a  lazy  nonchalance ;  of  a 
higher  philosophy,  or  a  dislike  tor  any 
by  ;  no  wonder,  I  say,  that  such  men 
^by  those  livid,  uninteresting,  almost 
ural  orbs  that  glare  at  them  when 
mine  one  of  the  mummies,  the  books. 


It  is  very  natural,  also,  when  the  restless 
child,  teeming  with  life,  finds  it  a  drudgery  to 
study  these  dead.  A  liking  or  a  taste  for 
mathematics  must  be  gradually  developed. 
It  is  a  study  totally  different  from  any  other  ; 
entirely  abstract  in  nature  ;  absolute  in  its  de- 
crees ;  correct  in  its  results  ;  eternal,  if  man's 
mind  be  eternal.  It  is  the  stepping  stone  for 
most  of  the  other  sciences,  not  to  be  dispensed 
with,  and  unique  in  the  practice  it  gives  to  the 
mind.  For  the  engineer,  of  course,  it  is  all 
in  ail. 

To  the  superficial,  indeed,  this  science  is 
quite  uninteresting.  The  symbols  and  dia- 
grams, he  thinks,  were  invented  merely  to  baf- 
fle the  student.     But, 

To  him  who  in  the  love  of  the  science  holds 
Communion  with  her  visible  forms,  bhe  speaks 
A  various  language 

He,  who  with  a  penetrating  look  gazes  stead- 
fastly at  those  embalmed  remains  of  Euclid, 
Archimedes,  Descartes,  and  others,  will  find 
that  his  dislike  will  gradually  thaw  away,  like 
love  under  the  sun  of  matrimony;  that  in  pro- 
portion as  he  pierces  deeper  and  deeper  to 
the  dark  recesses  of  this  apparently  stiff  **  af- 
fair "  (stiff  and  formal  as  a  maiden  aunt),  will 
he  find  that  mathematics  is  dead  only  to  the 
ignorant,  but  sensibly  alive  to  the  wise. 

On  examining  closely  the  lordly  palace  of 
mathematics,  he  will  discover  connecting  doors 
that  lead  to  the  palaces  as  well  as  the  huts  of 
almost  all  the  other  sciences  ;  it  may,  in  fact, 
be  called  the  science*  (squared),  the  science  of 
sciences. 

But,  alas  !  the  objection  is  raised  that  nei- 
ther the  science*  nor  its  professed  professors 
are  much  admired  ;  and,  according  to  Bacon's 
philosophy,  since  the  fact  does  not  agree  with 
our  theory,  our  theory  is  "left."  Still,  al- 
though the  burden  of  proof  lies  on  this  side 
the  question,  we  need  not  despair.  The  sci- 
ence* is  never  hated  for  its  own  sake  ;  it  can 
be  only  misconceived.  As  a  science,  and  its 
votaries  or  instructors  form  an  indivisible 
alloy,  the  hatred  felt  for  the  one  is  necessarily 
extended  to  the  other ;  also  conversely,  the 
love  for  the  other  stretched  to  the  one. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  many  mathema- 
ticians, breathing  the  somewhat  putrid  air  of 
the  tomb  of  Math.,  are  turned  themselves  into 
mummies,  though  not  dead,  passive  mummies, 
but  live,  active  ones. 

How  much  are  we  to  be  envied,  we  who  are 
free  from  any  of  these  modern  fossils  ! 

M.  A.  TH. 


52 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


SPRING. 

We  see  by  an  exchange  that  a  dizzy,  dizzy 
poet  named  Archibald,  chirrups  with  both 
jaws  the  question,  "  Spring,  spring !  Oh, 
what  is  spring !"  Now,  what's  the  matter 
with  you,  any  way,  Archibald  ?  You  must  be 
deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  and  so  badly  paralyzed 
that  you  can't  think,  if  you  don't  know  what 
spring  is.  You  must  have  sprouted  up  way 
back  among  the  Hoodoos.  Besides,  you  are 
pretty  late  in  the  day  to  be  inquiring  about 
spring.  You  ought  to  have  asked  us  last 
fall,  when  we  had  plenty  of  time  to  tend  to 
such  matters  ;  but  still  we  haven't  the  heart 
to  refuse  you  outright,  so  just  lay  aside  your 
second  hand  lyre  and  give  us  a  chance  to 
warble. 

Spring,  dear  boy,  is  a  pretty  prickly  thing- 
umerbob  to  monkey  with,  on  account  of  its 
extreme  cussedness.  It  sneaks  in  on  a  man 
when  he  has  all  his  winter  flannels  on,  and 
makes  his  celluloid  collar  to  wilt  and  cavort 
down  the  inside  of  his  undershirt.  This  makes 
the  man  believe  that  spring  has  got  a  pretty 
solid  kind  of  a  grip  on  the  surrounding  land- 
scape, so  straightway  he  goes  and  hops  out  of 
his  winter  flannels  and  stores  them  in  a  red 
valise  and  takes  them  down  to  "uncle."  And 
"  uncle  "  dealeth  out  shekels  thereon,  where- 
with the  man  can  purchase  pretzels  and  the 
foaming  beer.  But  right  here  is  where  spring 
gets  off  one  of  its  big  shyster  acts.  The  man 
don't  get  more  than  four  blocks  away  from 
"uncle's"  before  spring  gets  skittish  and  goes 
rushing  off  to  East  Africa  or  some  other  gum- 
my locality,  where  it  sticks  long  enough  to 
give  the  man  a  good  chance  for  a  good,  big, 
double  breasted  yearn  for  his  winter  flannel. 
But  that  is  not  all  there  is  to  spring.  Oh,  no; 
not  at  all!  Just  gather  in  your  pedal  extremi- 
ties and  we'll  spread  out  a  little  more  ex- 
tensively on  spring. 

After  spring  gets  through  galloping  all  over 
the  universe,  it  generally  settles  down  for  a 
time,  but  it  does  so  in  such  a  fiery,  untamed 
way,  that's  enough  to  give  anyone  the  cholera 
morbus  to  think  about  it.  A  man  may  be 
walking  along  as  innocent  as  possible,  when 
all  of  a  sudden  spring  jumps  right  on  to  him 
and  takes  up  a  permanent  residence  in  his 
lung,  and  the  poor  critter  spends  the  rest  of  the 
season  trying  to  heave  that  particular  lung 
into  space.  Then,  again,  spring  will  grab 
hold  of  a  man  like  a  Durham  bull  and  take  all 
the  starch  out  of  his  shape  in  about  fifteen 
minutes.  And  then  people  say  he  has  captured 


the  malaria  or  the  spring  fever.    We 

all  right.     We  had  that  once,  but  wc 

show  up  at  lecture  time  just  the  sam 

see  that's  what  makes  us  call  spring  si 

some  respects.     It  may  be  wrestling 

man  for  all  it's  worth  and  yet  the  res 

population  don't  know  anything  abo 

that  the  man  has  to  go  right  along  ai 

to  his  regular  duties  besides  carrying 

extensive  row  with  spring.     Some  o 

that  didn't  have  any  intellect  at  all,  h 

"  Spring,  spring,  gentle  spring."     Well 

as  badly  off  as  you  are,  dear  Archie. 

saw  anything  very  gentle  about  spring 

because  he  couldn't  see  anywhere  near 

enough  to  be  of  any  service  to  him.    \ 

wait  till  spring  gets  hold  of  your  fra 

rips  it  up  in  the  most  approved  style,  . 

if  you  don't  think  that  man  was  a 

If  you  don't,  why  then  you  are  a  big; 

yourself ;  so  be  careful,  dear  boy,  no 

too  fly  about  drawing  your  conclusion 

Spring  belongs  to  that  class  of  ind 

who  can  "  Smile  and  smile,  and  be  a 

still."     For  example :  Phyllis  gets  up 

morning  and  takes  a  bird's  eye  vie^ 

back  yard,  and  observes  that  Nature  i 

ing  about  as  broad  a  smile  as  it  is  ca^ 

supporting,  so  she  climbs  into  her  ne>^ 

foulard  polonaise  with  bias  puffs  and  c; 

flounces  all  over   it,  and   slaps  on   h 

spring  bonnet,  shaped  on  a  grape  b 

sallies   forth    to   captivate  some    broc 

dude  who  may  have  wandered  from  th 

ery.     But  spring  don't    favor  any  sue 

ceedings,  and  it  accordingly  puts  up 

with  Nature  to  give  up  smiling  for  ; 

and  put  on  a  regular  three  ply  frowr 

the  worst  of  it  is,  Nature  always  say 

wid  you,"  and  then  its  **  Hurrah,  boys 

Phyllis.     The  first  thing  that  she  kno> 

ture  lets  up  on  the  smile  and   begins  i 

the  deep  villain,  and  sweet  Phyllis   fir 

air  suddenly  filled  with  descending  mc 

but  having  no  umbrella,  she  finds  the 

ure  to  be  exceeding  damp,  so  she  acco 

makes  a  heavy  move  for  the  house,  b 

don't  do  any  good.     Just  about  two  r 

is  enough  to  damage  her  grape  box  h 

all  her  crinoline  fixings,  and  this  just 

Phyllis  depart  from  her  pedestal.     Bu 

she  gets  home  she  makes  things  hum,  y 

bet.     She  begins  as  soon  as  she  stril 

house,  by  trying  to  pull  all  the  bell  wi 

the  street,  and  the  moment  she  gets  ins 

domestic  atmosphere  begins  to  take  on 

ish  hue,  and  it  stays  so  for  some  tira 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


53 


course,  Phyllis  hadn't  ought  to  mind  a  little 
thing  like  that,  but  still,  it  is  rather  aggravat- 
ing to  have   your  outfit  spoiled   when   you 
haven't  got  the  ducats  for  a  duplicate.     Don't 
you  think  so,  Archie  ?     Of  course  you  do.    If 
you  didn't,  we'd  "tump  you   in  der  troat." 
You  know  we  don't  like  to  be  contradicted. 
If  we  say  that  Christmas  is  the  first  day  of 
spring,  why,  we  expect  you  to  believe  it,  and 
we  really  think,  Archibald,  that  you  would. 

Perhaps,  you  don't  know  it,  but    it's  just 
such  kind  of  individuals  as  you  that  make 
spring  even  more  rampageous  than  it  would 
be  otherwise.      As  soon  as  you  see  two  or 
three  blades  of  grass  anywhere,  you  grab  an 
army  blanket  and  rush  out  into  the  woods  to 
build  one  of   your  three  cent   spring    odes. 
You  hadn't  ought  to  waste  your  time  in  that 
way,  Archie.     Those  odes  are  so  dry  that  the 
only  thing  that  they  are  good  for  is  to  start 
the  fire  with;  but  still,  we  don't  mind  telling 
you  how  to  fix  things  up  so  that  ihey  will  be 
"0.  K."  hereafter.     Just  take  some  of  your 
rejected  odes  and   put  in  a  few  expressions 
like— "And  he  wore  a  boot  leg  for  a  hat ; " 
"Oh,  in  the    spring    take   anti-fat;"   "Now 
you  can  bet  your  bombazine;"  "  For  greasy 
spots  apply  benzine,"  and  just  hand  in  your 
little  composition  as  a  funny  article  and  you 
will  make  money,   in   which    case    you  will 
remit  us  fifty  cents   for  the  idea.      But  we 
wouldn't  have  you  to  understand  that  we  at- 
tribute the  whole  of  the  rampageousness  of 
spring  to   you,  because  we  don't ;   for  there 
is  the  inevitable  seed  agent,  moving  and  house 
cleaning.     The  male  portion  of  the  household 
gets  up  in  the  morning  and  everything  is  as 
usual,  but  when   he  returns  as  the  evening 
shades  descend,  he  finds  every  carpet  in  the 
house  ripped  up  and  the  whole  concern  wear- 
ing an  aspect  as  forsaken  as  that  of  Hoboken, 
and  the  explanation  is,  "  house  cleaning."     It 
has  been  found  that  house  cleaning  evokes 
more  profanity  per  second  than  any  other  ar- 
ticle on  record,  on  account  of  the  surplus  of 
inverted  tacks  and    unseen    objects   against 
which  to  bang  the  toes,  and  yet  great  reform- 
ers have  never  said  a  word  against  it.    Strange, 
isn't  it?    Just  say  something  about  it  in  your 
next  ode,  and  the  practice  will  probably  be 
stopped.     As  for  moving,  it  is  house  cleaning 
with  additional  agonies,  and  the  seed  agent  is 
considerably  worse   than   either.      He   is   so 
tough  that  no  bouncer  agoing  can  make  any 
impression  on  him,  and  he  seems  to  have  an 
idea  that  all  his  seeds  will  sprout  in  the  coal 
bin,  if  there  is  no  other  place  for  them,  and 


he  can't  be  hired  or  forced  to  leave  until  he 
has  convinced  his  victim  that  such  is  the 
case. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  spring  is  desirable 
for  some  things.  It  yanks  the  verdure  out  of 
the  stubborn  earth  and  makes  things  look  as 
though  some  one  lived  in  the  neighborhood; 
and  it  shoves  into  view  the  camellias,  chry- 
santhemums and  the  maurandyas,  and  brings 
down  the  price  of  rose  buds.  And  immedi- 
ately the  young  man  goes  and  "puts  in  "  his 
overcoat  and  invests  the  capital  thereof  in  a 
box  of  "  Huyler's  "  and  one  dozen  rose  buds. 
And  when  the  sun  sinks  low  in  the  west,  he 
goes  straightway  to  the  house  of  his  best  girl 
and  presents  them  to  her  and  gets  the  privilege 
of  holding  her  on  his  lap  the  rest  of  the  even- 
ing, and  he  has  to  spend  the  remainder  of  the 
week  in  sponging  the  spot  off  his  shoulder. 
The  aged  man  is  relieved  of  the  gout  and  gets 
the  small  pox  instead,  which  relieves  the  mo- 
notony of  his  daily  life  and  gives  him  the  op- 
portunity of  looking  as  though  he  had  been 
riddled  with  buck  shot. 

Spring  makes  the  heart  of  the  patent  medi- 
cine man  to  thump  his  ribs  for  joy,  and  jump 
around  the  inside  of  his  vest  with  an  alacrity 
equal  to  that  with  which  he  would  accept  an 
invitation  to  take  a  beer.  His  heart  goes 
through  these  capers  because  in  the  spring 
time  people  think  that  they  are  about  to  die, 
and  so  they  rush  off  and  spend  about  ouflFtie 
9  dollars  in  bottled  slops  labelled  "Sard's 
Hoopsparilla  "  or  something  like  that,  and  the 
wealth  just  tumbles  with  a  holiday  jingle  into 
the  spacious  pocket  of  the  proprietor,  and 
then  he  dances  a  large,  heavy,  double  flip  on 
the  glass  show  case  after  he  shuts  up  shop  for 
the  night. 

Then  the  man  who  makes  Easter  cards 
always  greets  spring  like  a  dear  friend,  be- 
cause with  spring  comes  Easter,  and  the  youth 
and  the  maidens  shell  out  their  ducats  for  the 
festive  Easter  card  ;  but  verily,  'tis  said,  it  is 
more  often  the  youth  than  the  maiden,  be- 
cause the  maiden  paints  a  rosebud  with  the 
mumps  on  one  of  her  last  year's  cards,  and 
sends  it  again  to  him  that  sent  it,  which  makes 
things  peculiarly  interesting  all  around.  But 
still  the  youths  are  plenty,  and  the  card  man 
is  muchly  elated  like  unto  the  medicine  man. 

And  so  spring  goes  ;  but  if  you  want  to 
know  still  more  about  it,  Archie,  just  come  up 
to  the  "  ssnctum  "  next  summer  and  we'll  war- 
ble you  a  little  spring  ditty  with  extensive  va- 
riations. Now  for  fear  that  you  might  forget, 
even  now,  what  spring  is,  we  will  make  the 


54 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


thing  practically  impossible,  if  you  will  re- 
member the  following  little  formula: 

You  may  know  that  spring  is  with  you  when  you  feel 

its  heavy  clutch, 
And  you  feel  as  though  you'd  eaten  just  a  little  bit  too 

much; 
And  you  hanker  for  vacation  and  the  Sunday  morning 

sleep, 
And  you  clear  the  rubbish  from  the  yard  and  pile  it  in 

a  heap. 
And  yon  hire  some  Celtic  bummer,  whose  heart  is  cold 

and  hard, 
To  heave  the  heap  of  rubbish  into  your  neighbor's 

yard. 
But  these  are  merely  harbingers  that  tell  of  early  spring, 
But  when  it  gets  a  fiimer  grip,  it's  quite  another  thing. 
So,  when  the  Irish  fairy  wets  the  sidewalk  with  the 

hose, 
You  may  go  right  down  to  '*  Uncle's  "  and  get  out  your 

summer  clothes. 

T.  Dingus  Kehoe. 


■♦-4- 


PHYSICAL  CULTURE. 


The  first  element  of  success  for  one  who 
has  wisely  chosen  his  calling,  is  constitutional 
talent;  or,  in  other  words,  he  must  be  possessed 
of  superior  bodily  stamina  in  order  to  impart 
warmth  and  vigor  to  his  ideas.  Till  within  a 
recent  period,  bodiculture,  if  it  may  be  so  call- 
ed, has  been  neglected  in  this  country;  people 
everywhere  have  advocated  the  midnight  oil 
for  the  young  man,  and  our  oracles  of  educa- 
tion have  urged  unsparing  study.  It  has  been 
truly  said  that  the  influence  under  which  the 
young  American,  and  especially  the  student  of 
the  past  generation  lived,  taught  him  to  de- 
spise the  body  while  the  mind  was  goaded  by 
preternatural  activity. 

But  now  we  are  beginning  to  see  that  the 
body  as  well  as  the  mind  has  rights  which  must 
be  respected,  and  we  are  learning  by  bitter  ex- 
periences, that  if  the  mind,  which  rules  the  body, 
tramples  on  it,  the  slave  will  not  forgive  the 
offence,  but  rise  up  and  smite  the  master.  We 
now  begin  to  see  that  the  pale  faced,  sickly 
youth  may  take  the  prizes  in  college,  but  the 
man  who  has  broad  shoulders  to  bear  the  bur- 
dens of  life  takes  the  prizes  that  that  offers. 

Henry  Ward  Beecher,  in  an  address  before 
the  students  of  Yale  College,  said,  "  That 
there  is  an  organization  which  we  call  the  ner- 
vous system  in  the  human  body,  to  which  be- 
long all  the  functions  of  emotions,  intelligence 
and  sensation,  and  that  is  intimately  connec- 
ted with  the  circulation  of  the  blood  and  aera- 
tion of  the  lungs,  that  the  manufacture  of  the 
blood  is  dependent  on   the  stomach,  so  a  man 


is  what  he  is,  not  in  one  part  or  another,  but 
all  over;  and  when  a  man  thinks,  he  thinbhis 
whole  trunk  through. "  In  order  that  a  man  may 
do  his  work  well,  he  must  have  a  working  con- 
stitution, and  this  can  only  be  acquired  by  a 
requisite  amount  of  bodily  exercise.  It  is  no 
exaggeration  to  say  that  health  is  a  large  in- 
gredient of  what  the  world  calls  talent.  A 
man  without  it  may  indeed  be  a  giant  in  intel- 
lect, but  his  deeds  will  be  only  those  of  a  dwarf; 
on  the  other  hand,  if  he  has  a  quick  circula- 
tion, a  good  digestion,  and  sinews  in  well  de- 
veloped condition,  e'en  though  he  have  but  a 
thimbleful  of  brains,  will  either  stumble  on 
success  or  set  failure  at  defiance.  A  pound 
of  energy  with  an  ounce  of  talent,  will  achieve 
far  greater  works  than  a  pound  of  talent  and 
an  ounce  of  energy.  Intellect  in  a  weak  man 
is  like  gold  in  a  spent  swimmer's  pocket. 

The  effect  of  the  culture  of  the  body  is 
strikingly  seen  in   the  nations  of  antiquity, 
where  gymnastics  and  calisthenics  formed  a 
part  of  one's  regular  school  education,  and 
with  them  we  have  an  example  of  what  great 
workt  can  be  executed  by  man  when  he  has 
good,  oxygenated  blood  flowing  through  his 
brain.     It  is  told  of  Cicero  that  at  one  time  in 
his  life  he  was  the  victim  of  a  train  of  diseases 
summed  up  in  the  word  '*  dyspepsia  " — ^mala- 
dies which   pursue  all  overworked   men  as 
sharks    follow   the  wake  of  a  plague  ship. 
The  orator  went   not   to  physicians,  but  to 
Greece,  where  he  flung  himself  into  the  gym- 
nasium and  submitted  to  its  regimen  for  two 
years,  and  returned  to  his  duties  as  vigorous 
as  peasants  that  till  the  farm. 

The  success  of  those  giants  of  antiquity, 
Aristotle  and  Plato,  was  due  in  a  great  meas- 
ure to  the  harmonious  education  of  the  mind 
and  body;  no  dyspepsia  affected  their  stom- 
achs, no  neuralgia  agonized  their  muscles,  ne 
philosopher's  ails  infected  the  throat  with  bad 
blood  or  ulcerated  mucous  membrane.  Hor- 
ace Mann  says:  "  When  I  was  in  college  I  was 
taught  all  the  motions  of  the  planets,  as  care- 
fully as  though  they  were  in  danger  of  getting 
off  their  tracks,  if  I  had  not  known  how  to 
trace  their  orbits,  but  of  my  own  organization 
I  was  left  in  entire  ignorance,"  and,  as  a  con- 
sequence, he  broke  down  in  the  second  year  of 
his  college  life,  and  never  after  enjoyed  good 
health.  Let  men  who  are  stripping  for  the 
race  of  life  account  no  money  as  wasted  which 
contributes  in  any  way  to  build  up  our  physi- 
cal constitution. 

We,  as  students,  recognize  these  facts,  and 
have  put  forth  zealous  efforts  toward  the  es- 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


55 


t  of  a  gymnasium,  and  feel  that  if 
s  and  faculty  would  only  look  at  it 
it  we  do,  they  would  lend  us  their 
d  the  erection  of  a  permanent  gym- 
Stevens. 


« ^  » > 


OGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF 
JOSEPH  SAXTON. 


has  produced  some  great  scientists; 
e  to  say,  this  fact  is  continually  over- 
our  writers  of  text  books,  and  the 
lent  in  this  country  naturally  thinks 
)e  is  the  only  land  where  scientists 
h. 

Dks  to  the  contrary,  we  have  reason 
i  of  the  work  done  in  this  country 
vancement  of  science,  and  among 
)utors  in  this  field  there  are  names 

many  of  Europe's  famous  men  in 
nent   of   a   world  wide  reputation. 

of  Joseph  Saxton  stands  promi- 
le  first  rank  of  scientific  men,  and  we 
hort  sketch  of  his  life,  written  by 
Mayer.  Its  perusal  should  prove 
and  instructive,  especially  to  those 
lave  supposed  that  some  of  Saxton's 
us  discoveries  were  the  result  of 
or. 

Saxton  was  bom  in  Huntingdon, 
lia,  in  1799.  ^^  ^^s  one  of  the 
ious  inventors  and  skilful  mechanics 
vast  number  which  our  country  has 

0  claim  as  her  sons. 

je  of  twelve  he  began  work  in  his 

1  factory,  and  here  first  showed  his 
;enius  by  making  a  capital  improve- 
e  machinery  in  his  father's  shop, 
tly  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  village 
r,  but  his  employer  dying,  he  left 

village  on  the  Juniata  in  a  boat 
s  own  hands,  and  floated  in  it  down 
irg ;  here  he  sold  the  boat  for  $10, 
reakfast  and  a  night's  lodging,  and 
lis  journey  reached  Philadelphia  a 
ghteen  years.  Just  before  he  left 
et  with  one  of  those  accidents  which 
hose  who  deserve  them — turn  the 

a  mind  into  hitherto  an  unknown 
thought  and  action.  One  day,  on 
0  his  rifle  with  the  ramrod  a  ball 
:h  a  greased  patch,  the  ball  sprang 
such  velocity,  from  the  elasticity  of 
d  air,  as  to  project  the  ramrod  from 
Determined  to  drive  the  ball  home, 
he  end  of  the  ramrod  against  a  tree. 


and  giving  a  rush  at  it  with  the  rifle,  the  ball 
went  down,  but  he  also;  for  the  ball  descended 
into  the  rifle  so  far  and  so  rapidly  that  heat 
was  evolved  from  the  compressed  air  sufficient 
to  project  young  Saxton  at  full  length  on  the 
ground.  Recovering  his  consciousness,  he 
began  to  think  of  the  cause  of  this  remarkable 
explosion,  and  he  reasoned  that  the  air, 
when  suddenly  compressed,  was  like  a  nail 
when  suddenly  compressed  by  a  blow  of  a 
hammer — they  both  being  heated  by  the 
mechanical  action  on  them.  Subsequently, 
he  found  out  that  the  reason  which  he  had  dis- 
covered for  himself  was  that  generally  adopted 
in  books  on  natural  philosophy,  and  this  fact 
gave  him  a  reasonable  confidence  in  his  own 
reasoning  powers  and  stimulated  him  to  apply 
himself  to  the  study  and  investigation  of  the 
actions  of  nature. 

In  Philadelphia  he  worked  at  watch  making 
and  engraving ;  and  while  there  he,  with  the 
celebrated  machinist,  Isaac  Lukens,  made  a 
clock  for  Independence  Hall  which,  to  this  day, 
sounds  the  hours  from  the  belfry  of  that  his- 
toric building. 

An  insatiable  desire  to  enlarge  his  knowl- 
edge of  things  and  men  made  him  live 
low  and  save  his  earnings,  so  that  he  might 
visit  England.  Reaching  London,  he  placed 
his  money  in  the  care  of  a  banking  house,  just 
in  time  to  lose  it  by  the  failure  of  the  bank. 
He  awoke  one  morning  to  find  himself  de- 
pendent entirely  on  his  own  exertions,  in  the 
heart  of  that  mighty  city,  without  money  and 
without  friends.  Driven  to  his  own  resources, 
he  invented  and  constructed  several  ingenious 
mechanical  toys,  which  had  a  great  success  at 
the  Adelaide  Gallery  of  Practical  Science,  then 
one  of  the  most  popular  resorts  of  London. 
Here  he  met,  among  many  of  the  eminent 
engineers  and  men  of  science,  Telford,  Brunei, 
Faraday  and  Wheatstone.  With  the  latter  he 
was  associated  as  assistant  in  making  the  cele- 
brated experiments  on  the  velocity  of  elec- 
tricity ;  indeed,  he  not  only  constructed  the 
apparatus,  but  he  actually  worked  it  for  Wheat- 
stone  in  his  experiments.  How  much  of  the 
success  of  Wheatstone  was  due  to  Saxton,  I 
leave  for  those  who  are  skilled  experimenters 
to  infer. 

While  in  London  he  was  the  first,  in  1833, 
to  make  a  magneto  electric  machine,  which 
exalted  to  such  a  power  the  magneto  electric 
currents,  recently  discovered  by  Faraday,  that 
his  machine  decomposed  water  and  gave  an 
electric  light  between  charcoal  points.  Three 
years  after  this,  in  1836,  Clarke,  of  London, 


56 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


n&erely  changed  the  form  of  the  instrument 
and  claimed  it  as  his  own  invention  ;  but 
Faraday,  Wheatstoue  and  Daniell  stated  that 
Saxton's  machine  had  been  exhibited  in  1833 
before  the  British  Association  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  Science,  at  its  Cambridge  meeting, 
and  that  he  was  the  undoubted  inventor.  Yet, 
to  this  day,  even  in  American  text  books,  the 
machine  is  from  injurious  ignorance  called 
Clarke's  magneto  electric  machine. 

Saxton  was  always  fond  of  field  sports,  and 
in  the  course  of  his  experiments  in  fire  arms  he 
invented  the  metallic  cartridge  now  so  exten- 
sively used  in  all  armies.  He  failed,  however, 
to  patent  this  invention,  which  has  been  the 
source  of  great  emolument  to  the  owner  of  the 
patent  right.  Mr.  Saxton  was  also,  I  believe, 
the  first  to  apply  a  sighting  telescope  to  the 
rifle. 

While  in  London  he  made  many  inventions, 
among  others  the  fountain  pen,  a  water  gauge 
for  steam  boilers,  the  reflecting  comparator, 
the  locomotive  differential  pulley  described  by 
Hawkins  at  the  1833  meeting  of  the  British 
Association ;  also  a  method  of  determining 
the  position  of  the  magnetic  poles  in  the  in- 
terior of  the  earth.  The  results  obtained  by 
this  method  were  subsequently  found  by  the 
mathematical  investigations  of  the  celebrated 
Poisson,  of  France.  He  also  made  a  machine 
which  obtained  electric  currents  from  the 
earth's  magnetism,  and  another  which  cut 
epicycloidal  teeth  for  gearing. 

While  in  London  he  was  offered  the  respon- 
sible position  of  director  of  the  printing 
machinery  of  the  Bank  of  England.  His 
ardent  desire  to  return  home  prevented  him 
from  accepting  this  position.  On  the  eve  of 
his  departure  for  his  native  land  an  entertain- 
ment was  given  him  by  several  of  the  most 
eminent  savans  and  engineers  of  London.  At 
the  dinner  a  work  on  mechanics  was  presented 
to  him  by  John  Isaac  Hawkins,  on  the  fly  leaf 
of  which  is  the  following  inscription; 

"Presented  April  26,  1837,  by  the  editor,  to 
Joseph  Saxton,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  at  a 
farewell  dinner  given  to  him  in  London,  pre- 
vious to  his  departure  for  America,  by  eighteen 
of  his  friends,  as  a  token  of  the  high  estimation 
in  which  they  hold  him  as  a  mechanician  of 
the  first  rank  and  a  man  of  science  generally  ; 
in  which  estimation  his  fellow  citizen,  the 
editor,  stands  second  to  no  one." 

About  the  same  time  there  appeared  the  fol- 
lowing in  one  of  the  English  journals  of 
science :  "  Mr.  Saxton,  of  Philadelphia,  now 
in  London,  who  is  justly  celebrated  for  his 


acute  feeling  in  regard  to  the  nature  \ 
of  accuracy  in  mechanism,  and  who  i 
not  to  be  excelled  by  any  man  in  E 
America  for  exquisite  nicety  of  work 
has  made  an  instrument  for  cutting 
of  wheels  truly  epicycloidal.  Such  2 
ment  ought  to  be  in  the  hands 
engineer." 

Here  we  find  Saxton  about  to  reti 
home,  his  character  developed  intc 
and  self  reliance,  and  his  mind  em 
the  knowledge  gathered  in  London  d 
association  with  the  first  men  of  sci 
engineers  of  that  day  ;  and  also  ho 
them  as  a  worthy  fellow  worker. 

Thus  we  see  Saxton  "hoisted  b) 
petard  " — the  explosion  of  his  rifle  pi 
landing  him  on  high  ground  in  Lone 

He  reached  Philadelphia  in  1837, 
made  curator  and  constructor  of  the 
weighing  apparatus  of  the  United  St2 
Here  he  made  several  notable  invent 
will  only  mention  the  perfection  of  G 
medal  ruling  machine,  and  a  stove  1 
ing  anthracite  coal,  provided  with 
matic  valve  to  regulate  the  draft.  1 
was  worked  by  an  expansion  of  tw 
whose  action  caused  the  stove  to  k( 
equal  temperature. 

In  1837  Mr.  Saxton  was  awarded 
Legacy  Medal,  by  the  Franklin  Insi 
the  invention  of  the  "  reflecting  com 

This  instrument  is  familiar  to  ou 
and  need  not  be  described  here. 
Mr.  Alex.  D.  Bache  succeeded  Mr.  I- 
superintendent  of  the  United  Sta 
Survey,  and  he  at  once  placed  Mr.  \ 
charge  of  the  construction  of  the 
balances,  weights  and  measures  to  be ; 
to  each  of  the  States  for  insuring  u 
of  measures  in  all  parts  of  the  cou 
Washington  Mr.  Saxton  passed  the  r 
of  his  days,  employing  his  talents  in 
creased  accuracy  and  improved  con 
to  the  many  refined  instruments  wl 
aided  in  gaining  for  the  United  Sta 
Survey  the  high  reputation  which  it  h 
all  nations. 

Mr.  Saxton  had  a  manly  and  b' 
character.  He  was  singularly  modest 
to  those  who,  like  the  writer,  knew 
mately,  did  he  give  forth  those  s 
thoughts  which  showed  his  intellectua 
Mr.  Saxton  died  deeply  lamented  by 
friends,  in  Washington,  on  the  26th 
tember,  1873,  after  a  lingering  ilh 
paralysis.     Professor  Henry,  in  his  n 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


57 


before  the  National  Academy  of 
s  (and  from  which  these  biographical 
ive    been    chiefly   obtained),   says   of 

"  He  neither  pestered  the  world  with 
ire  projects  destined  to  failure  because 
cessary  contemporaneous  conditions 
3t  present ;  nor  retarded  the  advance 
rovement  by  advocating  old  errors 
lew  forms.  On  the  contrary,  his  inno- 
were  founded  on  well  established  prin- 
and  consequently  were  positive  addi- 

human  power  and  efficiency." 


\  English  navy  will  be  supplied  with 
hree  monster  guns,  one  of  which  is  now 
*ss  of  construction  at  Elswick.  This  gun 
eigh  no  tons,  and  have  a  carriage  of 
5,  making  a  total  weight  of  200  tons, 
arrangements,  therefore,  will  have  to 
e  in  almost  every  particular.  The  gun 
a  breech  loader,  having  a  bore  of  16  J^ 
Its  length  is  43  feet  8  inches,  with 
eter  of  5  feet  6  inches  at  the  breech, 
g  down  to  2  feet  4  inches,  with  a 
welling  at  the  muzzle.  Preparations 
r  being  made  for  the  proof  trials,  and 
;ing  proved,  the  gun  will  be  tested  in 
to  its  range  and  accuracy.  It  will  be 
on  the  gun  barge  "  Magog,"  which  is 
Jtered  for  its  reception,  or  it  may  be 
ry  to  provide  another  vessel  for  it. 

uilding  their  railway  to  Philadelphia, 
timore  &  Ohio  Company  has  met  and 
ne  a  serious  obstacle  in  the  bridging  of 
quehanna.     The  bridge  over  that  river 

one  and  a  quarter  miles  in  length, 
ig  the  trestle  work  over  Garrett  Island, 
s  about  midway  in  the  river.  Across 
nnel  to  the  west  there  will  be  one  span 
feet  in  length,  at  an  elevation  of  90  feet 
nean  high  tide,  and  four  deck  spans  of 
t  each.     Over  the  east  channel  there 

a  through  span  of  380  feet,  a  deck 
:  the  same  length,  and  another  deck 
f  520  feet.  Thus  the  distance  across 
ige  will  be  6,300  feet.  The  approaches 
\  crossing  over  the  island  are  of  iron 
work,  and  the  spans  constituting  the 
ructure  of  the  bridge  will  rest  upon 
large  piers  and  two  massive  abutments 
ite  masonry.  The  piers  are  built  upon 
s  .sunk  by  the  pneumatic  process  to 
)ttom.  At  one  of  the  piers  the  caisson 
nk  to  within  two  inches  of  bed  rock  at 


one  pointy  when  it  was  discovered  that  at 
other  points  within  the  area  the  rock  was 
twelve  feet  lower.  The  whole  structure,  weigh- 
ing over  6,000  tons,  was  held  in  suspension  for 
two  weeks,  while  the  bed  rock  was  laid  bare 
at  every  point,  and  a  concrete  foundation 
built  up  from  the  rock  to  the  working  cham- 
ber in  the  caisson.  The  highest  points  of 
the  bed  rock  were  blasted  off  inside  the 
caisson  so  skillfully  that  not  the  slightest  dam- 
age was  done.  Work  is  still  being  carried  on 
at  the  bridge. 

Liquid  fuel  for  locomotives  seems  to  be 
employed  with  peculiar  success  on  Russian 
railways.  Mr.  Urquhart,  one  of  the  most 
efficient  railroad  superintendents  in  that 
country,  states,  as  the  result  of  his  experi- 
ments, that  the  naphtha  refuse  has  a  theo- 
retical evaporative  power  of  16.2  pounds  of 
water,  and  anthracite  of  12.2  pounds,  at  120  lbs. 
pressure  per  square  inch  ;  hence  petroleum 
has,  weight  for  weight,  thirty-five  per  cent, 
higher  evaporative  power  than  anthracite. 
The  liquid  fuel  is  injected  into  the  furnace  in 
the  form  of  a  spray  from  the  nozzle  of  an 
injector,  by  pressure  of  steam.  To  get  up 
steam  in  one  of  these  petroleum  fed  locomo- 
tives, the  plan  is  to  temporarily  connect  it  to  a 
shifting  engine  or  stationary  boiler,  to  obtain 
steam  for  the  blower  and  spray  jet.  In  light- 
ing up,  the  spray  nozzle  is  first  cleaned  of 
water  by  the  steam  jet,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  blower  in  the  chimney  is  started  for  a  few 
seconds  to  draw  the  gas,  if  any,  out  of  the 
smoke  box.  A  piece  of  cotton  waste  or  a 
handful  of  lighted  shavings  is  put  into  the 
combustion  chamber,  the  spray  turned  on,  the 
oil  immediately  igniting  without  an  explosion. 
The  petroleum  is  carried  in  a  tank  on  the  ten- 
der, the  tank  being  provided  with  a  gauge 
glass  for  indicating  the  supply  of  petroleum. 
For  a  six  wheeled  locomotive  the  capacity  of 
the  tank  is  three  and  a  half  tons  of  oil — a 
quantity  sufficient  for  250  miles  with  a  train 
of  480  tons  gross.  At  present  72  locomotives 
are  running  with  petroleum  firing  ;  10  of  them 
are  passenger  engines,  17  are  eight  wheel  and 
45  six  wheel  connected  freight  engines. 

The  Mechanical  Engineer  of  March  21,  in 
"Lost  Car  Wheels,"  contains  some  curious 
facts  abouts  locomotives  and  cars  running 
while  one  wheel  was  missing.  In  a  note  we 
have  the  following:  "  It  has  been  established 
by  the  roller  skate  races  in  this  city,  that  a 
man  can  travel  1,092  miles  in  142  hours  with 
20  hours  rest." 


58 


THE  S  TE  VENS  INDICA  TOR. 


PX7BLI&HSO  ON  THE 

15th  OF  EACH  MONTH,  DURING  THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 


BV  THS 


INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVen^  In^titate  of  TecSnoIogg. 


TERMS :— $1.S0  per  Ytar,  in  Advance.     Single  Cofiy.  20  Cents. 


KmUml  «l  tltbhkem  /'mt  Q^«r  m  SptmhI  CTmm  IMftr. 


Extra  copies  can  be  obtained  at  Luthin's  book  store^ 
Hoboken^  N.J, 

Subscribers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
change  in  their  addresses  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 
regularly. 

The  writer's  full  name,  as  well  as  his  NOM  DB  PLUME, 
must  accompany  the  article,  as  assurance  of  good  faith 
and  reliability ;  but  it  will  not  be  published,  unless  desired. 

Exchanges,  contributions,  subscriptions,  advertisements 
and  all  other  communications  by  mail  should  be  addressed 
to  The  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Hoboken^ 
N.J. 


WE  are  again  obliged  to  apologize  for  the 
lateness  in  the  issuing  of  the  present 
number  of  the  paper.  In  former  months  it 
was  our  custom  either  to  pass  the  matter  over 
entirely,  or  to  state  that  we  had  received  no 
help  from  the  college.  This  time  our  excuse 
is,  that  owing  to  the  term  examinations  and 
the  ensuing  vacation,  we  have  been  unable  to 
get  our  copy  into  proper  shape  for  the  printer. 
We  think  that  the  novelty  (for  us)  of  this  ex- 
cuse will  cause  our  readers  to  pardon  this,  our 
first  offence  under  the  new  organization. 


GefflfflUf^iGMipre^s. 


\  l/HE  suggestion  contained  in  thecommuni- 
1  cation  from  a  Junior  struck  us  as  being 
most  excellent.  The  benefit  derived  from  the 
recitations  in  Thorpe  is  decidedly  a  negative 
one,  and  it  is  strange  that  other  classes  have 
not  taken  the  initiative  in  attempting  some 
improvement.  The  time  allotted  to  laboratory 
work  is  not  sufficient,  as  the  professor  of  the 
department  himself  acknowledges,  and  it  seems 
to  us  that  the  roster  could  be  so  altered  as  to 
give  the  Juniors  their  recitation  hours  for 
practical  work  instead  of  in  "  day  dreams." 


CHEMISTRY  RECITATIONS  VS.  TIME. 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

It  is  a  universally  acknowledged  fact  th^B. 
newspapers  are  merely  mouthpieces  of  puH^^ 
opinion  ;  similarly  it  may  be  alleged  with  pi 
priety  that  your  excellent  journal  is  the  e^ 
pression  of  our  prevalent  college  opinion.  F( 
that  reason  I  submit  to  you  for  publicati( 
my  statement  of  a  grievance,  knowing,  as  I  di 
that  it  is  endorsed  by  a//  my  classmates. 

In  a  course  like  ours  we  need  every  mom< 
not  only  for  the  conscientious  study  of  lesson  ^^ 
but  also  for  the  acquirement  of  additions- 
technical  knowledge  by  a  perusal  of  period  -9 
cals,  special  books  of  reference,  examinatioiMB 
of  models,  machine  shops,  etc.,  in  the  neigb^rr- 
borhood.     Besides  this,  a  reasonable  amouc=:i:: 
of  literary  reading  should  be  done  by  ever — : 
man  who  desires  to  be  a  little  more  than     ^ 
one-sided  M.  E.     Now  every  obligatory  study, 
which  has  neither  an  intrinsic  nor  an  extrinsic: 
value,  and  which  in  addition  takes  up  con- 
siderable time,  apparently  for  the  sole  purpose 
of  being  invariably  forgotten  after  the  recita- 
tion is  over,  is  positively  detrimental  beyond  a 
doubt.     Of  such  a  nature  do  we  Juniors  claim 
to  be  our  present  lessons  in  Thorpe's  Quanti- 
tative Chemical   Analysis.     In  our  practical 
work  in  the  laboratory  we  are  naturally  allowed 
to  use  the  text  book  ;  for  what  earthly  reason 
are  we  then  required  to  remember /i?/-  one  day 
only  a  number  of  scattered  facts,  which  we  are 
sure  will  **  mix  thoroughly  and  evaporate  to 
dryness  ^"     Would  any  one,  except  an  expert, 
trust  to  his  memory  for  the   method   of  ex- 
amining exactly,  in  actual  practice,  any  sub- 
stance whatsoever  ? 

If,  indeed,  we  were  expected  to  learn  by 
heart  the  way  Prof.  Thorpe  analyzes  a  sample 
of  iron  or  steel,  it  might  do  us  some  good ; 
instead  of  that,  powdered  glass,  potassium, 
salts,  and  the  like,  are  thought  to  be  fit  sub- 
jects of  investigation  for  the  embryo  M.  E. 

The  professor  has  been  heard  to  say,  that 
he  wishes  to  be  sure  we  read  over  the  text.  If 
that  be  the  case,  is  there  no  other  way  of  dis- 
covering this  than  by  asking  a  poor  Junior  to 
describe  the  minutiae  of  a  complete  analysis  ? 

How  soon  have  we  not  forgotten  our  Shaw, 
studied,  as  it  was,  without  interest  and  under- 
standing !  Far  better  it  would  have  been  had 
we  read  the  authors  themselves,  using  Shaw 
merely  as  a  guide  in  our  travels  through  Eng- 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


59 


lure.  But  that  is  a  thing  of  the  past 
Let  the  Sophomores  and  Freshmen 
themselves. 

lusion,  I  beg  to  remsTk,  that  it  is  the 
an  education  to  teach  a  man  where 
:o  find  any  information  he  desires  to 
he  remembering  of  the  details  them- 
such  information  is  indeed  an  ac- 
nent,  while  at  the  same  time  it  is 
the  purpose  of  true  education. 
:  that  this  communication  will  be 
:tive  than  its  various  predecessors  in 
.mns  on  ihe  "  Gymnasium,"  the  study 
ical  Economy,"  the  "College  Pin," 


emam,  yoi 


s  respectfully, 

A  Junior. 


A  CORRECTION. 

Htors  of  the  Indicator  : 

Me  of  last  month  appended  to  the 

Electrical  Nomenclature  was  written 
listaken  idea,  and  was  not  the  system 
:he  article  referred.     The  communi- 

Mr.  Nystrom  on  the  subject  will  be 
Mechanics  for  December  and  Janu- 
;hat  system,  the  electrical  units  are 
al  to  or  some  decimal  multiple  of 
ry  units  now  in  use,  and  the  whole 

mutually  convertible  by  means  of 
mulje. 


E  GLEE  CLUB  CONCERT. 

;e  Club  gave  its  first  concert  Thurs- 
ng,  March  19.  This  was  the  first 
learance  of  the  club  for  many  years, 
d  a  grand  success,  so  much  so  that 
nts  have  been  completed  to  repeat 
linment.  The  programme  included 
nbers,  each  of  which  was  enthusiasti- 
,ved  by  a  large  audience,  made  up 
irely  of  the  personal  friends  of  the 
of  the  Glee  Club,  which  aided,  still 
laking  the  evening's  entertainment 
;  most  enjoyable  during  the  season, 
e  of  the  evening  was  Miss  Dunn,  of 
■  ho  gave  "  Marguerite  so  Fair,"  and 
yes  so  Blue,"  in  the  first  part,  and 
'  and  an  encore,  in  the  second, 
re  Club  deserves  the  lion's  share  of 
for  its  part  in  the  performance,  the 
being  all  well  chosen  and  admirably 


rendered.  Mr.  Camp,  the  leader,  has  succeed- 
ed, with  the  excellent  material  at  his  disposal, 
in  making  this  Glee  Club  the  superior  of  any 
that  have  sung  at  Stevens.  Many  of  the  se- 
lections were  encored,  the  audience  not  failing 
to  show  their  appreciation  of  the  club's  efforts. 
Mr.  Brainard's  ('84)  warbling  and  Mr.  Post's 
('74)  cornet  solo  were  features  of  the  evening. 

"  George  Washington  "  visibly  affected  the 
patriotic  audience  and  was  received  with 
rounds  of  applause.  The  mournfully  solemn 
song,  the  "  Bold  Fisherman,"  in  which  the 
solo  part  was  taken  by  Mr,  Hart  ('87),  also 
seemed  to  find  favor  with  the  audience,  and 
had  to  be  repeated. 

Messrs.  Johnson  and  Horn,  in  their  banjo 
duets,  completely  captivated  every  one,  as  the 
encores  bore  testimony.  Their  playing  was 
perfection,  and  received  a  perfect  ovation. 
The  Institute  Banjo  Club  did  their  part  well, 
and  were  very  effective  in  their  accompani- 
ments to  several  of  the  glees. 

After  the  concert  the  floor  was  cleared  for 
dancing,  as  a  wind  up  of  the  entertainment. 


THE   COLLEGE  PIN. 


We  take  pleasure  in  placing  before  our 
readers  a  cut  of  the  new  college  pin.  After  a 
great  deal  of  discussion,  this  design  was 
chosen,  and  has  already  become  a  familiar  ob- 
ject to  the  students  and  Hobokenites.  It  is 
made  up  of  two  kinds  of  gold,  with  a  jewel 
placed  either  in  the  headlight  or  the  boiler 
front,  according  to  preference.  It  is  not  our 
purpose  to  criticise  the  pin,  as  the  matter  has 
been  settled,  and  anything  that  may  now  be 
said  adds  only  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  few 
who  opposed  the  design. 

However,  The  Indicator  congratulates 
itself  and  the  college  that  the  idea  of  a  college 
pin  has  at  last  been  acted  upon.  We  believe 
that  every  Freshman  class  for  ten  years  back 
has  advocated  such  a  scheme  ;  but  it  has  re- 
mained for  '88  to  awaken  sufficient  enthusi- 
asm among  the  higher  classes  to  result  in  the 
choice  of  such  a  pin.     This  year  was  also  very 


6o 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


favorable  for  such  a  scheme,  as  there  were  two 
classes  without  any  pin.  We  hope  that  this 
design  will  find  favor  with  our  Alumni, 
as  it  has  with  most  of  the  students.  The 
price  is  not  so  exorbitant  as  to  debar  a 
student  from  purchasing  a  pin,  if  he  so  desires 
—and  we  earnestly  hope  that  he  will  so  de- 
sire. 

We  also  take  occasion  to  thank  the  Seniors 
for  the  utter  indifference  displayed  by  them 
during  the  entire  discussion.  It  is  not  amiss 
to  state  here  that  they  came  up  and  voted  at 
the  last  college  meeting,  as  upon  a  matter  of 
vital  importance  to  them.  Perhaps  they  con- 
sidered the  subject  too  trivial  for  them  to  ar- 
gue about.  However,  we  do  not  care  about 
that  now.  One  of  the  many  objects  for  which 
The  Indicator  was  brought  into  existence 
has  passed  away.  It  now  remains  for  us  to 
turn  our  attention  to  the  gymnasium  agitation. 
Yes  ;  we  at  Stevens  are  progressing. 

COLLEGE   PIN   COMMITTEE. 

•86. 

C.  J.  Field,  Chairman. 
Wm.  S.  Chester,  James  S.  Merritt. 

'87. 
M.  C.  Beard,  Wm.  F.  D.  Crane, 

Theo.  Theberath. 

'88. 

L.  L.  Eppinger,  a.  R.  Kolb, 

Hubert  S.  Wynkoop. 


« ^  » > 


IMPORTANT. 


senior  promenade. 


Until  last  year  commencement  at  the  Insti- 
tute was  a  very  democratic  affair.  The  exer- 
cises occupied  only  one  day,  and  usually  con- 
sisted, beside  the  graduation  exercises  proper, 
held  usually  in  the  hall  of  the  German  Club, 
of  a  meeting  and  banquet  of  the  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation, and  a  reception  at  President  Morton's. 
Last  year  the  graduating  class  extended  the 
programme  so  that  it  lasted  four  or  five  days, 
and  made  many  improvements,  so  that  it  be- 
came more  nearly  like  similar  events  at  other 
colleges. 

This  .year  the  Seniors  are  making  extended 
preparations  for  commencement  week,  and 
hope,  if  possible,  to  improve  on  the  past  year's 
programme.     In  order  to  make  the  week  a 


successful  one,  it  is  necessary  to  hav 
thing  each  day,  so  that  the  programme 
a  continuous  one.  For  several  yea 
modic  attempts  have  been  made  to  ha' 
during  the  exercises.  This  year  the 
have  taken  up  the  project  again,  ai 
placed  the  task  of  making  all  the  arran 
in  the  hands  of  a  committee  of  sevei 
Senior  Promenade  is  to  occur  on  J 
and  through  the  kindness  of  th< 
bers  of  the  German  Club,  the  hall  co 
with  the  building  has  been  secured,  a 
intended  to  be  an  affair  which  shall  b 
orable  in  the  history  of  similar  event 
hall  will  be  decorated  in  an  elegant 
for  the  occasion.  Flowers,  plants,  fi 
draperies  will  lend  picturesqueness  an< 
to  the  scene,  and  sweet  music  will 
coursed  by  a  large  orchestra.  The  < 
will  be  served  by  the  regular  club  cate 
will  be  instructed  to  spare  no  expens 
programmes  are  to  be  engraved  in  the 
style  of  the  art,  and  are  to  be  so  arra 
to  form  an  appropriate  souvenir  of  th 
In  order  to  make  the  ball  a  success  i 
essary  that  the  committee  have  the  he 
operation  of  the  entire  college,  and 
alumni,  and  they  feel  safe  in  relying 
sympathy  which  has  never  yet  been  re 
enterprises  involving  the  reputation 
college  as  this  does,  to  furnish  substa 
to  the  project.  The  tickets  have  beei 
at  a  low  price,  and  admit  gentlemen  wi' 
to  everything  without  extra  charge.  T 
be  procured  from  the  members  of  tl 
mittee,  or  from  any  member  of  the  ch 


^^» 


HIGH  SCHOOL  NOTES. 


Prof.  Sevenoak  is  said  to  have  ca 
the  Princeton  College  nine  for  several 

"  88  "  has  lowered  herself  in  the  eye 
community  by  taking — (**  hooking")— 
a  base  ball  bal  belonging  to  the     Prej 

The  members  of  the  4th  class  have 
the  study  of  physiology  this  year. 
seemed  most  interested  in  the  stud^ 
calves*  brains,  and  after  the  close  of  th" 
54  hands  wandered  unconsciously  tov 
cerebellum,  and  finding  the  little  braii 
position,  27  grins  o'erspread  27  Prep. 

The  High  School  expects  to  have  a 
lent  base  ball  team  this  year,  althougl 
the  last  year's  team  have  left. 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


6[ 


average  age  of  the  two  highest  classes 
ligh  School  is  17  years.  The  average 
he  two  lowest  classes  could  not  be  as- 
mI,  as  some  of  the  members  had  not 
to  speak,  and  those  who  could  did  not 
)ut  referred  us  to  their  nurses. 

ed.  —  Competent  nurses  for  Prof, 
's  Kindergarten. 


tfarch  13  was  organized  the  "  Metro- 
Amateur  Lacrosse  Association,"  com- 
in  its  membership  four  clubs,  viz.:  the 
ork  Lacrosse  Club,  New  York  Uni- 
Williamsburgh  Athletic  Club  and  Ste- 

institution  was  adopted  and  officers 
,  as  follows  : 

ident — J.  R.  Flannery,  VVil'msburgh. 
President — E.  J.  Cook,  -  Stevens. 
Treas.—}.  C,  Gerndt,     N.  Y.  L.  C. 

1  Directors: 

Matthews, N.  Y.  U. 

lARTiN, VVil'msburgh. 

SON, N.  Y.  L.  C. 

.IN  NORRis,  -    -    .     .    Stevens. 

e  seven  men  form  a  Board  of  Directors. 

e  is  to  be  an  annual  convention  com- 
)f  the  above  directors  and  two  dele- 
om  each  club,  each  man  to  have  one 
This  convention,  which  meets  the  first 
'  in  April,  arranges  the  schedule  of 
i  to  be  played,  decides  upon  a  trophy 
:les  all  disputed  points  which  may  be 

up. 

latches  are  to  be  played  on  inclosed 
i,  two  thirds  of  the  gate  receipts  to  go 
.ome  club. 

meeting  of  the  "  Metropolitan  Ama- 
crosse  Association,"  held  at  the  Knick- 
r  Club  Cottage,  New  York  City,  April 

were  present,  J.  R.  Flannery,  of  the 
sburgh  team,  and  President  of  the  As- 
q;  Mr  Gerndt,  of  the  New  York  La- 
riub,  and  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of 


the  Association;  Vice  President,  E.  J.  Cook, 
and  E.  G.  Coldewey,  of  Stevens;  Mr.  Roberts, 
of  New  York  University. 

The  business  of  the  meeting  was  the  ar- 
rangement of  schedule  of  games  to  be  played 
this  spring,  of  which  the  following  is  the  list; 
April  2S— Sleveni  vs.  N.  Y.  University.  -  »1  Brooklyn. 
May     a— Stevens  vs.  N.  Y,  Lacrosse  Club,  at  Brooklyn. 

"       7— N.  Y.  Universily  vs.  Stevens.  -   al  Hobaken. 

"       9— Wrasbot^h  vs.  N.  Y.  University,  at  Brooklyn. 

"     13 — Stevens  vs.  Wiliiamsbur^h,     -    at  Williams- 

"     16 — Wmsburgh  t'j.  N.  Y.  Lacrosse 

Club.     -        ■        -        -        at  Brooklyn. 

•'     2i-N.Y.Lacr05seClubT.i.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken. 

■'     23— N.  Y.  Lacrosse   Club  vs.  Wil- 

llamsbkirgh,  .      at  Williamsburgh. 

"     28 — Williamsbui^h  V3  Stevens,     -    at  Hoboken. 

"     30 — Tournament. 
June   6— N.  Y.  Univereily  vs,  Williams- 


at  Brooklyn. 
.  N.  V.  La- 

■    at  Brooklyn. 

Our  Lacrosse  team  have  arranged  a  game 
vith  the  Druids,  at  Baltimore,  on  May  16. 


University,    - 
"     20 — N.  V.  University  v 
crosse  Club, 


The  following  dates  have  been  arranged  for 
base  ball  games  : 


Troy. 

Although  the  score  of  Saturday's  game 
showed  a  majority  (11  to  7)  in  favor  of  the 
Waisessing  team,  Stevens  displayed  a  much 
better  form.  At  the  bat,  the  Watsessing  scored 
9  base  hits,  while  Stevens,  11,  The  errors 
are  a  tie,  but  in  earned  runs  we  are  far  ahead. 
The  pitching  was  "  wild  "  in  the  first  innings, 
and  to  this  can  be  attributed  the  loss  of  the 
game,  as  7  runs  were  then  made.  For  the 
first  game,  all  acknowledge  that  Stevens  is  to 
be  congratulated  ;  but,  it  is  hoped,  next  time, 
members  of  the  team  who  cannot  play  will 
notify  the  captain  of  that  fact,  so  the  team 
will  not  be  inconvenienced. 


The  Spring  Athletic  Games  are  to  take 
place  Thursday,  May  14th.  Entries  close  on 
nth  inst.  There  are  to  be  sixteen  events, 
including  the  lug  of  war. 

The  committee  earnestly  requests  the  stu- 
dents to  take  an  active  interest  in  this  matter, 
and  to  go  into  training  at  once  for  the  various 
events-    The  prizes  are  to  consist  of  medals. 


6j 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


sBRsefiaus. 


The  following  Stevens  men  are  now  at  the 
New  Orleans  World's  Exhibition  : 


HORNBLOWER  ;  wjth  J.  &  P.  Coates'  Thread 
Factory. 

'So. 
G.  W.  Bond  ;  in  charge  of  Pratt   &  Whit- 
ney exhibit. 

'83- 
L.  M.  Herney  ;  with  Linde,  Smith  &  Co., 
New  York,  Ice  Machinery. 

'84. 
R.  L.  Fearn,  in  charge  of  Graydon  &  Den- 
ton, the  Atlanta  Engineering  Co. 

L.  D.  and  W.  Carroll,  in  the  office  of  the 
Superintendent  of  Machinery. 


Examination  \%past. 

Have  you  passed? 

Cribs  for  sale  by  the  million.     Apply  to  the 
class  above  yours. 

Chambers  Street  clothing  dealers  boast  that 
they  can  suit  anybody. 

Order  your  college  pin    at  Newman's  no7v, 
before  the  rush  sets  in. 

Juniors  are  referred  to  Clerk,  '85,  for  an  ex- 
planation of  c^vH/^r-efiiciency. 

Remember  the  Glee  Club  concert  in  Brook- 
lyn, on  Wednesday  evening,  May  13. 

A  Champagne  Tap  is  the  subject  of  a  spir- 
ited Freshman's  examination  drawing. 

The  Juniors  are  complaining  that  the  exam- 
ination in  kinematics  has  been  too  easy. 


Prof,  in  chemistry:  "  Then — er — a 
you  add  some — er Ev-r — 

"My  kingdom  for  a — pony  !"  wj 
a  Junior  fetched  before  Prof.  Woo 
ination. 

Prof,  of  Physics  :  "  What  is  veloc 
Funny  student :  "  Velocity  is  wt 
sets  a  hot  plate  down  with." 

Prof.:  "  What  metal  dissolves  bro 
Student:  Nitric  acid."  {Laughter 
Prof,  (amazed  and  puzzled):     '^ 


"Th! 

Our  worthy  janitor  has  remonstrat 
our  stuffing  him  into  the  Sluing  i 
time.  We  have  listened  to  his  pray< 
spared. 

Spring  has  come.  Hoboken  saloo 
display  their  tempting  bock  beer  sign 
cient  spring  chicken  is  within  reat 
landlady,  and  baseball  practice  has  b 

The  third  and  last  terra  has  coi 
It  is  a  fact  well  worth  consideration 
paratively  (ew  (?)  new  text  books  aj' 
The  only  man  in  Hoboken  that  is  iw 
with  this  is  Mr.  Luthin. 

Have  you  a  camera,  a  banjo  or  a  ' 
What !  behind  the  age  ?  Hurry  up 
them,  one  or  all,  if  you  wish  to  be  c 
of  Stevens'  sons.  They  are  at  pres 
in  fashion  than  the  College  Pin. 

A  student,  in  the  last  examinai 
given  a  number  of  problems,  one  of  v 
an  original  one.  He  thus  tersely  s 
"  Professor,  I  have  never  seen  this 
before."     His  horizon  was  contractei 

Prof.  MaeCortTs  "Paradox:"  If  t: 
ating  point  of  a  curve  move,  at  any  pc 
one  direction  at  the  same  rale  with 
moves  in  the  opposite  direction,  it  i 
still  and  will  consequently  moi'e  pei 
larly  to  that  direction. 

The  Professor  of  Engineering  a 
students  to  omit  the  covers  for  exa 
One  of  the  men  interpreted  this  lite 
tearing  the  showy  red  cover  off  I 
brought  the  latter  in  his  inside  coat  \ 
examination.     O,  tempora !     O,  more 

Is  it  at  all  characteristic  of  the  pri 
the  chairs  in  the  chemical  lecture  roo 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


63 


iJy  ones  that  are  fastened  to  the  floor  ?  In 
lucidation  of  this  point  it  must  be  considered 
hat  the  Prof.'s  high  seat,  the  only  loose  one,  is 
ound  at  times  lying  on  its  belly  in  the  back  of 
the  room. 

Upward  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars, 
outside  of  previous  expenses,  were  realized  by 
the  Glee  Club.  All  expenses  lie.  The  B.  M. 
consequently  did  not  find  it  worth  while 
to  go  to  Canr.da.  He  has  been  re-elected,  and 
will  probably  get  another  chance.  False  alarm ! 
He  has  resigned. 

Prof.  Leeds  advised  the  Juniors  to  write  out 
"  schemes  "  of  the  various  analyses  treated  of 
in  Thorpe,  in  order  to  learn  the  lesson  the 
better.  One  of  the  students  complained  that 
"that was  all  right;  only  the  Prof,  don't  call 
us  up  to  the  board  where  we  can  make  use  of 
those  Schemes.* " 

George,  having  received  several  ovations  at 
the  concert,  has  conceived  the  idea  that  the 
public  is  "  crushed  "  on  his  shape,  and  he  is 
accordingly  contemplating  the  study  of  the 
drama  in  an  oyster  saloon.  After  having  com- 
pleted his  education  in  this  direction,  he  will 
probably  star  in  one  of  Harrigan  &  Hart's 
productions. 

The  Glee  Club  will  probably  give  several 
concerts  this  season.  Brooklyn,  Orange,  and 
various  other  places  are  under  consideration. 
They  will  sing  at  the  Hoboken  High  School 
entertainment,  at  the  concert  of  the  Athletic 
Association,  and  various  other  occasions. 
Though  young,  it  has  shown  itself  well  worthy 
of  all  emulation. 

Prof,  (with  every  evidence  of  one  who  is 
conversant  with  natural  philosophy)  :  "  The 
water  reservoir  was  covered  with  a  perfectly 
green  scum,  and  such  was  the  greenness  of 
this  scum,  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  that  if  a 
vtriant  cow  had  chanced  that  way,  he  would 
have  stopped  to  graze^  I'm  sure."  And  the 
class  smiled  some. 

Student  in  the  chemical  laboratory,  after 
y^uly  trying  to  adjust  some  apparatus,  leaves 
in  disgust.  Interview,  some  time  after,  with 
Ac  professor,  who  had  meanwhile  set  the  yxn- 
roly  machine  : 

Student :  "  I  didn't  leave  it  that  way.    Some 

^'  F.  has  been  fooling  with  it." 

Prof,  (blandly)  :  *^Then  I  must  be  a  D. 
p. 


In  several  New  York  business  places  the 
following  sign  is  posted  in  a  conspicuous 
place : 

**A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.  We  do 
like  the  smell  of  a  good  cigar,  but  we  detest 
cigarettes."  Reconcile  this  with  the  statement 
of  medical  men,  that  "  cigarette  smoking  leads 
to  idiocy"     Would  it  apply  to  Stevens  men  ? 

The  students  of  the  Stevens  Institute  of  Tech- 
nology do  not  cheat ;  they  only  crib  and  skin. 
Talking  about  skinning,  a  fellow  the  other  day 
remarked,  while  under  the  hands  of  a  knight 
of  the  lather  box  :  "  If  you  call  this  skinning, 
it  is  not  so  bad  ;  but  if  you  call  it  shaving ,  I 
should  prefer  to  have  you  take  the  other  side 
of  your  razor."  It  was  no  Stevens  man,  be- 
cause they  all  skin  themselves. 

Temptation  was  too  strong  for  Mr.  Dil- 
worth.  He  has  resigned  his  office  of  Chancel- 
lor of  Exchequer  of  the  Glee  Club,  amid  the 
heart-rending  lamentations  of  the  grateful  mem- 
bers. Mr.  Field,  '86,  the  proverbial  business 
man  of  the  college,  has  been  elected  in  Mr.  D.'s 
place.  It  is  to  be  expected  that  the  young 
club  will  prosper  under  the  new  director,  as  it 
has  heretofore  under  the  able  management  of 
Mr.  D. 

Group  about  the  large  magnet.  Professor 
(endeavoring  to  magnetize  a  file  presented  by 
a  student,  with  indifferent  success)  :  "  Gentle- 
men, this  is  strange.  I — have — ugh — z. — ugh 
—  magnetized  a  great  many  files,  but  never  — 
ugh — found  one  so  obstinate."  But  his  recol- 
lection suddenly  coming  to  his  aid,  his  face 
brightens  and  he  inquires :  "  Is  this  one  of 
Hawkridge's  files  ?  Well,  that  solves  the  mys- 
tery."    File  is  retired  and  labelled  N.  G. 

What  is  this  place  ?  It  is  the  foundry. 
What  do  they  do  here  ?  In  summer  they 
perspire,  and  in  winter  contract  pneumonia. 
Why  do  they  do  that  last  ?  All  on  account 
of  the  fresh  blacksmiths.  Is  the  temperature 
so  fresh  here  in  winter  that  people  catch  cold  ? 
Not  usually  ;  but  the  frisky  blacksmith  de- 
lights in  heaping  his  forge  up  with  green  coal, 
thereby  causing  it  to  give  out  dense  volumes 
of  smoke  which  remind  one  of  the  "  gentle- 
man's cabin  "  of  the  Weehawken.  The  win- 
dows of  the  inferno  are  opened,  and  the  sul- 
phurous smoke  gives  place  to  Hoboken  air 
containing  all  the  modern  improvements  at  a 
temperature  of  6®  Fahr.     Oh — h  ! 


64 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Vea,  verily!  on  May  13  the  Hoboken  student 
will  gird  up  his  loins  and  hie  himself  hence  to 
the  City  of  Churches,  and  after  making  the 
necessary  preliminary  negotiations  with  the 
bull  pup  and  the  patent  "  Bogardus  bouncer" 
door  mat,  will  take  his  best  "  gyur!  "  to  the 
Glee  Club's  concert,  where  he  will  endeavor  to 
catch  fifty  cents'  worth  of  melody  floating  in 
the  air,  in  spite  of  the  person  back  of  him  who 
insists  in  talking,  a  nervous  woman  in  front 
with  a  big  hat,  and  a  boy  at  his  side  who  is 
continually  falling  asleep  and  falling  over  on 
him.  Verily,  those  who  miss  it  will  be  yclept 
Dennis.     Sclah ! 

We  overheard  the  following  quarrel  in  New 
York  City,  between  two  laborers,  an  English- 
man and  an  Irishman,  in  which  the  latter  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  his  ready  repartee  : 

'  You're  a  fool,"  observed  John. 

"  'Tis  all  owin'  to  my  being  along  with  you, 
.  an'  it's  a  catching  complaint,"  retorted  Pal, 

"  I  hope  the  first  time  you  mount  a  ladder 
you'll  break  your  neck,"  returned  the  English- 

"  If  I  do,  it  will  save  me  the  expense  of 
keeping  a  holiday  when  your  neck  is  broken 
for  the  public  good,"  rejoined  the  Irishman, 

"I  wish  every  Irishman  in  New  York  was 
transported  to  Madagascar,"  cried  John. 

"  Then  you  might  put  up  a  board  and  ad- 
vertise the  city  to  let,"  answered  Pat,  and  so 
the  dispute  ended. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  '88,  a  new  treas- 
urer was  elected,  and  the  programme  was  fully 
as  interesting  as  a  real  four-lunged  boiler  ex- 
plosion. Deacon  Whaley  spoke  at  some  length 
upon  the  lop  sided  activity  of  collegiate  deacons 
in  general,  and  upon  the  narcotic  effect  of 
profanity  on  the  nervous  system.  From  his 
remarks  it  appeared  as  though  he  was  hopping 
along  the  "  straight  and  narrow  way,"  as 
usual  ;  but  a  report  was  circulated  that  he 
had  fallen  into  the  habit  of  mixing  up  blue 
cuss  words  with  his  daily  avocations,  and  also 
of  doubting  the  dimensions  of  the  ark.  The 
charges  were  accordingly  brought  against  him, 
and  as  he  was  unable  to  refute  them,  he  was 
kicked  out  of  the  deaconship  by  a  two  thirds 
vote,  as  his  abilities  were  believed  to  lie  in  an- 
other direction.  He  was  appointed  Lord  High 
Guardian  of  the  Overshoes,  with  an  annual 
stipend  of  two  gum  drops.  Those  who  have 
heretofore  known  him  as  "Deak."  or  "  Dea- 
con "  will  hereafter  recognize  him  as  "  Gum- 
my." 


Sf^ 


FATE. 

!iiudent  gehen  2n  dem  Lecture 
Mil  tein  Fraulein.  ein  Bon  (do, 
Student  h>i  on  glueoed  laundry 
Xoch  nicht  paid  far  lu  Hcrr  ICkhn, 
All  &ie  trelen  Walnut  Sliasie 
Wen  der  sprecher  durch  had  got, 
Mitdschen  sees  a  Sign  von  Oyslera 
Points  lu  ReslauTsnt  der  Rott. 
■Student  zittert,  fuhlend  pockets, 
Es  gibt  da  nur  Cents  funf-iehn, 
"  Fear  Sic  nicht,  Lieb  dai  dein  Mutter 
Wunachel  sie  nach  Hau»  zu  gehen  ?" 
"  Ich  will  risk  it."  sprach  das  MadschcD, 
Als  the  turned  him  zur  der  Thur 
Fur  ich  weit  das  you'll  not  like  it 
E!i>'  ich  Oyslen  nicht  mit  dit. 
Zuruck  gehen  nicht  he  konnle 
So  beiet  Oysters  stewed  their  be*t 
Aber  konnt'  nicht  eat  mit  pleasure, 
Bankrupt  [or  Sauce  wilt  mcht  dig«tt. 
So  bald  ^  komt  the  Tug  of  Kti^ 
Wenn  sie  aufsiehen  zu  %>*  avay, 
Er  winkt  nach  Mann  behind  the  desk 
Meaning  '*  Beiahl  another  day." 
Der  Mann  rieft  aus  :  ■'  O  donner  blili, 
Uenk'  dose  vinks  are  pey  for  you? 
Uu  has  vinked  me  now  funt  Dollars — 
Oysters,  ice  cream  and  do-loo," 


o  pawn  der  Time  piece 


Als  der  Sludenl  Home  spazieret 

Ei  war  troubled  in  his  Mind 

■■Sind  Madschen  mil  den  Oysters  besser 

Dnnn  jtu  gehen  all  allein?"  — Ex. 

Why  is  a  Freshman  like  a  telescope  ?  B< 
cause  he  is  easily  drawn  out,  easily  set 
through  and  easily  shut  up. 

Why  is  a  Sophomore  like  a  microscope 
Because  when  seen  through,  small  things  u 
revealed. 

Why  is  a  Junior  like  a  kaleidoscope?  Bi 
cause  every  time  you  look  at  him  you  perceii 
some  new  l>eauty. 

Why  is  a  Senior  like  a  spectroscope !  Gii 
it  up.— Queen's  College  Journal. 

That  last's  wrong ;  because  he  spects-t 
scoop  all  the  girls  in  at  Commencement. 


«  /H»y,  1885.  * 


Ro.  5. 


-Cor25E/>l5g.- 


Rot  (^oM  guMU«  in  Iti^B  Bftpftncj? 


■ana. 


65 
66 
66 
<S3 


7+ 


I  HE   STEVENS  TNOICATOR. 

Stevens  Institute  of  Technoluu\, 


SCHOOL  OF  MECIUNICAL  ENGINEERING, 


>^. 


FOUNDED  I3Y   THE   LATE   EDWIN  A.  STEVTSNS, 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 


no 


v-mn    Ph,  D.. 

;  i?,  Ph.  D.. 

TON,  A.M..  C.  E 
C.  E., 


ALati-  !    .■^.    i.r  L-.uS,  t»h.  D, 
CUAKt^BS  f .  Kii-OBH.  A.  M 
BBV.  EDWAPD  WALL,  A-  V. 
I.  E.  DEHTOH.  M.  E„       . 
A.  RIESENBERCea,  M.  E., 
C.  A.  CARR.  Ami  Eaj'c  U,  9.  fc 
W.  E,  CEYER  Ph.  O.,  . 


Pior.  Mcci. 
Ptct  Mali.  AT 


ProC  a(  Rxperiraentel   Mechaoiei  ; 


Piof.  of  Mvln«  Eoeineeiin 


>)>1» 


:nr  >l 


S:enlH  tlitllluir  h  ul  (iMt  ]rc*r<  duisttv"- 


iirOiainurliuidpriclieat  ki]cwled|i!it>ffluilML    E'arf«ri)ier|Miti.  i 

H. 


lloboken.  N".  J. 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 


THE   ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

RIVER  STRKET.  bsL  Bth  and  eth.  HOBOKEH,  .V 

OPENS  SEPTEMBER  dS,  i885. 


"FOU  COURSES  OF  STUDY,  PREPARATORY  TO  SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE  4«o  COLLEGES 


JUNIOR   oePARTMENT, 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT, 


S76.00  PER  ANNUM. 
SIEO.OO   PER   ANNUM. 


Ilinnn   t^Ttntt  otulnda  ktl  tha  .t'tiha.. 


rcr  CWaiofOM  vn^y  to  me  Llbntlan  of  stmrvna  inatlittte 


THE 


^UevefiS  jRdiGalisp. 


Vol.  2. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  MAY,  1885. 


No.  5. 


UPON  WHAT   DOES  SUCCESS   IN   LIFE 

DEPEND? 


As  we  survey  the  kaleidoscopic  fragments  of 
our  civilization,  our  attention  is  arrested  by 
the    different  attitudes  of  individuals  toward 
success.      To   the   merchant   success   means 
wealth ;  to  the  ambitious  man  it  means  honor, 
and  talent  recognized  ;  while  to  the  good  man 
the  term  is  synonymous  with  the  power  to  do 
good,  allied  with    both    wealth   and   honor, 
indeed,  in  the  last  case  success  depends  in  a 
gre.a.t  degree  upon  the  two  former  ;  for  a  man 
may  desire  to  benefit  his  fellow  creatures,  and 
ual^s  he  has  wealth  or  talent  in  a  greater  or 
less     degree,  he  will  arcomplish  practically 
no  tiling.     It   being  the   case  that   there   are 
ma-Xiy  ways  of  regarding  the  term  success,  it 
belr^ooves  us,  as  those  who  are  trying  to  live  in 
acc^ordance  with   the  eternal    order    of    our 
e3c.i^tence,  to  look  into  this  matter  with  a  view 
to       ascertaining  in   what   true  success    con- 
sists. 

Xt  is  readily  admitted  that  success  is  pri- 
t<^a.rily  the    accomplishment    of    a    purpose. 
pMrpose,  then,  is  the  foundation  of  success  ; 
^OT  how  could  success   be  attained  without 
some  definite  object  in  view  ?  or,  on  the  other 
band,  upon  what  grounds  could  one  excuse 
himself  for  planning  for  the  future  if  the  pos- 
sibility of  success  were  not   admitted  ?    An 
i4merican  divine  has  embodied  the  truth  in 
these  words  :  "  Purpose  is  the   eternal  con- 
dition of  success."     "  There   is  no   road   to 
success  but  through  a  strong,  clear  purpose." 
The  purpose  may  change,  but  that  does  not 
insure  the  overthrow  of  success.     Still  more  ; 
this    purpose    should   be    carefully   and   de- 
liberately chosen.     Each  individual  has  some 
special  fitness  for  one  or  another  branch  of 
the  world's  work.     His  purpose  should  natu- 
rally be  allowed  to  take  this  direction.     Not 
that  it  is  advisable  to  confine  one's  self  too 
closely  to  one  thing.     I  do  not  believe  that  it 
was  intended   that  we   should  cultivate  one 
faculty  at  the  expense  of  another ;  but  only 
so    long  as   all   the   faculties   are   exercised, 
though  not  to  an  equal  degree,  is  the  law  of 
our  being  carried  out.     If  it  were  not  so,  why 


did  Solomon,  after  stating  that  "there  is  a 
time  for  every  purpose  under  the  sun,"  so 
carefully  enumerate  ?  Was  it  not  in  order  to 
emphasize  the  divine  plan  in  which  "  every- 
thing has  a  season  "  ? 

But  while  I. have  dwelt  upon  purpose  as  a 
principle  of  success,  I  do  not  forget  that  we 
may  go  further,  and  fiiiJ  a  principle  which 
underlies  both  purpose  and  success.  As  I  have 
briefly  hinted,  lying  back  of  purpose  must  be 
faith  in  self,  the  belief  in  one's  ability  to 
accomplish  certain  purposed  results.  It  is 
idle  for  a  man  to  build  castles  in  the  air,  or, 
as  it  were,  think  to  build  his  house  from  the 
roof  downward  ;  but  if,  along  with  the  plan, 
there  is  faith,  then  practical  results  will 
ensue. 

Now,  indeed,  it  would  seem  at  first  blush 
as  if  we  had  noted  all  the  points  essential  to 
the  consideration  of  the  underlying  principles 
of  success.  It  does  not  necessarily  follow, 
because  success  is  sometimes  attained  without 
a  certain  factor,  that  this  factor  is  not  neces- 
sary. Therefore,  we  must  not  overlook  a 
very  important,  and  oft  times  disregarded  ele- 
ment, which  in  certain  kinds  .of  success  plays 
the  most  active  part.  I  affirm  that  in  all  true 
success,  faith  in  a  Creator  is  an  absolute  and 
fundamental  requirement.  A  man  who  has 
no  faith  in  such  a  being  puts  little  or  no  trust 
in  his  fellow  man  ;  and,  after  continuing  on 
in  such  a  moral  condition  for  a  time,  he  finally 
loses  faith  in  himself.  Such  a  one  is  a  sceptic, 
and  a  sceptic  is  a  forlorn  creature,  entirely 
out  of  keeping  with  this  world  of  ours. 

I  am  now  ready  to  answer  the  question, 
In  what  does  true  success  consist  ?  True 
success  is  the  accomplishment  of  a  purpose, 
not  our  own,  but  put  into  our  hearts  by  One 
infinitely  wiser  than  we  ;  which  purpose  is 
upheld  by  faith  in  our  ability  to  approach  to 
the  required  result. 

Must  not  this  success,  therefore,  be  far 
above  those  results  which  the  world  terms 
success  ?  And  above  all,  is  it  not  our  duty  to 
remember  that  there  are  many  others,  young 
people,  entering  upon  life  purposeless,  and 
needing  our  example  and  advice  to  cause 
them  to  realize  their  individual  purposes  ?     I 


66 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


fear  that  our  purposes  are  not  so  strong,  not 
so  absorbing  as  they  should  be. 

True  success,  then,  requires  the  possession 
of  a  purpose,  of  faith  in  the  ability  to  accom- 
plish it ;  and  belief  in  the  inspiration  of  that 
purpose  by  the  Creator.  If  these  conditions 
are  fulfilled,  success,  not,  perhaps,  as  the 
world  deems  such,  but  success  as  regarded 
under  the  clear  light  of  the  highest  -moral 
standard,  is  certain. 

C. 


HOBOKEN  EGGS. 


Edwdrd  Atkinson,  the  Boston  statistician, 
estimates  that  the  annual  product  of  our 
silver  mines  is  not  equal  in  value  to  the  annual 
production  of  the  hens*  eggs  in  the  United 
States.  We  believe  you,  Mr.  Atkinson,  we 
believe  you. 

From  our  own  experience  we  can  truly  say 
that,  were  we  to  depend  wholly  on  the  pro- 
ducts of  our  mines  for  our  subsistence,  we 
would  have  been  totally  obliterated  from  this 
mundane  sphere  years  ago,  from  their  sheer 
lack  of  strength.     But  the  eggs,  whew  ! 

For  pure,  unadulterated  Samsonian  strength, 
give  us  a  genuine  Hoboken  boarding  house 
egg,  and  we'll  warrant  you  that  it  will  stand 
by  you  longer,  and  put  more  strength  into 
your  determination  to  be  "  up  and  doing," 
than  a  whole  bank  full  of  trade  dollars. 

The  field  of  usefulness  for  the  fruit  of  the 
Hoboken  hen  seems  to  be  unlimited;  and  from 
latest  accounts  we  learn  that  Mr.  Whitney,  our 
•  new  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  has  decided  to  use 
them  hereafter  on  board  all  the  United 
States  gunboats,  thus  doing  away  with  the 
more  expensive  shells  and  torpedoes. 

They  can  be  used  raw  or  boiled,  hard  or 
soft;  can  be  thrown  a  distance  of  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  miles,  and  penetrate  the  heaviest 
armor. 

As  boiling  destroys  their  power  to  some  ex- 
tent, if  it  is  desired  to  completely  annihilate 
the  enemy  they  should  be  left  raw;  but,  if  the 
object  is  to  secure  prisoners,  then  they  should 
be  boiled  quite  hard.  If  this  is  done,  the 
odor  which  pervades  the  atmosphere  on  the 
bursting  of  one  renders  the  men  insensible, 
when  they  can  be  easily  captured. 

This  is  a  great  step  in  the  interest  of  hu- 
manity, for  of  late  years  the  object  seems  to 
have  been  to  kill  as  many  as  possible.  Large 
orders  are  now  pouring  in  from  all  the  great 
European    powers,    they     fully     recognizing 


their  merits,  and  when  once   the  war  doud 
breaks,   the  effect  produced   by   these  new 
engines  of  destruction  will  be  terrible.    But, 
deadly  as  their  power  is  when  exploded,  they 
are   used   with   impunity    by    our    boarding 
houses,  because  of  their  wonderful  ability  to 
appease  hunger.      We  have  known  a  whole 
house  full .  of  hungry  students  to  have  their 
cravings  immediately  satisfied  by  one  whiff  of 
this  nutritious  food;  refusing,  for  the  rest  of 
the  day,  all  those  choice  viands  that  only  Ho- 
boken can  furnish.     Indeed,  so  highly  is  this 
fruit  valued,  and  so  fully  are  the  merits  of  the 
bird  recognized,  that  the  fond  mothers  of  this 
town  are  naming  their  offspring  after  it,  and 
the  Henerys  are  now   far  in    excess   of  the 
Jacobs  or  any  other  name  formerly  common 
to  this  locality;  thus  proving  the  wisdom  of 
their  sex  in  placing  their  boys  early  in  life  on 
the  winning  side. 

Now  these  are  facts  that  pertain  only  to  the 
Hoboken  bird,  and  we  mention  them  because 
Mr.  Atkinson  may  have  unintentionally 
wronged  this  fowl  by  classing  its  production 
among  the  common  kind,  and  because,  by 
bringing  this  wonderful  egg  before  the  public, 
we  strengthen,  with  their  unapproachable 
strength,  the  statement  made  by  that  gentle- 
man, and  thus  aid  in  giving  the  Shanghai  berry 
its  true  value.  J.  M. 


» ♦  » « 


A  VISIT  TO  THE  INDICATOR  SANCTUM. 


The  readers  of  the  Indicator  who  enjoy 
a  monthly  feast  on  the  literary  treat  practically 
given  away  at  $1.50  per  year  (invariably  in 
advance)  may  have  felt  a  desire  to  pay  a  visit 
to  the  fountain  head  of  this  marvellous  flow, 
to  breathe  for  an  instant  an  atmosphere  in 
which  there  must  be  inspiration,  and  gaze  on 
the  editor  in  his  haunts  and  engaged  in  actual 
labor.  We  know  just  how  it  is  ;  we  often  felt 
so  ourselves  before  we  became  great,  and  we 
are  now  going  to  take  you  in  imagination 
through  the  sanctum  and  introduce  you  to  the 
literati  themselves. 

Having  ascended  a  long  flight  of  stairs — for 
the  Indicator  occupies  an  exalted  position 
in  the  world — we  find  ourselves  at  a  glass 
door,  and  here  we  must  tarry  a  while,  for  with- 
in is  a  battalion  of  Preps  receiving  their  in- 
struction. Faintly  through  the  door  comes 
the  sound  of  their  baby  prattle.  Pretty  soon 
they  finish,  and  the  hall  way  echoes  with  the 
patter  of  little  feet  as  they  descend  the  stairs 
to  the  door  way  where  they  are  tucked   into 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


67 


Lilators,  and  trundled  around  the  park 
iring.  How  happy  and  innocent  they 
jod  bless  the  little  toddlers  ! 
ome,  let  us  go  in.  Passing  through  a 
om  we  reach  a  small,  richly  carved 
oor  way,  surrounded  by  a  sculptured 
md  you  instinctively  feel  that  you  are 
he  holy  of  holies.  Look  out ! !  Don't  ! 
My  dear  sir,  my  blood  runs  cold  to 
f  the  horrible  consequences  which 
ave  followed  had  I  not  in  time  pre- 
you  from  opening  that  door  !  What 
lave  happened  ?  You  shall  see  in  a 
.  I  knock  in  a  pecular  manner,  thus: 
0 — one,  two.  Just  listen  to  that  sav- 
*'l !  Do  you  hear  that  peculiar  scratch  ? 
by  the  same,  and  a  swarthy  face  and 
d  head  is  thrust  through  the  door  way. 
dallah  !  chain  up  Cerberus  and  muzzle 
lU  right,  now  step  inside.  You  may 
rn  pale  to  see  the  danger  which  you 
caped !  Had  you  opened  that  door 
eenth  of  an  inch,  that  howitzer  facing 
r  would  have  perforated  you  with  sev- 
mds  of  nails  and  old  iron,  while  at  the 
istant  a  trap  door  would  have  opened 

•  feet,  and  your  downward  progress 
y  a  weight  of  several  tons  falling  on 
ead  from  above.  You  would  have 
irough  a  dark  shaft  into  the  sewer,  and 
ept  by  its  raging  current  into  the  river, 

newspapers  would  announce  another 
)us  disappearance.  Should  the  com- 
i  by  any  accident  fail  to  work,  our  dog, 
s,  and  the  athletic  editor  would  finish 
Yes,  it  does  seem  somewhat  cruel, 
privacy  of  the  sanctum  must  be  pre- 
and  as  you  pqirceive,  we  treat  all  men 
ies  until  we  know  them  to  be  other- 

:ome,  let  us  get  acquainted.  This 
landsome  man,  with  the  head  of  a 
r  a  Vanderbilt,  is  our  business  man- 
He  rises  and  salutes  us  with  the  grace 
isterfield;  his  business  is  to  solicit  ads. 
le,  melancholy  man  is  our  exchange 
His  work  makes  him  tired.  He  is  a 
id  hypochondriac,  and  is  rapidly  wear- 
under  his  trying  duties  ;  but  if  he 
lear  of  the  funny  columns,  he  may 
t  a  year  or  so  yet.  That  large,  power- 
with  stacks  of  muscles  adorning  his 
arms  is  our  athletic  editor.  He  and 
;,  Cerberus,  constitute  our  standing 
They  both  accompany    the   business 

•  when  he  goes  out  to  collect  bills ; 
^  also  act,  as  already  stated,  as  a  re- 


serve force,  in  case  the  combination  doesn't 
get  in  its  work.  This  gentleman  with  such  a 
large  depression  in  his  head  in  the  region  of 
the  bump  of  veracity  is  our  local  editor.  It 
is  his  business  to  inv I  mean  collect  col- 
lege items.  He  has  received  numerous  flatter- 
ing offers  from  Barnum  and  the  Russian 
government,  both  of  whom  would  gladly 
secure  his  talent,  but  he  remains  faithful  to 
the  Indicator  staff.  The  remaining  gentle- 
men are  mostly  stockholders.  They  occupy 
their  time,  when  not  engaged  in  writing  for 
the  paper,  in  looking  up  places  of  investment 
for  their  dividends.  They,  with  our  special 
correspondents  and  stenographers,  complete 
the  staff. 

But,  pray,  don't  be  in  a  hurry.  Recline  a 
little  while  on  this  silken  divan  and  rest  your- 
self. Abdallah,  some  refreshment!  While  we 
are  awaiting  its  arrival,  let  us  look  at  some  of 
the  curiosities.  Here  in  this  drawer  right  by 
us  are  some  mournful  relics.  This  golden 
curl  once  waved  over  the  brow  of  a  Freshman 
who  attempted  to  enter  the  sanctum  while  the 
combination  was  turned  on.  Sad  to  relate, 
we  afterward  found  out  that  he  was  coming  in 
to  pay  a  subscription  ;  but  the  trap  door, 
weight  and  howitzer  didn't  know  that,  and  the 
young  unfortunate  went  into  the  lower  story. 
This  necklace  of  pearly  bicuspeds  and  molars 
is  one  of  the  numerous  trophies  that  the  ath- 
letic editor  hangs  at  his  belt.  They  once 
adorned  the  mouth  of  an  athletic  Soph,  who 
became  offended  at  us  for  something  in  the 
paper,  and  undertook  to  give  us  points  in  re- 
gard to  running  it  ;  but  he  paid  for  his  temer- 
ity with  his  teeth. 

But  let  us  turn  away  from  these,  and  con- 
template something  more  pleasing.  Ah  !  here 
comes  a  slave  bearing  a  delicate  refection  of 
sherbet  and  pickled  clams.  Be  seated  and 
partake  of  it,  and  meanwhile  let  us  look  at 
the  pictures,  bric-a-brac  and  elegant  little 
articles  of  vertu  scattered  in  graceful  disorder 
around  the  room.  That  large  picture  hanging 
over  the  ebony  and  gold  etagere  is  by  Raphael, 
and  is  entitled,  "  A  scene  on  the  Morris  Canal." 
It  is  supposed  to  be  his  last  work,  and  was 
picked  up  by  our  art  editor  in  an  antique  col- 
lection on  the  Bowery.  Although  the  price  de- 
manded was  fabulous,  it  was  unanimously 
decided  that  it  must  be  purchased  at  any  cost. 
It  costs  us,  including  frame  and  cartage, 
$7.50,  and  is  regarded  as  a  great  prize.  How 
natural  is  the  delineation  of  that  mule,  as  with 
his. off  hind  foot  he  gently  heaves  the  gondo- 
lier toward  the  north  star  ! 


68 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


That  large  portrait  hanging  over  the  grand 
piano  is  by  Meissonier.  It  was  secured 
through  a  friend,  and  so  was  obtained  at  a 
ridiculously  low  price,  but  the  art  editor 
wouldn't  look  at  an  offer  of  five  dollars  ! 
These  rugs  were  imported  for  us  directly  from 
Turkey  by  our  particular  friend,  Mr.  Gold- 
stein, of  Chatham  Street,  and  every  piece  of 
furniture  is,  as  you  perceive,  in  keeping  with 
the  general  elegance  of  the  establishment. 

What,  must  you  go  ?  Well,  we  hope  that 
you  have  enjoyed  yourself,  and  any  time  that 
you  wish  to  pay  us  another  visit,  we  shall  be 
glad  to  entertain  you.  Notify  us  in  advance, 
and  we  will  have  the  combination  turned  off 
and  a  muzzle  on  Cerberus.  Good  morning, 
sir ;  good  morning. 


•  ^»» 


CHEAP  *•  LITERATURE." 


Great  as  is  the  benefit  conferred  upon  man- 
kind by  the  press,  still  much  evil  is  done  by 
a  too  great  freedom  of  its  power.  Perhaps 
one  of  the  greatest  is  that  which  results  from 
the  enormous  quantity  of  worthless  literature 
that  is  issued  every  year.  One  must  deplore 
the  wide  circulation  that  this  trash  has  at- 
tained among  the  readers  of  this  country,  for 
however  much  we  may  pride  ourselves  on 
being  a  nation  of  readers,  it  is  to  be  regretted 
that  such  poor  quality  should  find  so  ready 
a  sale.  Go  where  you  will,  these  miserable 
papers  meet  your  eye  ;  on  the  corner  stands, 
in  the  news  rooms,  hung  in  the  most  conspicu- 
ous places,  where  their  pictures  or  fiashy 
headings  may  catch  the  eye,  and  thus  act  as 
a  bait  for  the  unwary,  who  are  too  often  caught 
in  the  trap. 

If  you  could  station  yourself  in  one  of  these 
places,  you  would  be  surprised  at  the  number 
of  intelligent  persons  that  buy  this  truck,  or 
at  the  number  of  young  children  sent  by 
thoughtless  parents,  and  who,  childlike,  search 
eagerly  for  the  pictures,  thus  laying  a  found- 
ation for  a  task  that  often  lasts  through  life  ; 
for  this  is  a  most  powerful  way  of  conveying 
ideas.  Again,  most  of  you  have  seen  men 
standing  in  prominent  places,  distributing 
copies  of  these  papers,  and  if  you  have 
i^atched  with  some  care,  you  must  have  been 
struck  with  the  pains  they  took  to  place  them 
in  the  hands  of  those  whom  they  thought 
likely  to  read  them.  Having  a  desire  to 
know  what  they  contained,  I  procured  one, 
and  will  give  you  a  brief  account  of  what  I 
found  in  it.     On  the  first  page  was  the  picture 


of  a  room,  in  which  stood  a  cross-ey( 
with  clasped  hands  and  her  head  throiR 
at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees.  I  co 
tell  whether  this  was  an  attitude  of  tc 
of  supplication,  but  before  her  stood  a  * 
of  the  deepest  dye,"  with  clinched  fis 
scowling  eyebrows  that  almost  met  hi 
while  underneath  the  whole  were  the  fo 
words  :  "  Marry  me  you  will,  though 
through  the  blood  of  Henry  Harvey  to 
you !" 

I  don't  know  whether  Harvey  had  a 
plus  blood  or  not;  but  if  he  had,  I  tl 
would  have  objected,  as  no  man  cares 
ing  another  trotting   through  his  bla 
you  can't  blame  him. 

On  page  number  two,  I  found  anotl 
ture.  This  represented  a  cliff  near 
was  a  tree,  and  on  it  (the  cliff)  stood  a 
girl,  with  arms  stretched  out  toward 
black  patch  of  ink  in  the  distance,  ir 
thought  might  be  an  elephant  in  disgi 
was  wrong,  however,  for  the  words  und< 
again  explained  matters :  "  Father  of  a 
shall  I  do  ?  Shall  I  throwm  yself  into  y< 
waters,  into  a  grave  that  never  gives 
dead  ?"  The  water  must  have  been  tc 
or  else  she  was  afraid  of  getting  we 
way,  she  didn't  do  it,  as  that  would  hi 
ished  the  tale,  and  I  found  on  looking 
on  that  '^  the  continuation  of  this  t 
story  will  be  found  in  number  239  of  the 
I  glanced  at  the  opposite  page  and  s< 
another  picture,  in  which  the  irrepi 
maiden  was  again  present ;  this  time 
gentleman,  a  friend,  I  suppose,  for  by  \ 
again  in  the  place  where  I  derived  my 
information,  1  found  that  "  Viola  nestl 
golden  locks  on  his  manly  bosom  anc 

whispered  ."    "  To  be   continued 

next."  Such  is  the  choice  readinj 
papers  that  say  their  aim  is  "  to  ara 
instruct  and  to  benefit."  The  autl 
these  stories  write  them  in  a  mann 
culated  to  win  the  sympathies  of  their 
in  the  grossest  acts  of  injustice;  atte 
to  clothe  them  in  a  thin  garb  of  moral 
very  presence  of  which  makes  the  danj 
fold  greater.  Thousands  of  copies  0 
papers  are  published  weekly,  and  are  sc 
broadcast  through  the  land  ;  not  c 
cities,  but  in  the  smaller  towns  ;  even 
farm  houses,  one  may  find  them  in 
ance. 

The  fruits  of  this  and  similar  read 
seen  almost  every  day  in  the  papers 
the  police  courts  of  our  large  cities. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


69. 


Other  day  that  three  young  culprits 
ifore  the  New  York  authorities  for 
some  three  hundred  dollars.  They 
led  themselves  with  revolvers  and  had 
I  New  Orleans,  "  to  paint  the  town 
J  they  expressed  it.  "  Oh,  we're  bad 
id  one  of  them  to  a  reporter,  who  had 
talk  with  him.  Another  of  the  same 
vho  had  shot  a  man,  said  to  the  officer 
I  him  in  custody,  and  with  all  the  airs 
me  novel  braggadocio,  that  "  a  feller 
ough  until  he  downed  his  man,"  and 
gh  was  looked  upon  as  a  hero  by  an 
g  crowd  that  followed  him  to  the  sta- 
le weeklies  and  dime  novels  are  not 
publishing  pernicious  reading  ;  the 
lilies  of  our  large  cities  take  special 
obtain  information  in  regard  to  the 
::andal,  sifting  it  to  the  bottom,  and 
t  before  the  public  in  all  its  filth, 
ill  pay  thousands  to  have  such  matter 
across  the  ocean  or  wired  over  the 
It.  As  gatherers  of  news  they  are 
of  success,  but  so  much  cannot  be  said 
good  influence  they  exert  on  man- 
is  to  be  done,  then,  to  change  the 
f  this  great  mass  of  readers  ?  Cheap- 
:he  standard  works  will  not  alone  ac- 
1  it,  for  they  are  already  as  cheap,  if 
aper,  than  this  popular  stuff.  Evi- 
[le  cure  must  lie  in  other  paths,  and 
inot  help  thinking  that  limiting  the 
of  the  press  would  be  one  of  the  most 
methods  of  remedying  the  evil, 
r  that  may  be,  it  is  a  problem  to  be 
he  solution  of  which  will  confer  an 
ng  benefit  on  the  human  race. 


« ^  » 


OF  THESES. 


a  Senior.  The  Commencement  ex- 
ext  June  will  be  incomplete  unless  I 
lesis  finished  by  that  time,  and  I  am 
;aged,  in  co-operation  with  a  class- 
the  production  of  that  momentous 
It,  which  is  to  revolutionize  the  scien- 
Id  and  give  us  a  seventy-five  dollar  a 
eputation  at  once.  Of  course,  the 
g  to  be  done  was  to  choose  a  subject, 
itering  the  Freshman  class,  we  have 
>nstant  attention  to  this  all  important 
1  have  devoted  to  it  many  an  hour, 
Duld  otherwise  have  been  devoted  to 
seded    recreation,   pondering   over  a 


large  number  of  subjects  in  the  vain  pursuit  of 
something  which  should  suit  our  peculiar  lines 
of  genius.  Subjects  by  the  score  have  been 
proposed  and  considered,  dozens  have  been 
selected,  and  twelve  or  fifteen  of  Luthin's  best 
blank  books  have  been  purchased  and  care- 
fully labelled  with  the  title  of  our  thesis,  and 
as  many  laid  tenderly  away  on  our  closet 
shelves.  At  the  last  moment  a  subject  oc- 
curred to  us  which  seemed  to  fill  the  long  felt 
want  more  completely  than  anything  we  had 
before  selected,  and  so  finally  our  subject  was 
really  chosen.     It  is  as  follows  : 

FAT    AND   LEAN   MEN  ; 

OR, 

THE  INFLUENCE  OF  WEIGHT  ON  INTELLECT. 

Before  starting  to  write  on  this  subject  it 
was  necessary  to  gather  statistics,  and  to  this 
end  we  left,  as  soon  as  the  term  began,  on  a 
tour  of  inspection  of  the  various  hospitals, 
almshouses,  theatres  and  other  public  places 
of  this  country,  and  spent  a  couple  of  weeks  in 
this  very  arduous  labor.  The  peculiar  nature 
of  the  subject  obliged  us  to  pay  particular 
attention  to  the  beer  saloons  and  wine  rooms 
of  the  country,  with  a  somewhat  demoralizing 
effect  upon  our  general  health;  but  since  com- 
ing back  to  the  temperate  atmosphere  of  Ho- 
boken,  we  have  gradually  regained  our  usual 
condition. 

On  our  return  from  this  extended  tour,  we 
invested  in  a  ream  of  paper  and  two  dozen 
lead  pencils,  and  began  to  put  our  information 
into  shape.  We  covered  the  first  ninety  pages 
with  a  history  of  corpulency,  as  deduced  from 
ancient  and  mediaeval  history,  with  a  table  of 
the  weights  and  other  statistics  of  the  principal 
men  since  the  time  of  Noah,  and  mapped  out 
curves  showing  the  relative  proportions  of 
weight  to  stature,  girth,  size  of  brain,  etc., 
etc.  Coming  down  to  modern  times,  we  gave 
statistics,  collated  from  various  authorities,  of 
the  relative  numbers  of  fat  and  lean  men  in  the 
various  countries  of  the  world,  and  the  way  in 
which  these  proportions  varied  with  the  prom- 
inence of  these  nations  in  art,  literature,  sci- 
ence and  military  prowess,  comparing  them 
with  the  United  States  as  a  standard.  This 
covered  seven  more  pages.  We  also  supplied 
one  quarter  page  with  a  valuable  and  extended 
series  of  experiments,  conducted  by  ourselves 
with  great  care,  on  prominent  citizens  of  this 
city  and  New  York,  with  deductions  there- 
from, and  filled  up  the  remaining  two  and 
three  fourths  pages  with  general  deductions 
as  to  the  desirability  of  certain  weights,  in- 


70 


THE  S  TE  VENS   INDICA  TOR. 


structions  for  self  conversion  from  one  weight 
to  another,  rules  for  dieting  in  order  to  main- 
tain a  desirable  weight  when  once  attained, 
etc.,  etc.,  and  were  winding  up  with  an  elo- 
quent peroration  when  we  were  obliged  to 
break  off  abruptly  in  the  middle  of  a  sentence 
on  attaining  the  one  hundredth  page,  as  we 
were  unable  to  purchase  more  thesis  paper, 
our  washerwoman  at  this  point  having  refused 
to  wait  longer  for  a  bill  of  some  three  years' 
standing,  which  ill  advised  course  on  her  part 
obliged  us  to  scrape  together  all  our  available 
cash  in  order  to  quiet  her.  This  will  some- 
what delay  the  publication  of  our  work,  as  we 
shall  be  obliged  to  secure  positions  in  order  to 
procure  enough  funds  to  purchase  the  requis- 
ite paper  for  its  completion  before  it  can  go  to 
print. 

We  desire  here  to  extend  our  thanks  to  the 
Institute  for  valuable  apparatus  loaned  us 
and  assistance  rendered  in  the  preparation  of 
this  work,  and  to  express  our  confidence  in 
the  wisdom  of  thesis  writing  in  the  third  term, 
which  some  rash  minds  have  dared  already  to 
assail,  urging  that  the  time  thus  spent  could 
be  more  advantageously  spent  in  regular  re- 
citations and  term  work.  We  desire  to  ex- 
press our  firm  dissent  with  these  views  and  to 
say  that  this  term  has  been  a  most  delightful 
one  to  us  and  apparently  to  our  classmates. 


<  ^» » 


ABRUPTIANA. 


A    BLUNT    FACT    CUT   ON    THE   BIAS. 


BY    T.    DINGUS   KEHOE. 


Author  of.  ''The  Ancient  Onion;'   ''Pig  Iron 
Jingles;'  "The   Whisker deenie;'  and 
other  works  not  worth  mentioning. 


"  Who  are  you  looking  at  ?"  exclaimed 
Alfred  Tennyson,  as  he  woke  up  last  month 
and  found  the  sun  shining  in  his  face. 

"  Don't  talk  to  me  that  way,  Alfred."  re- 
plied the  Sun.  "  I  was  only  wondering  why 
the  British  government  don't  borrow  your 
countenance  to  paralyze  the  Arabs  with.  Is 
it  because  they  can't  get  anything  to  tack  it 
on  to  ?" 

"  Right  you  are,  Sol,"  said  Alfred.  "  Whose 
intellect  were  you  using  that  time  ?"  "  Bis- 
mark's,"  answered  the  Sun.  **I  took  the 
whole  business,  and  I'll  hock  my  suspenders 
if  I  haven't  used  it  all  trying  t©  settle  up 


that  little  question  about  your  cou 
Bismarkll  hire  a  Dutch  carpenter 
him  all  over  the  empire  when  he  find 
I've  used  up  his  entire  intellect." 

"Nothing  mean   about  you,  Sol, 
If  Bismark  ever  gets  another  intelle< 
he'll  anchor  it  on  to  his  head  with  a 
But  in  regard  to  my  countenance,  I  i 
fess   that   it's  looking  rather  rumm 
present,  because  I'm  in  a  complete 
organic  separation,  or  in  poetic  lang 
all  broken  up.     You  see  the  royal 
the  queen,  sent  down  the  other  da 
me  construct  a  poem   against   the 
being  presented  before  parliament,  wl 
pels  the  queen  to  dam  the  prime 
socks,  but  I'm  blamed  if  I  can  start 
thing.     Can't  give  me  any  tips  on  th 
I  suppose  ?" 

"  I  can't  give  you  any  on  the  pc 
turned  the  Sun,  "  but  I'll  tell  you 
can  do.  Just  pack  up  your  Saratog 
right  along  with  James  Russell  Lo\ 
he  goes  back  to  America.  That's 
where  you  can  get  a  poem  built  for  f 
and  I'll  wager  a  lead  quarter  that  th 
think  your  poetry  is  improving.  I 
the  scheme." 

"That's  a  good  idea,  Sol,  but  A 
such  a  blarsted  wilderness,  you  know, 
reclaimed  from  barbarism." 

"  Don't  you  worry  your  giblets  at 
Alfred.  You'll  find  it  plenty  large  c 
hold  you.  Why,  America  has  been 
hold  as  many  as  thirteen  or  fourteen 
men  at  one  time;  but  I  must  be  goi 
got  to  go  and  melt  the  starch  out  of  t 
shirt  front,  so  I'll  bid  you  good  day, 
along." 

Alfred  concluded  to  follow  the 
plan,  so  he  made  a  terrible  effort,  and 
to  get  up  in  half  an  hour.  **  I'll  hie  i 
to  the  queen,"  said  he  to  himself,  a 
justed  his  paper  collar  and  pullec 
gaiters  with  a  boat  hook.  "  I  must 
her  consent,  and  after  that  the 
ducats,"  and  with  a  yawn  that  wa 
furniture  and  knocked  the  putty  oi 
windows  he  left  the  room. 


"  Wie  gehts,  Vic,"  said  Alfred,  as  1 
hop,  skip  and  jump  into  the   royal 
**  How's  things  ?" 

"Cheese    it,    Al,"   exclaimed     th 
"  Keep   your   hoofs  off  the  floor. 
polished  last  week.     Where  d'you  g< 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


71 


lOve,  any  way  ?  I  haven't  seen  you 
:h  an  extensive  motion  since  I  fell 
airs ;    but   I   thought  you   were  laid 

was,"  replied  Alfred,  **  but  I  got  ex- 
r  a  while,  so  I  could  come  up  and  see 
:tly  on  biz.  You  see,  I  had  quite  a 
tion  with  the  sun  this  morning,  and 
he  best  way  to  shake  up  that  poem 
is  for  me  to  go  to  America  along 
1  Lowell.  He  says  ideas  are  lying 
oose  over  there,  and  that's  just  what 
3f  at  present.  How  does  the  scheme 
u?" 

,  it  don't  strike  me  hard  enough  for 
-ike  it  back,  Al,  but  perhaps  it  might 
ittle  training.  I'm  lost  if  you  don't 
.  respectable  kind  of  a  lyric  on  that 
;d  old  bill.  I'd  rather  be  thumped 
that  darning,  so  if  you  can  make  that 
he  cholera  by  going  to  'Meriky,  why, 
skippez  vous." 

t's  the  articulation,  Vic,  that  suits 
eysuckle.  If  I  can't  give  that  bill 
lache  the  first  day  out,  then  I'll  eat 
eaux.  I'll  make  me  off  to  Jim's  im- 
y,  but  ere  I  go,  give  thou  to  me  the 
the  all  important  spondulix." 
that's  so,"  said  Vic,  "  I  was  forgetting 
ow  much  dost  think  thou  need'st  ?" 
;ive  it  up,  Vic.  I  may  have  to  buy  a 
of  paper  collars  while  away,  and  per- 
have  to  get  out  a  license  to  live  in 
•k,  so  I  think  it  will  be  best  to  store 
rs  with  sufficient  rocks." 
right,"  she  replied.  **  Your  coffers 
ivell  supplied.  Here  is  a  dollar  thirty- 
American  currency  for  pocket  money; 
jingo  !  Al,  don't  be  extravagant  just 
y^ou've  got  dead  loads  of  wealth  with 
3w,  don't  delay,  Alfred,  but  tra-la-la 
grown  alacrity,  and  don't  be  the  rest 
ntury  in  getting  back." 
all  be  so,"  said  Al,  "  and  I  will  soon 
ith  a  poem  that  will  make  your  hair 

Al,  I  hope  it  will  be  so,  for  then  I 
longer  have  to  waste  the  midnight 
ing  up  my  wool  in  tea  lead." 
t  will  serve  a  double  purpose,"  said 
ich  will  be  better  still.  But  my  tin 
jclares  it's  time  for  me  to  get  a  heavy 
n,  so  I  will  take  my  leave  of  you.  Ta, 
with  the  last  word  said,  he  turned 
upon  an  orange  peel  and  only  stopped 
I  a  step  or  two  in  getting  down  the 
It  getting  the  cab  man  to  put  him  to- 


gether again,  he  was  soon  on  his  way  to  Jim's 
house.  Arrived  there,  he  found  Jim  packing 
up  his  effects  in  an  ash  barrel  purloined  from 
his  neighbor's  ash  closet. 

"  Ah  there,  James,"  said  Alfred,  "  Whither 
away.  What's  the  matter  with  the  English 
soil  ?  Isn't  it  quite  rich  enough  for  your 
blood  ?  I  heard  your  were  going  back  to 
America.    What  are  you  going  for,  any  way  ?" 

"  Bekase,  Al,  the  climate  don't  agree  with 
me.  I  need  change  any  way,"  said  James,  as 
he  heaved  a  fine  large  assortment  of  very  ele- 
gantly constructed  sighs. 

"  I  want  change  myself,  Jim.  I've  only  got 
a  dollar  thirty-nine,  and  I  think  a  little  more 
would  make  things  grow  better.  But  what 
arrangements  have  you  made  for  going  ?  If 
you  ain't  saying  a  word,  I'll  go  along  with  you, 
and  if  you  are  saying  a  word,  why  I'll  go  right 
along  with  you  just  the  same.  So  I've  got  you 
cold,  anyway.  You  see,  Her  Asparagus  Ome- 
letts  the  Queen  gave  me  permission  to  in- 
dulge in  a  large,  large  meander,  so  I  thought 
I'd  just  meander  over  to  America,  the  home 
of  the  true  brave,  or  in  other  words,  the 
land  of  the  licensed  Indian." 

"  I  noticed  that  you  had  me  kinder  frigid, 
Al  ;  so  I'm  not  uttering  a  syllable.  I'm  going 
next  Wednesday  on  the  Ticklu  of  the  Pushem- 
quick  Line." 

"  Next  Wednesday,  then,  is  the  day  that  I 
tuck  my  Saratoga  in  my  vest  pocket  and  put 
on  my  old  gold  derby  and  my  equipoise  waist 
and  make  weighty  tracks  for  the  Ticklu,"  said 
Alfred;  "but,  ere  I  do,  I  must  hie  me  to  the 
pow's  to  put  my  watch  on  storage  to  get  the 
necessary  ducats  for  a  good  supply  of  chew- 
ing gum.  I'll  see  you,  then,  on  Wednesday 
next,"  and  with  a  graceful  wave  of  his  left  leg 
he  emerged  into  the  street,  walked  briskly  into 
a  man  and  knocked  his  ribs  out  of  kilter,  but 
by  a  skilful  twist  of  his  left  elbow  they  were 
quickly  set  right  again,  and  he  moved  on. 

Alfred  spent  the  rest  of  his  spare  time  in 
fixing  up  his  wardrobe.  He  endeavored  to 
iron  his  antique  silk  hat,  and  he  constructed  a 
fine  vest  from  an  old  pair  of  pants.  He  found 
one  thing  wanting  in  his  outfit,  that  was  a 
pair  of  light  pants  for  the  itchy  spring  time, 
so  he  bethought  himself  of  an  idea.  When 
the  morn  was  making  a  bold,  bad  endeavor  to 
glimmer,  he  stole  noiselessly  around  to  the 
house  of  Baron  Cubeb.  Arrived,  he  paused 
cautiously  for  a  few  moments,  but  silence  was 
the  only  audible  sound.  Then  grasping  his 
spade,  he  dug  forth  the  baron's  light  breeches 
from   the    ash   heap   and   with   a  Herculean 


72 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


effort  he  tucked  them  under  his  vest.  The 
deed  was  done,  so  home  he  skipped.  He 
cleaned  them  up  with  benzine  subsequently, 
and  made  them  do  the  great  dangle  act  out  of 
the  back  window  to  give  the  fragrant  benzine 
a  chance  to  cool  off.  After  several  more 
dark  deeds  he  succeeded  in  fixing  his  ward- 
robe satisfactorily,  and  at  last  the  day  of  sail- 
ing arrived.  James  and  Alfred  trotted  mer- 
rily on  to  the  boat,  and  after  the  usual  prelimin- 
aries, the  voyage  was  begun.  By  the  next 
morning  the  steamer  had  gotten  fairly  out  to 
sea,  and  she  began  to  breathe  a  little  bit  hard, 
which  made  him  get  quite  an  extensive  throb. 
Of  course,  this  made  Al  and  Jim  feel  as 
though  their  respective  inward  constructions 
were  anxious  to  get  back  to  land,  but  they 
didn't  seem  to  yearn  to  discuss  the  subject, 
however,  so  they  appeared  on  deck  making  a 
three  ton  effort  to  keep  on  a  civilized  expres- 
sion. "  Peek-a-boo,**  said  Alfred,  as  he  spied 
James  trying  to  stand  up  on  deck.  "  I  see 
you,"  replied  James.  Just  then  the  vessel  took 
a  good,  long  breath,  and  Alfred  came  rushing 
on  deck  like  a  load  of  wood.  He  made  a 
break  for  James*  hand,  but  he  clutched  his 
vest  instead,  and  ripped  all  the  buttons  off, 
which  made  things  rather  uncomfortable  for 
James  and  it  made  him  a  little  riley  as  well. 

"I  don't  care,  Al  Tennyson,"  he  said,  "  I 
think  you're  just  as  mean  as  you  can  be,  then, 
to  rip  all  the  buttons  off  my  vest." 

"Well,  I  don't  care  if  I  am  a  mean  old 
thing,  Jim  Lowell.  I  think  you're  just  awful 
to  get  mad  like  that." 

"  Well,  I  guess  I  can  get  mad  if  I  want  to. 
I  wouldn't  be  such  a  horrid  old  thing  as  you, 
any  way." 

I  don't  care  for  you  any  way.  My  father's 
twice  as  rich  as  yours,  and  I  won't  go  with  you 
any  more,  so  there  !" 

"  Don't  you  dare  be  saucy  to  me  about  my 
folks,  Al  Tennyson,  or  I'll  slap  you  right 
square  in  the  mouth,  just  as  hard  as  I  can. 
I'm  just  as  reckless  as  I  can  be  when  I'm  real 
mad.  Keep  away  from  me  now,  I  ain't  afraid 
of  you.  I  don't  care  if  you  have  got  whiskers. 
My  father's  got  whiskers  as  well  as  you.  You 
better  go  'way,  now." 

"  I  won't.  Jim  Lowell,  I  can  fight  you, 
anyway.  I'll  knock  your  hat  right  off  if  you 
say  any  more  to  me." 

"Any  more." 

"There  now,  I  said  I'd  knock  your  hat 
right  off,"  but  before  he  finished  these  words, 
Jim  grabbed  Al's  hat  and  slung  it  into  the 
briny. 


"You  dirty,  mean  old  thing,"  exclaimed  Al, 
"  I'll  break  your  nose,"  and  with  one  powerful 
blow,  he 

{Discontinued  on  account  of  sickness  in  tkt  family,) 


» ♦  » * 


OUR  PROFESSOR. 


He  was  a  queer  man,  the  professor.    Tall, 
broad  shouldered,  with  a  slight  stoop,  he  was 
a  good  specimen  of  a  New  Hampshire  farmer. 
Absorbed  in  his  work,  he  seldom  saw  a  joke 
until  the  rest  of  us  had  done  laughing,  when 
he  would  open  his  capacious  mouth  and  enjoy 
himself  with  so  much  heartiness  that  we  were 
constrained  to  give  way  again  to  our  mirth- 
His  collections  were  numerous  and  complete- 
and  there  was  that  in  his  manner  that  inspin 
his   students    to   imitate   his   example. 

chemistry  students  always  saved   their  com 

pounds,  and  arranged  the  neatly  labelled  hot — ^ 
ties  with  much  care.  The  zoology  class  started  -^ 
out  after  skeletons  before  they  had  been  under 
his  instruction  for  a  week,  merely  because 
"  the  professor  had  such  a  nice  collection  of 
skeletons,  and  collections  are  so  interesting, 
you  know." 

I  remember  with  how  much  earnestness  I 
saved  up  my  pocket  money  until  I  could  pur- 
chase the  skeleton  of  a  howling  monkey,  and 
how  proudly  I  labelled  it  "  Mycetes  Seniculus," 
after  the  manner  of  the  professor.  And  then, 
how  we  would  enjoy  the  Saturday  geological 
excursions  into  the  country,  each  of  us  armed 
with  a  hammer  and  bag,  the  latter  of  which 
always  came  back  well  loaded  ! 

Our  professor  was  a  great  admirer  of 
Agassiz,  and  had  at  one  time  been  his  pupil, 
when 

"  On  the  isle  of  Pcnikeese 

Stood  the  master  with  his  school." 

We  were  not  long,  therefore,  in  understand- 
ing why  we  had  to  be  so  decorous  in  his  class 
rooms,  since,  as  we  were  often  told,  Agassiz 
had  taught  his  scholars  to  look  upon  the  labor- 
atory as  God's  sanctuary;  and  was  not  our  pro- 
fessor one  of  Agassiz's  favored  pupils  ? 

We  were  frequently  rebuked  for  slight  acts 
which  came  rather  from  the  thoughtlessness  of 
youth  than  from  a  bad  disposition.  One  of 
these  occasions  comes  before  me  now  with  un- 
usual vividness. 

It  was  at  noon  time,  and  we  were  arranging 
some  minerals  in  the  cabinet,  while  one  of  our 
number  strolled  from  table  to  table  idly  finger- 
ing each  object  as  he  passed  before  it.     At 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


73 


last  he  stopped  before  a  skull  belonging  to 
"our  coachman,"  as  we  called  our  skeleton 
when  hitched  together.  Utifortunatelyforour 
professor's  peace  of  mind,  the  "coachman" 
Jay  scattered  over  the  table  in  all  sorts  of  curi- 
ons  positions.  The  thoughtless  youth  picked 
up  a  hand  and  arm,  and  by  prying  open  the 
jaws  of  the  skull  (worked  by  a  strong  spring), 
managed  to  hide  the  greater  part  of  the  hand 
in  the  mouth.  Calling  our  attention  to  this 
grotesque  attitude,  we  all  Joined  in  a  laugh. 
We  saw  no  harm  in  this  then,  nor  can  I  to  the 
present  day  understand  why  the  bones  of  a 
cabinet  skeleton  should  be  held  sacred.  How- 
ever, our  professor  had  peculiar  views  on  the 
subject. 

The  clanging  gong  had  just  announced  that 
recess  was  over,  when  the  professor  walked  in. 
At  first  he  did  not  notice  anything  unusual, 
and  we  were  not  watching  him,  the  occurrence 
hating  entirely  slipped  our  memories.  At 
length,  after  roll  call,  he  glanced  up  and  fixed 
his  gaie  on  the  skull.  He  changed  color  rap- 
idly. We  became  scared,  we  knew  not  at  what, 
■M  last  he  spoke  slowly  and  evidently  with 
suppressed  rage : 

'I  wish  to  know  who  among  my  students 
has  had  the  boldness  to  do  this  thing  ?  I  take 
il  as  a  personal  insult.  I  thought  you  gentle- 
men up  to  the  present  time,  but  now  I  dare 
not  ask  you  who  did  this  as  you  would  not 
KlI  If  I  could  find  out  the  shameless  author 
of  this  deed,  I  would  instantly  expel  him  from 
Ihis  school." 

He  seemed  so  much  in  earnest,  so  horrified, 
M  grieved,  that  we  dared  not  look  at  him. 
TTien,  finding  that  he  could  not  control  him- 
self, he  seized  his  hat  and  rushed  from  the 
Rcitation  room. 

I  usually  see  the  ridiculous  side  of  every- 
thing, and  laugh  when  I  ought  to  cry.  This 
"sed  to  get  me  into  disgrace  sometimes.  So 
wthis  occasion,  as  the  door  closed  upon  our 
pofessor,  I  burst  out  laughing.  The  others 
l«4edat  me  as  if  I  were"  the  most  hardened 
sinner  in  the  room,  but  I  explained  : 

Boys,  you  remember  what  the  professor 
told  us  last  week  about  Agassiz  ;  how  the  fel- 
W  took  his  monkey  skeleton  and  dressed 
^  up,  hat  and  all,  and  put  him  on  the  pro- 
■Osor's  desk.  You  remember  what  Agassiz 
wd;  that  he  hoped  from  the  bottom  of  his 
w  that  the  man  who  performed  the  deed 
JBaChristian  man,  so  that  he  might  talk  to 
'''Bthus:  'How  would  you  feel  if  I  were  to 
?"«  your  church  and  conduct  myself  in  a 
'^ht and  indecorous  manner?    Would  not  you 


feel  insulted  ?  That  is  the  way  with  me  ;  my 
laboratory  is  my  sanctuary  ;  there  I  commune 
with  God.  I  demand  that  you  act  here  in  my 
church  as  you  would  wish  me  to  act  in  your 
church.'  Isn't  our  professor  trying  to  iiftitate 
the  '  master  '  a  little  too  much  ?  Oh,  it's  too 
ridiculous  !  What  does  he  do  when  he  comes 
to  a  case  wh:re  there  is  no  precedent  ?"  And 
then  we  all  laughed. 

After  this  occurrence  the  professor  was 
scrupulously  polite,  but  rather  distant  toward 
us  for  the  remainder  of  the  term,  when  we 
passed  from  under  his  jurisdiction.  But  there 
is  one  other  little  incident  so  directly  opposed 
to  the  first  that  it  should  be  related  m  this 
connection. 

Two  weeks  after  the  occurrence  related 
above,  we  went  with  our  professor  on  one  of 
the  customary  geological  excursions.  In  the 
course  of  our  rambles  we  came  upon  a 
neglected  graveyard  in  a  pleasant,  shady  hol- 
low, and  seating  ourselves,  we  proceeded  to 
make  way  with  our  luncheon. 

I  happened  during  this  interval  to  glance  up 
at  the  professor,  and  my  attention  was  drawn 
to  him  by  the  way  in  ii'hich  his  eyes  roved 
about,  now  resting  on  one  tombstone  and  now 
on  another.  My  first  thought  was  that  he  was 
trying  to  read  the  inscriptions,  but  at  last  his 
eye  rested  on  a  stone  with  the  blank  side 
toward  us,  and  I  knew  that  I  had  not  found 
the  reason.  A  moment  later  he  got  up,  and 
walking  over  to  the  monument,  gazed  at  it 
carefully.  Then  he  returned  and  folded  up  his 
napkin.  His  every  movement  now  showed  that 
he  was  thinking  of  that  stone.  As  soon  as  we 
rose  he  walked  up  to  the  tombstone,  and  with 
his  hammer  knocked  off  a  large  specimen  of 
unusually  fine  syenite,  which  he  proceeded  to 
break  up  into  specimens  for  each  of  us,  re- 
serving the  largest  for  his  own  collection. 

With  the  incident  of  the  previous  week  still 
in  my  mind,  I  burst  out  laughing  at  the  incon- 
sistency of  the  two  acts,  but  his  surprised  look 
stopped  me.  I  never  see  a  neglected  grave- 
yard but  the  thought  of  this  occurrence  comes 
to  me.  and  whenever  it  does  so  the  same  old 
question  arises.  Will  you  answer  it  for  me? 
Why  should  an  old  skeleton,  even  of  a  human 
being,  a  skeleton  used  to  illustrate  class  room 
lectures  on  physiology,  be  any  more  sacred 
than  a  tombstone  placed  over  the  grave  of 
somebody's  friend  ?  If  you  will  answer  this 
question,  you  will  explain  away  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  eccentricities  of  our  profes- 


74 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


^he  Stevens  IndiGa^®?. 

rUBLISHBO  ON  TUB 

Iftth  OF  EACH  MONTH,  DURINQ  THE  COLLEQE  YEAR, 

BY  THB 

INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVen^  In^titate  of  Tecjnolog j. 


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tmtHTtlti  ml  IwttUlM  Pttt  QfMV  UB 


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N.J, 


TTTHE  result  of  the  meeting  of  the  Athletic 
1  Association,  in  regard  to  our  base  ball 
interests,  was  highly  satisfactory.  The  team 
needs  considerable  training,  and  the  only  way 
in  which  it  can  improve  is  by  those  who  have 
any  taste  for  the  sport  going  to  the  grounds 
and  aiding  the  men  by  playing  practice  games. 
We  have  good  material  and  it  should  be  de- 
veloped. The  idea  of  lacrosse  being  antagon- 
istic to  base  ball  is  a  supposition  too  absurd 
to  discuss.  The  Directors  only  needed  a  little 
directing  ;  and  we  hope,  by  the  confining  of 
the  team  to  Hoboken  games,  to  see  our  usual 
good  standard  maintained.  Why  the  chal- 
lenges which  have  been  received  for  local 
games  were  not  accepted,  we  cannot  answer. 
It  may  have  been  fear  of  defeat ;  but  the  loss 
now  is  evep  greater,  for  our  team  has  lost  just 
so  much  valuable  training. 


■^  ■♦»■»>■ 


G8fflfflaRrcfljprei^. 


BASE  BALL. 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

In  view  of  the  progress  of  our  base   ball 
team  this  season,  it  may  be  well  to  look  into 


the  cause  of  our  defeats,  and  sugge 
Let  us  read  a  short  history  of  this 
As  early  as  the  weather  would 
captain  desired  all  those  who  ever 
ball  to  come  daily  to  the  grounds : 
that  a  team  might  be  selected, 
had  little  or  no  effect,  and  the  c 
right  on  appealing  for  players,  1 
Finally  he  managed,  after  great 
get  nine  men,  four  of  these  fron 
School,  who  would  come  down  to 
and  practice.  These  men  (mo; 
knowing  that  their  places  could  r 
by  others,  came  down  to  practice  % 
a  match  !  Can-any  one  expect  ev< 
class  base  ball  team  under  such 
things?  Then  when  we  play  a 
students  come  down  to  the  grounc 
to  see  something  great.  When  th( 
team  playing  miserably,  and  be 
badly,  they  (the  students)  think  it 
and  growl  and  kick,  instead  of 
with  a  vim  to  practice  and  try  t 
held  by  incompetent  players. 

It  seems  wrong  that  a  game  that 
ively  American,  as  base  ball  is,  sh 
the  ground  in  an  American  col 
truth  is,  we  have  too  many  games 
instead  of  playing  one  game  well,  i^ 
half  a  dozen. 

I  think  we  had  better  give  base 
together,  if  the  students  are  not  ir 
it.  We  cannot  improve  enough  tc 
anything.  We  should  declare  all 
off,  except  those  in  town,  and  save 
ling  expenses.  We  could  use  th 
great  deal  better  to  support  some 
esting  game. 

B.  F.  Hart, 

Acting  Capt.  of  the  1 


SOCIAL. 


Friday  evening,  April  24,  Presid 
received  the  students  in  the  Sun 
rooms  of  Trinity  Church.  The  re 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Trinity 
proved  a  most  enjoyable  affair. 
of  the  students  sent  acceptances  ar 
exceedingly  pleasant  evening  with 
boken  friends.  Quite  a  number  c 
bers  of  the  church  and  Trinity  Gu 
the  reception.  Dancing  and  singi 
dulged  in,  the  festivities  continu 
late  hour. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


75 


ri^SIGAQzeR  GARS. 


it  term  of  the  Senior  Class  is  reserved 
g  theses.  We  have  taken  the  follow- 
to  calculate  the  work  lost  on  these 
ons.  The  average  maximum  pres- 
the  Senior's  brain  runs  up  to  ten 
res,  while  at  the  time  of  exhaust  it 
inus  two.  The  stroke  is  about  ten 
lat  being  the  mean  size  of  the  letters 
n  the  thesis  paper).  The  revolutions 
3  only  five  per  day,  so  that  the  centri- 
:e  generated  is  not  of  any  moment. 
:  done  is  evidently  so  small  a  quantity 
ed  not  be  considered  at  all.  As  a 
nee,  the  members  of  the  class  are 
ating  around  Hoboken  and  its  vicin- 
it  any  definite  object,  except  waiting 
encement  to  tack  on  the  M,  E,  to 


BASE    BALL. 

se  accustomed  to  see  good  games  of 
the  attempts  of  our  team   thus  far 
1  poor  indeed. 

St  game  has  already  been  mentioned, 
econd  was  nothing  but  its  repetition. 
I  becoming  demoralized  in  the  third 
terally  gave  the  game  away.     Colum- 

7  runs  then,  and  afterward  but  3 — 

Our  team  by  scoring  one  at  a  time 

\  in  adding  up  8  ;  playing  a  good  up 

after  the  third  inning, 
rsey  Blues,  of  course,  we  did  not  ex- 
efeat,  but  we  hoped  to  see  a  better 
They  had  the  game  their  own  way 

start,  and  closed  with  the  score  11 
le  batting  on  both  sides  was  about 
;,  but  the  usual  errors  of  our  men 
le  runners  home  and  the  score  up- 

practice"  game  with  the   Arlingtons 

^ht  surprise.     Before  our  catcher  was 

the  men  did  well,  having  but  few,  if 

rs  credited  to  them.     But  the  usual 


time  came,  and  with  it  the  errors,  giving  the 
Arlingtons  3  runs.  Pattberg  pitched  well, 
also  Du  Commun,  while  Stevens  batted  three 
of  the  Arlington's  pitchers  all  over  the  field. 

The  less  said  of  the  Alert-Stevens  game  the 
better.  The  prominent  feature  was,  again,  the 
way  in  which  a  team  so  little  used  to  playing 
match  games  can  loose  all  control  of  them- 
selves at  a  critical  moment. 


LACROSSE. 


The  lacrosse  season  of  1885  was  opened  on 
April  25  by  a  complimentary  match  played  in 
Brooklyn,  in  which  the  competing  teams  were 
chosen  from  the  four  clubs  composing  the 
Metropolitan  Lacrosse  Association.  N.  Y.  L. 
C.  and  N.  Y.  Univ.  playing  Stevens  and  Wil- 
liamsburg. 

The  game  was  a  brilliant  one,  and  the  teams 
evenly  matched.  Stevens  and  Williamsburg 
finally  winning  by  a  score  of  3  to  2. 

A  large  number  of  ladies  were  present,  and 
the  grand  stand  was  filled  to  overflowing  with 
an  enthusiastic  audience. 

The  "  fancy  playing  "  of  some  of  the  older 
players  was  very  fine.  Flannery,  as  usual, 
showing  up  well  as  an  "  artful  dodger." 

It  is  a  significant  fact  that  four  of  the  five 
goals  were  made  at  the  end  of  the  field  near 
the  stand. 

Stevens  was  represented  by  Coldewey,  Cook, 
Norris  and  Post. 

The  first  championship  game  of  the  season 
was  played  on  the  grounds  of  the  WilJiams- 
burgh    Athletic   Club,   Thursday,   April   30, 
between  teams  from  Stevens  and  New  York 
University.      The   ground   was    heavy   from 
recent  rains  and  playing  hard  work  ;  besides 
the  field  was  small  for  such  a  game  as  lacrosse, 
considerable  time  being  taken  up  in  scuffling 
for   the  ball   on  the   cinder  track,  and    fre- 
quently the  players  would  indulge  in  lively 
digging  contests  on  the  embankment  beyond 
the  track. 

The  Stevens  team  wore  iheir  striped  jerseys, 
making  a  quite  effective  appearance.  The 
first  half  of  the  game  was  characterized  by 
careful  and  occasionally  too  slow  play  by  the 
Stevens  men.  The  experienced  University 
men  worked  energetically,  and  credited  them- 
selves with  three  goals  during  this  half.  On 
the  part  of  Stevens,  there  were  a  number  of 
brilliant  plays.  Post,  Norris,  Cotiart  and  Cook 
eliciting  applause.  Isaac's  long  throw  for 
goal,  from  "  first  defense,"  the  ball  passing 


76 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


cleanly  between  the  posts,  was  the  play  that 
saved  our  team  from  a  discouraging  defeat. 

The  intermission  was  employed  in  some 
long  running  jumps,  in  which  the  Stevens' 
man  who  didn't  adopt  the  striped  jersey,  came 
off  the  winner.  Shortly  after,  lime  was  called 
and  play  was  resumed.  The  playing  of  the 
first  half  seemed  to  have  accomplished  worlds 
for  our  men.  The  University  men  seemed  to 
lack  any  staying  powers,  and  were  unable  to 
get  the  ball  near  our  goal.  This  state  of 
affairs  would  probably  have  yielded  some 
points  for  our  team,  but  time  was  called  on 
account  of  the  sickness  of  one  of  the  players. 
The  short  rest  thus  gained  proved  of  value  to 
the  University  men,  and  with  their  superior 
"stick"  work  they  prevented  Stevens  from 
scoring,  and  succeeded,  after  hard  work,  in 
securing  one  goal  for  themselves.  Post,  during 
this  half  of  the  game,  played  almost  a  fault- 
less game  and  filled  his  position  at  point  very 
effectively. 

The  team  deserves  praise  for  its  playing,  as 
the  errors  which  were  noticeable  were  those 
which  can  only  be  remedied  by  the  experience 
gained  in  playing  with  good  teams. 

Up  in  the  grand  stand  sat  three  Stevens 
representatives,  but  probably  many  were  with 
those  three  in  spirit ;  still  we  think  some 
bodily  manifestation  combined  with  spirit 
would  aid  materially  in  giving  the  lacrosse 
team  the  encouragement  it  needs. 


Teams  from  Stevens,  Hoboken  and  Jersey 
City  (Pavonia's  and  Park's)  have  formed  the 
Hudson  County  Polo  League,  and  a  series  of 
games  have  been  arranged  for  the  champion- 
ship of  the  county.  The  members  of  the 
winning  team  will  each  receive  a  gold  medal, 
presented  by  the  rinks  at  which  the  gamesare 
to  be  played.  The  students  should  make  an 
effort  to  attend  the  games  played  by  our  team. 
Especially  in  Hoboken  does  the  team  need 
support,  the  authorities  at  the  rink  permitting 
the  Hoboken  sympathizers  to  howl  and  hiss  to 
a  degree  that  reflects  great  credit  (?)  alike  on 
the  audience  and  management,  A  little 
gentlemanly  tone  could  be  infused  into  the 
untutored  soul  of  the  Hobokenite  who  hails 
from  Shippenville  by  a  few  courteous  and 
forcible  remarks  from  the  floor  manager. 

We  merely  have  space  to  note  the  dates  on 
which  our  team  plays.     They  are  as  follows : 


May  ra — Hoboken vi.  Stevens,  Hobok< 

"    i8— Park's  "        Park 

"    19 — Pavonia  "        Pavoni. 

"    22 —      "  "  " 

"    27 — Park's  "        Hobok. 

"    29 — Hoboken  "  " 

The  Stevens  team  have  played  a  nu 

games  thus  far,  and,  as  a  result  of  < 

practice,  they  have  made  a  good  reco 

ing  won  three  games  and  played  three  " 

the  last   one   being  with   the  "  New 

(hampions   of   the  hamlet   whose   nan 

bear. 


ATHLETIC   ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  meeting  held  Tuesday,  May  5, 
rectors  made  a  report  of  the  unsati 
condition  of  the  base  ball  team.  The  i 
was  settled  by  a  motion  to  the  effect  1 
team  fulfill  present  engagements  out  c 
and  then  confine  its  games  to  Hobo' 
directors  to  arrange  as  many  as  pos; 
order  to  improve  the  whole  team.  The 
feeling  seemed  to  be  that  there  had  bee 
management,  and  also  lack  of  suppo 
base  ball  men  in  College. 


'^Wl 


Commencement  next  month. 

The  preliminary  term  of  expLTinien 
chanics  will  be  held  in  June  this  year. 

One  examination  is  hardly  passec 
another  keeps  the  students  busy— pi 
cribs. 

How  the  deuce  did  the  mosiiuitoes 
that  Hoboken's  climate  already  agrei 
them  ? 

The  most  direct  method  of  dete 
horse  power— Stand  behind  and  tic 
hind  legs  with  a  brier. 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


77 


Find  the  equation  of  the  path  of  a  ball 
when  thrown  by  an  experienced  pitcher ! 
What  kind  of  curve  is  it  ? 

Delinquent  subscribers  must  pay  imme- 
diately, or  the  last  two  courses  of  the  collation 
of  the  I.  P.  Co.  will  have  to  be  dispensed  with. 

Though  you  be  only  a  Freshmen,  you  can 
still  procure  for  yourself  and  cetera  a  ticket 
for  the  Senior  promenade,  provided  you  wish 
to  invest. 

Difiference  between  Theory  and  Practice  : 
The  results  of  theory  {e.g.^  Rankine's)  are  too 
true  to  be  real,  while  those  of  practice  are  too 
real  to  be  true. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Alumni  Associa- 
tion, the  question,  "  What  changes  should  be 
made  in  the  Curriculum  of  the  Institute?" 
will  be  discussed. 

Can  any  one  tell  us  what  has  become  of  our 
"yaller  dog  "?  Has  he  perhaps  been  sent  to 
the  exhibition  of  canine  curiosities  to  compete 
with  spinster  curs  ? 

Sweet  Sixteen. — Prof.  :  "  What  does  Ran- 
kine  say  about  the  power  of  man  ?" 

Mr.  B.:  "  Professor,  all  I  remember  is  num- 
ber sixteen  in  the  table." 

The  zephyrs  are  blowing,  and  summer  is  nigh; 

The  sun's  rays  come  down  perpendickularl^. 

The  Freshies  are  ready  to  migrate  in  May : 

They  go  out  to  row  *'  crowned  "  with  carmine  and  gray. 

Our  base  ball  players  are  complaining 
that  "  not  enough  time  is  left  them  for  prac- 
tice." It  is  abominable  that  our  studies  should 
interfere  with  athletics  to  such  a  degree. 

The  gymnasium  reminds  one  of  the  pedes- 
tal for  the  Bartholdi  statue.  Everybody 
wants  it,  but  there  are  no  funds.  As  to  which 
one  will   be   erected  first,   no  "  tip "  can  be 

given. 

About  three  weeks  ago  a  Freshman  perpe- 
trated the  ioWoyring  joke :  ist  F.:  **  Have  you 
seen  Coffey  around  here?"  2d  F.:  "No; 
hut  I  have  seen  *  Pink  Tea  *  about  this  place 
for  the  last  two  weeks." 

C.  P.  is  a  term  which  has  become  quite 
obsolete  in  the  chemical  laboratory.  The 
small  boy  will  suffer  from  the  same  disorder  if 
'^e  continues  pumping  hydrant  water  into  the 
'distilled  He  O"  bottle. 


Photographs  of  several  of  our  handsome 
Seniors  are  being  ^old  on  Broadway  side  by 
side  with  pictures  of  Mary  Anderson  and  H. 
W.  Beecher,  five  and  ten  cents  a  copy,  accord- 
ing to  size  of —moustache. 

Exercices  de  Conversation  Francaise  : 
Mme.  A.  :  Voulez  vous  nous  montrer  vos 

gants  de  suede  T* 

Free  translation  by  a  Fresh.  :  "  We  want  to 

look  at  your  undressed  kids." 

Seeing  a  Sophomore  drinking  water  at  the  ' 
rate  of  twelve  miles  an  hour,  the  other  day, 
we  asked  him  why  he  didn't  take  more  time. 
"  Why,  you  see,  by  drinking  so  fast,  I  manage 
to  swallow  water  with  the  air.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments I  have  all  the  pleasing  sensations  of 
soda  water,  without  the  flavor." 

How  quiet  the  Institute  has  become  since 
the  Seniors  have  stopped  recitations  !  Tomes 
of  long  forgotten  lore  are  now  hauled  daily 
from  the  library  shelves,  where  they  had  been 
moulding  undisturbed  (even  by  a  duster)  ever 
since  the  last  Senior  class  had  used  them 
while  "  working  on  their  theses." 

Professor:  "You  were  smoking,  were  you 
not  ?" 

Student  :  "  No,  sir." 

P.  :  "  But  there  was  certainly  some  smoke 
there." 

S.  :  "  Yes,  sir." 

P.  :  **  Well,  where  there  is  so  much  smoke 
there  must  be  some  fire,  so  I'll  fire  you." 

And  he  fired. 

It  is  worth  while  watching  a  Junior  clean- 
ing a  beaker  and  saving  every  billigram  of 
precipitate,  when  he  well  knows  that  the  bal- 
ance he  uses  would  be  confiscated  by  the 
government,  if  employed  for  weighing  out 
sugar  or  butter.  Still  the  "  books  "  of  many 
a  Junior  show  grams  to  four  decimal  places, 
without  there  having  been  any  demonstrable 
"  fixing  of  accounts." 

A  Montreal  paper  says :  "  During  the 
coming  month  a  meeting  will  be  held  in  this 
city  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  ad- 
visability of  establishing  a  confederation  of  all 
English  speaking  nations."  It  won't  do, 
gentlemen  ;  it  might  be  very  handy  in  some 
cases,  but  if  Canada  dver  hitches  on  to  us, 
what  on  earth  will  become  of  our  bank  presi- 
dents and  cashiers,  hey  ? 


78 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Professor  Wood  is  very  fond  of  transposing 
himself  and  class  to  the  so  called  Mechanical 
Laboratory.  He  says  the  M.  L.  exists  in  the 
imagination  ;  and  also,  that  it  exists  at  the 
centre  of  the  earth.  Consequently,  the  imagi- 
nation is  the  "centre  of  the  earth."  So  that, 
when  you  read  in  Shaw  about  the  imagination 
displayed  in  "Paradise  Lost,"  you  will,  of 
course,  know  that  he  means  the  centre  of  the 
earth,"  where  he  evidently  must  place  the 
scene  of  Satan's  sufferings  ! 

Advertisement :  Beautiful,  handsomely  fur- 
nished rooms  with  all  modem  and  ancient  im- 
provements, to  be  almost  given  away  to  respect- 
able, first  class  young  gentlemen  only  (Stevens 
men  not  excluded),  at  the  fabulously  low  price 

of  % —  hebdomadary.     Inquire  at  Mrs  , 

No.  — , Street,  Hoboken. 

The  blanks  in  the  above  notice  will  be  filled  out  on 
application  for  any  of  our  bulletin  board — ers.  As  re- 
gards the  charge,  confer  with  the  business  manager  of 
The  Indicator.  No  extra  charge  for  including  ladies 
in  the  advertisement. 

Workhouse  boy,  who  had  been  apprenticed 
to  a  small  farmer,  brought  up  as  he  had  run 
away. 

Guardian  :  "  Did  they  beat  you  ?" 

Boy  :  "  No,  sir." 

Guardian  :  "  Then  why  did  you  run  away  ?" 

Boy  :  "  Please,  sir,  soon  after  I  got  there,  a 
pig  died  ;  they  salted  it,  and  we  had  fur  to  eat 
it.  Then  a  calf  died,  and  they  salted  it,  and 
we  had  fur  to  eat  that.  Then  master's  grand- 
mother died,  and  I  seed  *em  taking  some 
salt  up  stairs,  so  I  runned  away." — London 
Topical  Times, 

At  Williamsburg  A.  Grounds. — Miss  S : 

"  Mr.  C ,  who  is  that  Stevens  man,  way 

down  in  the  middle  of  the  field  ?"  "  Which 
one  ?"      "  Why  the  one  with  short  trousers." 

Mr.  C :  "  But   they  all  wear   knicker- 


:  "  The  one  with  the  sandals." 


bockers." 

Miss  S 

Mr.  C :    "I  fail  to  recognize  him." 

Miss  S :   "  You  surely  see  the  one  with 

Roman  style  stockings." 

Mr.  C :  "  I  don't  understand  your  des- 
cription." 

Miss  S :  (desperately)  "  Well  then,  the 

one  with  the  bare  1 — limbs." 

A  Sophomore  writes  the  following  :  "  Dear 
Indick.:  I  am  afflicted  with  the  tender  passion. 
The  night  before  last  I  *  saw  '  her  to  the  front 
door,  and  there  sighed  in  unison  with  her,  our 


fond  hearts  throbbing  beneath  our  touching 
waists.     Suddenly  the  gate  opens,  and  Beelze- 
bub, in  the  role  of  *old  man,*  issues  therefrom, 
and,  with  an  instrument  which  he  lifts  from 
the  ground  without  bending,  *  impresses '  me 
from  behind,  letting  the  force  act  only  an  in- 
stant.    She  drops  up  stairs,  while  I  fly  dmn 
the  stoop  in  great  precipitation,  /.  ^.,  precipi- 
tating my  watch,  a  five  cent  piece  and  half  a 
collar  button.     Now,  desiring  to  find  out  all 
the  *  circumstances  of  aforesaid  motion,*  and 
knowing  that  our  Juniors  are  just  now  investi- 
gating the  moment  of  momentum^  I  beg  you, 
kind  Indick.,  to  ask  any  one  of  that  illustrious 
class  to  calculate,  first,  V,  my  velocity  of  transla- 
tion; secondly,  W,  my  angular  velocity;  third-' 
ly,  E,  the  energy  I  stored  during   the  fall; 
fourthly,  ^,  the  distance  of  the  spontaneous  axis 
from   the  centre  of  percussion,  A  ;    fifthly, 
whether  I  would  have  descended  in  less  time 
had  my  mass  been  concentrated  at  the  centre 
of  gravity,  ^y  sixthly,  what  would  be  the  place 
of  concentration  of  mass  in  order  to  make  E 
a  minimum  and  /  (the  time  of  descent)  a  max- 
imum (that  I  may  know  how   to   act  in  the 
future)  ?" 

The  data  given  are  the  following  : 

"  W. — Weight  of  my  body,  78.3  lbs. 

"  M. — Mass  of  the  old  gentleman's  *  Wauk- 
enphast '  (unknown,  but  can  be  averaged  by 
the  method  of  least  squares). 

"  V. — Velocity  of  lightning— velocity  with 
which  the  impulse  was  given. 

"/. — Coefficient  of  friction  of  the  stoop  ; 
and 

"R. — Resistance  thereof  to  be  calculated 
from  square  foot  of  sticking  plaster,  and  an 
ellipsoidal  *  bump,*  the  dimensions  of  the  axis 
being  2,  i,  and  J^  inches. 

"K. — Principal  radius  of  gyration,  same  as 
that  of  a  spindle. 

"I  promise  to  subscribe  for  another  copy  of 
the  Indick.  (for  hfr)  if  you  succeed  in  enlight- 
ening me  on  this  subject.     Yours  forever, 

"S.  O.   F." 

The  Soph,  forgot  to  mention  the  number  of 
steps  and  the  size  of  each,  as  well  as  the  re- 
silience, and  the  modulus  of  elasticity  of  his 
skull,  besides  other  minor  particulars,  such  as 
the  attraction  of  she  as  compared  with  that  of 
the  sidewalk  and  the  shoe,  etc.,  which  acted 
rather  as  perturbations  than  as  direct  influ- 
ences. Still,  if  anybody  wishes  to  calculate 
the  problem  gratis  (we  do  not  wish  to  insult 
by  offering  our  profit  as  premium),  all  data 
can,  no  doubt,  be  procured  from  "  S.  O.  F." 
through  our  medium. 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


n 


m 


SK<.')aiv/</ 


fe  hardly  know  where  to  look  for  what  is  of 
.1  Interest  to  us  in  Taw  Nostrami's  Maga- 
for  March.  "  A  new  Method  of  Shaft- 
ting  through  Water  Bearing  Loose  Ma- 
als,"  with  its  accompanying  illiistracions, 
K  the  first  few  pages.  The  article  describes 
apparatus  and  the  method  used,  also  the 
gress  made  while  in  use.  We  dare  not  at- 
ipt  to  say  anything  about  the  "Analytical 
uiion  "  of  a  certain  problem  on  a  particular 
do(  truss;  we  had  that  last  term. 
Engineering  Inventions  since  1882  "  is 
I  worth  reading.  It  treats  of  improvements 
loecied  with  civil  engineering,  bridge  work, 
1  many  others. 

he  American  Engineer  of  Feb.  27,  con- 
is  drawings  and  description  of  the  enginr:s 
ite  S.S.  'Australasian."  "The  Manufac- 
;of  Whitworth  Steel  "  is  short  but  interest- 
aid  instructive.  Next  weeic's  number  con- 
s  a  report  on  the  "Strength  and  Safety  of 
N,  Y.  Elevated  Railroads,"  The  tests 
e  carried  on  by  Prof.  Thurston,  and  the 
elusion  in  regard  to  ultimate  destruction  of 
bridge  members,  states: 
So  far  as  I  am  aware,  and  so  far  as  I  can 
rtain  by  the  careful  study  of  the  results 
iperiment,  both  as  made  by  others,  in  the 
:i  investigation  of  this  question,  and  as 
f  by  myself  in  the  endeavor  to  determine 
■ffect  of  long  continued  and  intermittent 
ing,  there  is  no  evidence  extant,  and  mth- 
0  give  the  slightest  foundation  to  the  be- 
that  good  wrought  iron,  loaded  within  the 
c  limit,  will  ever  yield  either  to  stationary 
intermittent  unreversed  loads,  or  that  crys- 
ition  can  ever  take  place  under  such  con- 
is."    All  the  short  articles  are  interesting, 

e  new  Brazilian  war  vessel,  "  Riachuelo," 
inounced  the  most  perfectly  constructed 
□f  war  afloat,  possessing  in  regard  to 
speed  and  arrangement  and  fire  of  her 
special  advantages  not  contained  in  any 
ship.  She  is  a  twin  screw  turret  vessel 
,  thousand  tons  and  six  thousand  horse 
■,  built  of  steel ;  her  length  is  three  hun- 
ind  five  feet,  width  fifty  feet  and   depth 


thirty  feet.  The  armor  plates  are  ten  and 
eleven  inches  thick,  and  the  armament  cou' 
sists  of  five  9  inch  breech  loading  twenty  ton 
rifled  guns  in  two  revolving  turrets,  and  six  6 
inch  breech  loaders,  besides  fifteen  Nordenfelt 
machine  guns.  In  addition,  the  vessel  is  pro' 
vided  with  a  number  of  Whitehead  torpedoes. 
She  i.s  calculated  to  make  fifteen  knots  an 
hour,  running  at  that  speed  for  over  tour 
thousand  miles  without  recoaling, 

E.  P.  Roberts,  member  of  the  Institute  of 
Electrical  Engineers,  has  contributed  to  the 
Electrical  World  of  February  18,  an  article 
on  Storage  Batteries  in  Commercial  Use. 

The  National  Association  of  Stationary  En- 
gineers of  the  United  States,  is  aptly  termed 
The  New  Force  "  in  another  article.  It  ably 
discusses  the  value  of  the  Association  to  the 
world  at  large,  "  The  Steam  Engine  Indica- 
tor and  its  Use,"  a  continued  article,  would 
be  of  much  value  to  many  of  us  if  carefully 
studied. 

Mechanics  for  March  gives  a  treatise  on  the 
Tehuantepec  Ship  Railway,  which  is  fully  il- 
lustrated. "New  Forms  of  Friction  Brakes," 
also  illustrated,  treats  of  four  or  five  of  the 
newest  forms.  Various  other  articles  are  in- 
teresting. 

We  advise  some  of  the  raany  amateur  tele- 
graph operators  of  Stevens  to  consult  the  EleC' 
trician  and  Electrical  Engineer.  'The  Con- 
struction of  Lines  for  Electric  Circuits  "  would 
give  them  some  points.  It  contains  the  repgrt 
on  "  The  Edison  System  of  Underground 
Conductors."  Drawings  fully  illustrate  the 
methods.     Electric    lighting  is    treated    of  in 

From  the  "  Longfellow  Memorial  "  number 
of  the  Bowdoin  Orient,  we  learn  a  great  deal 
of  new  and  interesting  matter  about  Longfel- 
low.    It  is  all  well  told  and  instructive. 

We  have  just  received  from  the  Scovill 
Manuf'g  Co,  the  seventeenth  number  of  their 
photo  series,  entitled  "  First  Lessons  in  Ama- 
teur Photography."  Mr.  Spaulding,  in  writing 
this  work,  has  used  as  a  basis  lectures  delivered 
by  him  to  his  class  in  the  High  School,  of  which 
he  is  principal.  While  containing  much  that 
will  be  passed  over  by  the  amateur  photogra- 
pher, this  little  book  contains  many  details 
which  are  seldom  found  in  such  a  work,  such 
as  lantern  slides,  transparencies,  etc,  The  chap- 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


ter  on  preparing  silver  paper  will  be  found  to 
be  very  instructive  and  interesting. 

The  Weekly  Courier  has  one  of  the  largest 
circulations  of  all  oar  exchanges.  The  Courier 
Company  publishes  from  8oo  to  i,ooo  copies 
peris^ue.  It  consists  mainly  of  news  and  must 
be  interesting  to  any  one  who  are  connected 
with  the  university. 

The  following  and  many  more  are  on  hand: 
Amherst  Student,  Collegian,  Burr,  Lafayette, 
Michigan  Argonaut,  Teeh,  University  Maga- 
xine,  Yale  Record. 


THE  ECCENTRIC. 

We  have  received  the  Eccentric  for  the 
present  year,  and  are  pleased  to  note  its  neat 
appearance  and  very  creditable  reading  matter. 
It  is  in  some  repeats  an  improvement  on  the 
production  of  former  years.  The  illustrations 
are  more  numerous  and  of  greater  variety  and 
excellence,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  the 
literary  portions.  Although  the  humorous 
element  predominates — and  much  of  it  is  very 
good — there  is  a  number  of  articles  of  the  op- 
posite order.  Among  these  we  notice  especi- 
ally the  little  poem  entitled,  "  The  Three 
Roses."  Its  ideas,  figures  and  language  are 
beautiful  and  finished.  The  article,  "A  Few 
Words  From  the  Alumni,"  is  a  very  sensible 
and  encouraging  one,  although  it  fully  points 
out  the  respects  in  which  a  student  must 
necessarily  be  defective  when  starting  out, 
however  careful  his  college  preparation,  and 
the  work  which  must  be  done  by  him  before 
securing  a  permanent  foothold  in  the  pro- 
fession. The  lighter  contributions  are,  as  be- 
fore remarked,  of  very  fair  quality  and  the 
general  character  of  the  magazine  is  very  cre- 
ditable. There  is,  however,  one  portion  open 
to  criticism.  We  allude  to  those  articles 
whose  humor  is  at  the  expense  of  our  profes- 
sors, and  which  is  in  some  cases  rather  too 
severe.  Students  are  generally  apt  to  be 
thoughtless  in  this  regard,  and  fail  to  see 
the  wounds  which  their  willicisms  may  inflict. 
Although  these  remarks  are  made  at  this  place, 
we  wish  (hem  to  be  perfectly  general,  applying 
to  ourselves,  if  deserving  of  ii,  as  well  as  to 
others;  and  we  make  them  rather  m  a  sugges- 
tive than  a  censorious  spirit,  for  we  think  that 
the  error  committed  is  one  of  thoughtlessness 
rather  than  of  lack  of  feeling,  and  whose  pre- 
vention needs  but  a  suggestion. 


"  Can't  we  make  your  lover  jealous,  miss?"  1 
"  Oh,  yes,  sir,  I  think   we  can,  if  we  put  our 
heads  together.  . 

"That's  very  singular,  sir,"  said  a  youu 
lady  when  we  kissed  her.  "  Ah,  well,  we^ 
soon  make  it  plural." 

An  exchange  tells  us  that  its  soul  is  harrow- 
ed. The  labor  is  thrown  away.  The  soii  ia 
not  worth  cultivating. 

"Is  it  possible.  Miss,  that  you  don't  know 
the  names  of  some  of  your  best  friends?" 
"Certainly.  I  don't  even  know  what  my  own 
may  be  a  year  from  now." — Ex. 

"  Landlord,  you  do  me  too  much  honor;  you 
let  me  sleep  among  the  Big  Bugs  last  night."* 
"  Oh,  don't  be  too  modest,  my  dear  lodger,  li" 
doubt  not  they  have  your  own  blood  in  their 
veins."  ' 

Persons  who  visit  our  sanctum  will  greatly 
oblige  us  by  leaving  everything  just  as  they 
find  it. — Michigan  Journal.  Wouldn't  you 
like  that  they  should  give  you  a  little  valuable 
information,  and  so  leave  you  wiser  than  they 
find  jou  ? — Ex. 

A  young  lady  on  Monroe  Street  refused  to 
allow  her  sister  to  borrow  the  former's  beau, 
as  an  escort  to  a  party,  saying,  "  It  is  not  good 
that  man  should  be  a  loan."  She  had  not 
been  a  member  of  the  Bible  class  for  nothing. 
— Chicago  Tribune. 

The    Professor   of  Systematic    Divinity   at 

Seminary,    being    indisposed,    was    not 

able  to  be  with  his  classes.  A  notice  to  that 
effect  was  given  to  the  men  after  morning 
"chapel."  Whether  the  professor,  who  gave 
the  notice,  belonged  to  the  "  newer  school,  "or 
merely  to  the  orthodox  school  of  the  Sydney 
Smith  type,  is  not  known.  His  words  were 
these  :  '  The  professor,  being  ill,  requests  me 
to  say  that  the  seniors  can  keep  on  through 
Purgatory,  and  the  middle  class  continue  the 
Descent  into  Hell,  until  further  notice  from  the 
p  rof essors. ' " — Ex 


/ol.  2.  ^  J^Jt^e,  1885.  ^  r2o.  6. 

QomEmg. 

Jonnct,       , .            Will  H,  Wall.     .  Si 

e-nA     ariS.   Jfcr  iJacuft^,          ....       Prof.    R.    II.   TnURSTON.  Si 

Meo^anicaf  Sngineer  (■oerfieS),          .........  S.j 

S4 

3a.nc^  I ,S  = 

3ci.itft-PeiSA   teo>ser>  Qgou*s  {•ser&efi),     ....  Sf: 

O  u  m^©4    CJ  nrci'aeffecj,         .          .          .           .                                                                         ■  ^  / 

©figin     of   J^aifroa<J*   in   S^u**ia,  ....  .St 

A     rieco    gijiStem  of  gteamSfiip   propufsion,                                                                    .  S( 

Ari     ^n^5entior^ !,,.,...                     ...  <jc 

CJrep-S).     ©ugRf  to  ^o,       .......  l,C 

rio.t'^j     ............  .1 

.     W.     €;fee   (Sfu6,                                                                                                               .           ,  .,. 

if,               0: 

reaf     SSirgje,         ...                       ,  ..,: 

rien.cemenC  ©y/eeiC,      ....  ,,., 

sticS,             .........  ■.'■ 

ino.-'"^!  ............  '-1; 

r:a^-     i«o^.  .... 

ii.o?r, 10.: 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 

THE 

Stevens  Institute  of  Technology, 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

FOUNDED    BY   THE    LATE   EDWIN    A,  STEVENS, 

AT 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 

HENRY  MORTON,  Ph.  D., President 

ALFRED  M.  MAYER,  Ph.  D., Prof.  Physics 

ROBERT  H.  THURSTON,  A.  M.,  C.  E Prof.  Mech.  Encfineering 

DE  VOLSON  WOOD,  C,  E., Prof.  Math,  and  Mechanics 

C.  W.  McCORD,  A.  M., Prof.  Mech.  Drawing 

ALBERT  R.  LEEDS,  Ph.  D.,  ........     Prof.  Chemistry 

CHARLES  F.  KROEH,  A.  M Prof.  Languages 

REV.  EDWARD  WALL,  A.  M., Prof.  Belles-lettres 

J.  E.  DENTON,  M.  E.,       .  .  .  Prof,  of  Experimental  Mechanics  and  Shopwork 

A.  RIESENBEkGER,  M.  E.,  ......     Instructor  in  Mech.  Drawing 

C.  A.  CARR,  Ass't  Eng'r  U.  S.  N.,           .    Prof,  of  Marine  Engineering  and  Instructor  in  Mathematics 
W.  E.  GEYER.  Ph.  D., Prof,  of  Applied  Electricity 

The  course  of  the  Stevens  Institute  is  of  four  years  duration,  and  covers  all  that  appertains  to  the  profession 
of  a  Mechanical  Engineer.  By  means  of  workshops  provided  with  excellent  machinery,  Physical  Laboratories  whose 
appointments  are  without  an  equal,  and  with  the  finest  Cabinets  of  Instruments,  every  opportunity  for  the  acquisition 
of  thorough  and  practical  knowledge  is  afforded.     For  further  particulars  address  the  President, 

H.  MORTON,  Hoboken,  N.  J. 

STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 

THE    ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 

OF   THE 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

RIVER  STREET,  bet.  5th  and  6th,  HOBOKEN,  K  J., 

OPENS  SEPTEMBER   d6,  1885. 

Examinationa   for   Admission  on  the  14th  and  15th  of   September. 


•  ♦  ■» 


FULL  COURSES  OF  STUDY,  PREPARATORY  TO  SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE  AND  COLLEGES. 


-»  ♦  » 


JUNIOR    DEPARTMENT,       ....      $76.00   PER   ANNUM. 
SENIOR   DEPARTMENT,       ....    $|60.00   PER   ANNUM. 

TKeee    tonus   in.olu.de   all   tlie   studies. 
*^  »  * 

For  Catalogues  apply  to  the  Librarian  of  Stevens  Institute. 


THE 


jQfleve^s  jRdi(ial©F. 


Vol.  2. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  JUNE,  1885. 


No.  6. 


A  SONNET. 


[after  DANTE  ROSSETTI.] 


IT  I  were  loved  as  I  would  be. 
And  as  I  love  I  would  be  loved — 
And  by  thai  sieasure  be  it  proved — 
If  I  were  thus  beloved  by  thee^ 
Then  nothing  couM  vemain  for  me 
Beside,  to  hope  for  or  desire  ; 
To  no  more  doth  my  heart  assure  : 
For,  with  full  passion,  ardently, 
And  with  an  all  consuming  fire, 
I  do  love  thee  most  utterly  ; 
And,  for  my  perfect  happiness, 
I  pray  thee  tell  me  truthfully, 
Is  it  thus  thou  lovest  me? 
Oh,  my  beloved,  answer  '*  Yes  !" 


Will  H.  Wall. 


STEVENS  AND  HER  FACULTY. 


The  tenth  anniversary  of  the  graduation  of 
e  first  class  taking  a  full  course  at  "  Stevens," 
e  "  Graduation  Day  "  of  the  class  of  '85,  is  a 
ting  occasion  for  a  glance  back  upon  the  past 
story  of  the  Institute,  for  congratulation  and 
odly  greeting  of  its  Alumni,  and  for  a  word 
to  the  present  conditon  and  the  future  of 
e  €x>llege. 

Fourteen  years  ago,  the  princely  liberality, 
id  the  intelligent  public  spirit  of  the  late  Ed- 
In  A.  Stevens,  supplemented  by  the  action 
;  a  Board  of  Trustees  and  the  then  newly 
)pointed  President,  who  saw  the  great  need 
I  the  United  States,  of  such  an  institution, 
id  who  had  the  wisdom  and  independence 
rquisite  to  the  carrying  out  of  such  a  plan, 
scared  for  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  in- 
dentally  for  other  States,  as  well,  this  much 
seded  School  of  Mechanical  Engineering. 
s  organization,  despite  the  financial  strength 
rovided  by  the  testator,  was  effected  in  the 
cc  of  many  and  serious  difficulties.  Such 
I  institution  as  was  proposed  had  never  he- 
re been  organized,  and,  in  many  respects,  the 
Seers  intrusted  with  its  creation  were  entirely 
a  loss  for  precedents.  As  must  necessarily 
the  case  in  all  such  pioneer  work,  it  was 
ly  possible  to  prepare  a  provisional  plan, 
iving  its  final  development  to  be  determined 


by  time  and  experience,  guided  by  the  opinion 
and  advice  of  membersof  the  profession  whose 
standing,  experience  and  judgment,  and  whose 
interest  in  so  great  a  public  benefaction,  should 
enable  them  to  assist  effectively  in  giving  it  a 
shape  that  would  insure  the  highest  efficiency. 
Under  such  auspices  it  has  had  a  growth 
which,  although  never  as  rapid  or  as  satisfac- 
tory as  its  friends  might  desire,  has  been  con- 
tinuous and  uninterrupted. 

As  such  a  course  of  instruction  had  never 
been  before  attempted  in  precisely  this  form, 
and  of  such  extent,  the  work  began,  as  just  re- 
marked, under  peculiar  disadvantages.  No 
text  books  had  ever  been  written  embodying 
the  theory  of  American  practice  in  this  de- 
partment of  engineering;  just  what  should  be 
considered  essential  to  such  a  course  was  a 
matter  still  to  be  settled;  what  should  be  adopted 
as  the  initial  and  what  the  final  steps  in  a  course 
of  indefinite  limits,  and  of  life-long  extent; 
these,  and  many  other  questions,  came  up  for 
consideration,  and  could  only  be  settled  defi- 
nitely, after  some  experience  had  been  had 
in  actual  work.  It  was  evident  enough  that 
a  beginning  must  be  made  with  the  "ABC" 
of  this  hopelessly  long  alphabet;  but  it  was 
not  so  easy  to  decide  just  how  many  letters 
could  be  safely  attempted  in  a  four  years*  task. 
Old  engineers,  however,  holding  the  highest 
places  in  the  profession,  examined  the  scheme 
as  finally  laid  out,  approved  it,  and  expressed 
unbounded  satisfaction  at  seeing  a  probability 
that,  at  last,  the  young  men  of  the  country 
were  to  be  offered  opportunities  that  they  had 
so  greatly  needed,  in  their  younger  days,  but 
which  were  then  absolutely  unattainable. 

Not  the  least  of  the  difficulties  then,  as  since, 
impeding  the  prosecution  of  the  work  in  the 
form  originally  intended,  was  the  insufficiency 
of  the  funds  at  command  for  a  work  having 
far  greater  scope,  and  demanding  greater  ex- 
penditure than  was  at  first  contemplated.  The 
erection  of  the  building  and  the  purchase  of 
indispensable  apparatus  at  unavoidably  great 
expense,  and  especially  the  demand  of  the 
U.  S.  Government  for  a  "  Succession  Tax  " 
under  the  provisions  of  war  legislation  then 
still   in   force,  crippled  the  young  school  very 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


seriously.  In  some  departments,  it  was  found 
impossible  to  obtain  much  needed  illustrative 
apparatus,  and  almost  nothing  could  be  done 
toward  the  oiganization  of  the  workshop,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  it  was  considered  an 
essential  feature  of  such  a  school. 

So  formidable  were  these  difliculties  that  it 
was  at  one  time  seriously  proposed  to  defer 
the  opening  of  the  schoo!,  until,  by  accumula- 
tion of  income,  the  permanent  fund  could  be 
increased  to  at  least  the  amount  originally  in 
the  mind  of  the  testator.  It  was  finally  con- 
cluded, however,  to  go  on,  and  the  school  was 
opened. 


era!  departments,  has  given  us  the  long  needed 
workshop,  and  has  established  a  hardly  Its 
useful  department  of  electrical  engineenng. 
Every  member  of  the  faculty  has  similarly  ap- 
plied more  or  less  of  his  income  to  supply  Ibt 
necessities  of  the  school,  and  each  one  hu 
done  what  he  could  to  bring  up  his  depart- 
ment to  as  high  a  state  of  efficiency  as  possi- 
ble, purchasing  apparatus  and  employing  as- 
sistants, when  needed,  as  best  he  could,  when- 
ever the  funds  of  the  treasury  were  insufficient 
for  the  purpose. 

The  work  of  the  Institute  has  thus  bees 
carried  on  in,  on  the  whole,  a  very  satisfictory 


Four  years  later,  the  first  regular  class  was 
graduated,  a  few  students  having,  in  the  mean- 
time, come  in  from  other  institutions  at  ad- 
vanced points  in  the  course,  and  taken  diplo- 
mas in  the  two  preceding  years.  Ten  years 
have  passed  since  that  first  class  left  the  Insti- 
tute, and  we  are  now  able  to  look  back  upon  a 
period  of  most  gratifying  progress.  Finan- 
cially, less  has  been  accomplished  toward  giv- 
ing the  college  a  safe  and  sound  basis  than  had 
been  hoped;  but  the  liberality  of  the  presi- 
dent, who  has  turned  into  the  Institute  a  large 
proportion  of  his  receipts  from  its  treasury,  m 
the  form  of  innumerable  donations  to  its  sev- 


and  the  course  has  been  graduaJ'J 
and  steadily  brought  more  thoroughly  i')'*' 
accord  with  the  original  plan,  at  first  so  i'^T 
completely  carried  out.  Several  of  the  Aluni"' 
are  now  approaching  an  age,  and  a  stalus* 
financially,  that  enables  them  to  look  forward 
confidently  to  a  time  when  they,  too,  will  be 
able  to  be  of  substantial  assistance,  and  more 
than  one  is  contemplating  the  propriety  of 
giving  such  aid  by  founding  scholarships  oi 
otherwise.  The  Association  of  the  Alumni 
has  already  made  an  encouraging  beginning 
in  this  direction,  and  is  hoping  to  do  much 
more  in  the  future.     The  college  needs,  and 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


83 


ofitably  apply,  much  larger  sums  than 
r  likely  to  come  in  these  several  ways, 
n  only  be  expected  to  attain,  to  the 
at  high  position  and  that  maximum 
ess  which  its  founders  have  aimed  at, 
ome  wealthy  and  liberal  person  can  be 

0  worthily  succeed  the  first  and  great- 
er benefactors,  and  to  build  a  proper 
nicture  upon  the  foundation  which  has 
jen  so  deeply  and  substantially  laid, 
stone  now  added  will  make  a  visible 
tt  to  a  structure,  the  lower  courses  of 
ire  unobtrusive  in  proportion  as  they 

1  and  stable.  Until  such  a  friend  can 
d,  the  limit,  in  the  direction  of  the  in- 
n  number  of  young  men  who  can  be  at 

time  benefited  by  this  institution,  must 
idered  as  having  been  already  practi- 
ached. 

course  of  instruction  has  been,  during 
t  period  of  growth  and  development, 
ly  changing,  to  meet  the  continually 
ng  demands  of  the  time  and  to  bring 
into  accord  with  the  views  of  the  fac- 
i  of  the  profession,  a  steadily  improv- 
em  of  preparation  permitting  the  con- 
levation  of  the  standard  for  admission 
r  extension  of  the  curriculum.  This 
n  of  progress,  it  may  be  confidently 
ted,  is  one  in  which  continual  advance 
expected.  The  professional  schools, 
leering,  as  well  as  in  law  and  in  medi- 
theology,  are  properly  post  graduate 
ons,  and  every  man  who  can  afford 
d  means  will  seek  to  obtain  a  general, 
1,  education,  before  entering  the  pro- 
1  course.  This  is  becoming,  each  year, 
mmon,  and  the  result  may  be  expected, 
to  be  that  all  purely  preparatory  stud- 
be  pursued  in  the  extra  professional 
and  the  school  of  engineering  may 
vote  all  available  time  to  the  purely 
9nal  work.  The  rapidly  progressing 
in  plan  which  is  leading  to  a  distinc- 
ween  the  "  manual  training  school " 
**  school  of  engineering,"  in  all  civil- 
Lintries,  must  unquestionably  lead  to 
ture  changes,  the  nature  and  extent  of 
annot  yet  be  fully  anticipated.  Prob- 
may  lead,  in  the  majority  of  such 
to  a  division  at  some  point  in  the 
the  one  set  of  students  going  mainly 
shops,  the  other  remaining  a  longer 
he  lecture  rooms  and  laboratories.  The 
of  men  may  probably  pursue  a  shorter; 
nd,  a  longer  course.  The  matter  is  one 
ill  demand  thoughtful  consideration. 


It  is  in  the  direction  of  the  development  of 
the  useful  influence  of  the  Institute  beyond 
its  own  walls  that  its  officers  and  faculty,  as 
well  as  the  Alumni  themselves,  to  whom  such 
influence  is  mainly  due,  have  most  reason  to 
feel  peculiar  interest  and  pride.     In  the  short 
life  of  the  college,  and  despite  the  small  num- 
ber of  its  representatives,  its  influence  is  felt 
in  every  branch  of  professional  work.   Several 
of  our  graduates  have  been  intrusted  with  the 
organization  and  direction  of  similar  schools, 
or  departments,  of  engineering   in  other  col- 
leges, and  a  number  of  others  are  likely  soon 
to  accept  similar  positions,  and.  it  cannot  be 
doubted  that  the  future  of  the  profession  in 
this  country  is   to   be  determined,  to  a  very 
important    degree,   by  the  character  of   the* 
men  who  have  been  sent  out  by  "  Stevens." 
A  number  of  the  Alumni  of  the  Institute  are 
connected  with  the  technical  press,  and  are 
there  likely  to  make  their  influence,  and  that 
of  their  college,  felt,  in  the  advancement  of 
every  branch  of  their  chosen  profession.   More 
than  one  is  at  the  head  of  a  great  industrial 
organization,  putting  in   practice  the  princi- 
ples taught,  and  applying  the  knowledge  ob- 
tained, at  "Stevens."     Others  are  revolution- 
izing the  methods  of  operation  of  the  motive 
power,  ahd  other  departments  of  important 
railroads,  by  systematically  conducting  inves- 
tigations of  the  properties  of  the  materials  sup- 
plied to  them  and  used  in  all  branches  of  rail- 
road work.   Two  have  the  honor  of  occupying 
the  highest  positions  that  can  be  given  the  me- 
chanical engineer,  as  such,  in  the  whole  range 
of  railroad  work — positions  of  enormous  re- 
sponsibility and  importance.   One  Stevens  man 
is  developing  in  the  northern  sugar  districts  of 
South  America;  another  is  organizing  electric 
lighting  establishments  in  Europe,  and  several 
are  perfecting  themselves  in  special  lines  of 
work,  at  foreign  universities,  and  are  soon  to 
return  prepared  to  praise  their  Alma  Mater, 
by  their  deeds,  in  many  other  lines  of  useful 
labor.     Graduates  of  "  Stevens  "  have  already 
won  high  honor  by  conducting  investigations 
of  great  interest  and  value  to  the  profession, 
and  it  would  be  difficult  to  name  a  direction 
of    recent    advance    in    applied    science    in 
which  some  **  Institute  man  "  had  not  taken 
part. 

In  all  this,  we  have  a  common  interest,  ^and 
feel  a  common  pride.  But  we  feel  a  double 
interest,  and  take  a  double  pride,  in  it  as  an 
evidence  of  a  simple  beginning  of  the  great 
harvest  that  we  hope  to  see  reaped  by  the  In- 
stitute in  later  years,  when  age,  experience. 


84 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


and  opportunity  shall  have  vastly  extended 
every  avenue  for  good.  So  much  having  been 
accomplished  in  ten  short  years  of  beginning^, 
what  may  not  be  hoped  for,  when  maturity  in 
age,  established  influence,  and  the  aid  of  sev- 
eral times  this  already  long  list  of  noble  repre- 
sentativeSy  shall  have  brought  in  the  reward  of 
many  years  of  earnest  work  ?  But  increasing 
power  and  influence  bring  increasing  respon- 
sibilities, and  those  upon  whom  those  respon- 
sibilities fall  may  well  feel  some  anxiety  lest 
they  fail  to  perform  their  part  of  the  work 
aright  It  is  here  that  the  Alumni  and  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Institute  have  common  duties. 
The  one  has  the  labor  and  the  apparent  respon- 
sibility ;  but  the  others  none  the  less  are  bound, 
by  every  tie  that  binds  them  to  Alma  Mater,  to 
lend  a  helping  hand,  assisting  by  their  coun- 
tenance, and  by  their  advice,  in  every  way  in 
which  their  experience  and  judgment  may 
give  them  the  power,  in  the  work  thrown  upon 
Uie  faculty,  m  the  development  of  better 
methods,  and  the  construction  of  a  more  val- 
uable course. 

The  exceptionally  pleasant  relations  which 
have  always  existed  between  the  faculty  and 
the  Alumni  make  this  an  easier  task  for  the 
latter,  and  enables  the  former  to  ask  such  as- 
sistance without  hesitation.  It  is  to  tliis 
kindly  aid,  this  frank  and  free  conferring  of 
graduate  with  professor,  that  we  already  owe 
much  of  our  success  ;  and  it  is  evident  that 
the  immediate  future  is  likely  to  see  such  as- 
sistance given  with  no  less  free  and  kindly 
disposition.  The  members  of  the  faculty 
watch  the  outgoing  friends  and  pupils,  as  each 
class  breaks  up  and  departs,  with  an  interest 
which  may  not  be  easily  realized  by  those  who 
are  about  to  leave  us,  but  which  is  real  and 
earnest,  and  which  grows  rather  than  dimin- 
ishes with  time.  That  this  interest  can  be 
always,  or  perhaps  ever,  fully  reciprocated, 
is  probably  not  to  be  expected  ;  but  we  have 
daily  evidence  that  the  mor^  earnest  and 
thoughtful,  and  the  majority,  indeed,  of  our 
pupils  do  remember,  with  the  kindliest  of 
feelings,  the  institution  to  which  they  owe 
their  special  advantages,  and  the  instructors 
who  have  always  honestly  and  heartily,  if  not 
invariably  with  as  great  success  as  either  they 
or  their  pupils  could  have  desired,  labored  to 
make  the  most  of  those  advantages.  It  is  a 
great  encouragement  to  all  friends  of  the 
school  to  see  the  graduates  of  Stevens  coming 
back,  in  larger  and  larger  numbers,  at  each 
annual  recurrence  of  "Commencement,"  to 
greet  their  old  instructors,  to  see  the  growth 


of  the  Institute,  to  aid  the  faculty 
council,  and  to  cheer  them  by  their  : 
of  such  good  work  as  has  been  dont 
the  year.  The  Alumni  have  alr^ac 
much  to  assist  the  officers  of  the  I 
and  it  is  hoped  by  every  friend  of  "  S 
that  they  will  hereafter  do  much  mon 
mote  her  best  interests,  by  freely  t 
advice  and  commendation,  where  c 
and  in  time,  when  possible,  by  still  m 
stantial  aid.  Meantime,  we  are  makin 
progress. 

R.  H.  Thui 


«^  »» 


THE  MECHANICAL  ENGINE! 


A  frolicsome  life,  without  care,  without  s 

The  American  students  lead  : 
Though  the  purse  be  slim,  and  the  gover 

Still  never  they  stand  in  need. 
With  every  one's  trust  they  go  on  a  *'  bu 

I  fancy  the  matter  clear — 
That  too  is  the  *'  go  '*  with  the  fine  embr 

Mechanical  Engineer. 

The  hammer  he  swings  till  the  anvil  ring 

And  swings  his  girl  in  the  dance  ; 
The  iron  he  rolls  and  casts  it  in  moulds, 

And  oft  casts  an  amorous  glance. 
With  wonderful  zeal  he  tests  any  steel. 

And  tests  the  love  of  his  dear — 
Yes  ;  such  is  the  **  go  *'  with  the  fine  emb 

Mechanical  Engineer. 

He  breaks  every  rule,  and  breaks  every  t* 

And  oft  his  promise  breaks  ; 
He  breaks  many  hearts,  whenever  he  dap: 

And  his  tender  friends  forsakes. 
He  turns  every  brass,  and  the  mind  of  ea 

I  fancy  the  matter  clear — 
Yes  ;  such  is  the  **  go  "  with  the  fine  emb 

Mechanical  Engineer. 


*^»> 


SHAW. 


The  Sophomores  have  just  finish^ 
course  in  literature,  and  have  laid  thei 
upon  the  shelves,  perhaps,  forever ;  bi 
ing  so  they  must  have  pondered  a  littl 
advantages  and  disadvantages  of  the  s 

The  former  are  certainly  numerou 
one  will  question  the  necessity  of  th« 
to  a  good  education,  nor  the  great  b« 
be  derived  from  a  study  of  the  intellig< 
cism  on  the  various  kinds  of  writings  a 
authors. 

The  mode  of  treating  them,  howeve 
gard  to  the  attention  bestowed  upc 
and  the  lack  of  it  on  others,  is  open  t 
tions,  as  is  also  the  study  of  the  su 
presented  in  our  text  book. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


85 


sing  the  book  one  cannot  help  notic- 
fnerosity  of  the  author  toward  Eng- 
Ls  compared  with    their   American 

It  brings  back  very  forcibly  to  the 
he  reader,  the  old  English  saying : 
e  only  Americans ;  they  have  no  lit- 
and,  as  if  to  give  credence  to  these 
i  author  proceeds  to  devote  two  and 
;es  to  the  unintelligible  poetry  of  the 
id  visionary  Shelley,  while  to  Edgar 
poet  of  a  somewhat  similar  nature, 
lalf  a  page. 

Poe  was  morally,  Shelley  was  at  an 
stance  below  him.     Poe  was  an  en- 

to  himself ;  Shelley,  to  the  whole 
.ce ;  he  aimed  his  most  powerful 
religion,  marriage  and  the  govern- 

spent  his  whole  life  in  throwing  his 
ctives  at  the  objects  of  his  hatred, 
alind  "  and  "  Helen,"  "  The  Witch 

and  "Hellas"  so  far  above  "The 

The  Bells"  and  "Annabell  Lee"? 
I   any   number  of  minor  poets   to 

given  half  a  page,  while   Joseph 

Drake,  author  of  "The  Culprit 
I  "The  American  Flag,"  is  dis- 
th  five  lines.  It  may  be  that  these 
its  have  contributed  to  the  growth 
re  more  than  Drake,  because  they 

to  live  at  a  time  when  good 
ere    particularly   scarce ;    but    that 

detract  from  the  merits  of  the 
jetry,  and  those  who  have  read  it, 
y  "  The  Culprit  Fay,"  will  certainly 

merit.  But  we  will  leave  the  poets 
I  peep  at  the  department  of  history. 
LUthor  spreads  himself  for  the  length 
ind  a  half,  on  a  "  History  of  Civiliza- 
gland,"  by  Henry  T.  Buckle,  and  yet 
f  the  work  that  "its  arguments  are 
[equate  ;  its  statements  inaccurate." 
rve  his  generosity  toward  the  Amer- 
takes  our  three  greatest  historians, 
Bancroft,  and  Motley,  and  divides  a 
lly  between  them.     I  can  notice  but 

case,  though  I  think  many  more 
'ound — this  one,  from  the  similarity 
le  to  two  of  our  own  great  men,  at- 
j  attention.  John  Webster  was  one 
t  original  Shakespearian  dramatists 
md  order,  and  the  author  does  right 
him  half  a  page,  but  is  his  patient, 
lesake  Noah,  of  this  country,  of  so 
rtance  to  literature  that  he  can  only 
to  mention  his  name  ? 
ne  thing  is  done  with  Audubon, 
[lichard   Grant    White,  and    many 


others.  Indeed,  if  we  are  to  judge  the  author 
by  his  book,  we  would  say  that  he  is  "  quite 
English." 

There  has  not  been  too  much  attention  paid 
to  the  English  writers,  but  there  has  been  too 
much  slighting  the  American.  It  is  natural 
for  us  to  want  to  know  something  of  our  own 
literature,  and  if  we  have  but  little,  then  by 
all  means  let  us  know  that  little  well.  A  citi- 
zen of  this  country  ignorant  of  its  writers  is 
like  a  traveller  from  the  New  England  States 
going  abroad  in  search  of  scenery,  before  hav- 
ing visited  Niagara  or  viewed  the  wonderful 
beauties  of  the  Yosemite. 

We  have  said  so  much  about  the  unjust 
treatment  of  our  writers,  in  not  giving  them 
more  space,  that  we  may  seem  inconsistent 
when  we  now  say  that  there  are  already  too 
many  names  discussed  in  the  book  ;  yet  such 
in  our  opinion  is  the  case. 

The  attempts  made  to  learn  about  so  many 
authors  is  very  dissipating  to  the  minds  of 
students.  When  they  come  for  examination, 
they  have  a  confused  idea  that  this  man  wrote 
novels  and  that  man  histories.  They  get 
John  Jones'  life  mixed  up  with  a  half  of  Tom 
Brown's  and  some  of  Henry  Smith's  ;  or,  if 
they  get  through  all  right,  they  go  about  con- 
gratulating themselves  because  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  remember  it  any  longer,  and  they 
immediately  proceed  to  forget  all  about  it. 
Now,  would  it  not  be  better  to  take  one  or 
two  men  as  representatives  of  a  particular 
time  or  style,  discuss  their  characters  and 
their  writings  more  fully  than  at  present,  and 
if  possible  read  selections  from  their  best 
works  ?  This  would  create  a  taste  for  more 
extended  reading,  and  if  the  student  had  any 
love  whatever  for  literature,  the  other  writers 
would  be  taken  up  in  due  time  and  be  read 
with  pleasure  in  proportion  to  their  worth. 


« ^  » » 


OH,  FANCY  I 


Oh,  fancy  a  petition  granted  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  Freshman  with  a  silk  hat ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  fly  wheel  with  wings  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  diminution  in  the  number  of 
books  "  needed  "  at  Stevens,  with  a  coetaneous 
depreciation  of  prices  in  the  paper  market ! 

Oh,  fancy  cutting  yourself  with  the  knife 
edge  of  the  balances  used  in  the  weighing 
room! 

Oh,  fancy  our  alumni  offering  to  furnish  a 
gymnasium  for  our  poor,  enervated,  over- 
worked students ! 


86 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Oh,  fancy  our  poor,  enervated,  overworked 
students ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  graduating  thesis  which  was 
not  intended  to  revolutionize  the  whole  me- 
chanical world ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  crank  with  brains  ! 

Oh,  fancy  one  sewing  on  a  button  with  the 
thread  of  a  screw ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  law  cixnpelling  the  employment 
of  unadulterated,  genuine  aqua  distUkUa  in 
chemical  laboratories ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  Sophomore  cordially  shaking 
hands  with  Mr.  Shaw  ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  loyalty  of  an  engine  making 
300  revolutions  per  mmute  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  student's  lamp  relating  how 
many  lessons  it  has  illumed  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  dentist  for  the  teeth  of  a  gear 
wheel! 

Oh,  fancy  a  lid  to  the  stuffing  box ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  fellow  ''  making  up  "  his  condi- 
tions promptly ! 

Oh,  fancy  somebody  going  up  into  the 
"  look  out "  on  the  roof  of  the  Institute  ! 

Oh,  fancy  an  alumnus  wearing  a  college  pin! 

Oh,  fancy  the  gun  that  was  fired  at  the 
undershot  water  wheel ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  *'  Raystowron'g  "  for  the  men 
employed  in  the  laboratory  in  centra  terrae! 

Oh,  fancy  the  editor  of  a  wrought  iron  jour- 
nal with  bearings  of  brass  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  grand  Hoboken  bachelor's  ho- 
tel, alias  student's  boarding  house,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  College,  the  superviJiV?^  thereof 
being  in  the  hands  of  the  boys  themselves  ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  stop  cocks  that  crow  with  the 
break  of  day  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  prep,  trespassing  while  a  Fresh- 
man is  in  sight ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  Institute  clock  keeping  cor- 
rect time ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  electric  gongs  striking  at  the 
end  of  every  hour ! 

Oh,  fancy  any  one  whose  T-square  has  not 
been  sto-wed  away  somewhere  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  consumptive  steam-chest  ! 

Oh,  fancy  coeducation  at  Stevens  ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  hair  on  top  of  a  cross-head  ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  sun  rising  when  a  Junior  gets 
up,  and  fancy  the  sun  setting  when  a  Sopho- 
more goes  to  bed ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  "  copper  "  to  arrest  the  gang 
(ue)  of  an  ore  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  Stevens  man  taking  the  trouble  to 
sharpen  the  workshop  tools  before  using  them! 

Oh,  fancy  the  razor  with  which  the  steam 
is  cut  off ! 


Oh,  fancy  the  button  holes  in  the 
jacket  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  graduate  being  asked  a 
in  political  economy ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  Senior  who  has  not  at 
positive  engagement! 

Oh,  fancy  the  doctor  that  killed 
points! 

Oh,  fancy  a  fall  of  prices  in  the 
producing  any  effect  on  the  amoi 
student's  workshop  or  laboratory  exp 

Oh,  fancy  the  kernel  of  a  screw  nu 

Oh,  fancy  Freshmen  walking  quietl] 
the  halls  without  ''music,"    while 
class  is  attending  to  a  recitation  or  a 

Oh,  fancy  that  there  is  no  "  first,"  " 
"  third  "  or  "  fourth  "  class  at  Steven; 
of  "  Senior,"  "  Junior,"  etc. ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  seed  out  of  which  \ 
plant  grows  ! 

Oh,  fancy  the  boss  politician  of  tl 
faction  of  steam  ! 

Oh,  fancy  a  Stevens  library,  the 
which  may  be  taken  home  by  the  stu 

Oh.  fancy  an  enterprising  man  o 
setting  up  a  lunch  counter  on  the  cai 

Oh,  fancy  the  light  shed  by  a  wood 

Oh,  fancy  a  catalogue  for  our  libra 


<  #  » » 


THE  FAITHLESS  LOVER'S  EX 


{From  the  German  of  Em.  Pokl.) 


Am  I  to  blame^  for  having  won  her  he 

When  singing  to  the  lute's  sweet  to 
Am  I  to  blame^  if  she  felt  Cupid's  dar 

Because  my  eyes  too  kindly  shone  ? 
Am  I  to  blame,  because  ray  features'  1 

Expressed  that  but  for  her  I  sighed 
And  falsely  spoke  what  never  I  did  sa 

Am  I  to  blame  t 

And  when  in  sweet,  calm  moonlit  hou 

Her  head  against  my  bosom  leaned 
Am  I  to  blarney  if  a  resistless  power 

Urged  me,  until  a  kiss  I  gleaned  ? 
Her  silence,  while  encircled  by  my  ar 

How  could  I  guess  its  riddle  then  ? 
The  nightingale  had  sung  with  sweetc 

Am  I  to  blame? 

Am  I  to  blame ^  because  those  hours*  g 

You  guileless  child  !  burns  in  your 
still  ? 
Am  I  to  blame^  if  I  forgot  that  long  a| 

Like  fairy  stories  told  a  child  wher 
And  if  another  now  my  fancy  fills 

And  charms  me  into  anient  love 
While  kissing  her  midst  nightingales' 

Am  J  to  blame  ? 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


87 


HER    REPLY. 

Am  I  to  bltime^  because  my  trembling  heart 

Knows  but  of  love  and  failh  as  one, 
And  does  not  dream  of  faithless  doubt. 

Where  true  loves  dwell  in  unison  ? 
Am  I  to  blame ^  if  he.  who  is  my  only  choice. 

Retains  my  love  for  all  eternity  ? 
And  if  I  die  when  lost  to  me  his  voice, 

Am  I  to  blame  ? 


THE    RUMSEY  UNRAVELLED. 


The  James  Rumsey  was  built  in  the  year  K, 
and  is  a  slight  modification  of  the  ark.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  18 1 2  it  was  used  as  a  cattle 
boat,  but  before  the  close  of  the  war  the  cattle 
raised  a  big  howl  because  the  boat  was  too 
rickety,  and  they  said  that  if  the  old  scow  wasn't 
taken  off  the  route  they'd  kick  somebody  all 
full  of  big  holes  and  little  dents,  and  as  none 
of  the  company  were  desirous  of  transmitting 
daylight,  the  boat  was  taken  off  the  cattle 
route  and  used  as  a  conveyance  for  the  human 
tribe. 

It  now  plies   between    Barclay  Street,  New 
York,  and  Hoboken;  and  be  it  known  to  all, 
that  certain  of  the  students  of  Stevens  ride  in 
it  daily  at  the  imminent  peril  of  their  lives;  but 
it  can't  be  helped,  you  know.     It's  all  in  the 
great  cause   of  science.     We're  so  used    to  it 
now  though,  that  we'd   feel    rather   lonesome 
without  the  excitement.     We  have   names  for 
the  different  trips,  such  as  "  the  Monday  morn- 
ing hair  breadth,"   "  the  Tuesday  evening  hair 
raiser,"  **  the  Friday  night  gore  stiffener,"  etc. 
And  if  you  ever  want  a  daisy  hairbreadth  es- 
cape with  a  whole  brown  stone  front  to  it,  just 
come  down   to  the  Barclay  Street  Ferry,  pay 
three  cents,    and   take    the    James    Rumsey. 
Well,  if  you  don't  have  just  sixty-seven  dollars* 
worth  of  fun    for  that   three  cents,  then,  we'll 
set  'em  up  "  all  around. 
Just  let's  give  you  a  specimen.     Take   last 
Thursday  morning.    We  made  a  "  hair  raiser  " 
trip  that  time.     The  "  gore  stiffeners  "  are  be- 
yond description.     You'll    have    to   try    one 
yourself.     Well!     Here's    the   "hair    raiser." 
The  first  thing   to   do  was  to  run  down  Bar- 
clay Street  like  a  ton   of  coal   for  about  two 
blocks,  and  knock  all  the  dinner  cans  out  of 
the  hands   of    the    Hobokenites    who    were 
emerging  from   the   boat,  and  if  a  man    was 
n^et  who  had   no  dinner  can,  why    then   the 
wind  was  knocked  out  of  him  instead.     It  all 
^swers  the  same  purpose,  you  know.    It  makes 
things  just  as  interesting  whichever  way  it  is. 
Then  we  arrived  at  the   ticket   box  and  found 
one  or  two  bow  legged  Jersey  men    trying  to 


scrape  up  intellect  enough  to  find  out  whether 
they  ought  to  buy  a  ferry  ticket  or  bum  around 
the  ferry  house  the  rest  of  the  day,  but  taking 
particular  pains  to  block  up  the  whole  place  in 
the  meantime. 

Then  after  a  desperate  effort,  we  got  through 
and  managed  to  slide  through  the  gate  as  it  was 
being  closed.    They  make  it  a  principle  on  this 
line  to  close  the  gate  as  soon  as  possible,  and  then 
loaf  around  the  slip  while  the  captain  plays 
pedro  for  the  beer  or  composes  choruses  on  the 
steam    whistle.     They   don't   consider   it   the 
proper  caper  to  allow  any  one  to  get  on  board 
unless  he   lays  around  the  gate  about  half  a 
day  for  a  show.    Well,  we  got  aboard,  and  had 
to  wait  the  regulation  time  for  the  captain  to 
get  ready  to  go  out.  After  a  while  the  chains  be- 
gan to  make  noise  enough  for  a  young  cyclone, 
and  directly  we   began    to  sneak  out   of  the 
slip.     We  hadn't  been  sneaking  very  long  be- 
fore the   captain  began    to  kick  up  a  horrible 
rumpus   in    the   pilot  house.     Pretty  soon  he 
bawled  down    to  the    engineer,  to    find    out 
whether  the  old  tub  had  been  started  or  not. 
He  said   he'd  forgotten    whether  he'd  started 
her   up   or   not,  and   the   engineer   said  "  he 
didn't  know  narthin'  about  it,"  so  they  had  to 
send  a  deck  hand  to  the  side  of  the  boat  with 
a  big  pole  to  stick  in  the  mud,  to  see  if  the  boat 
was  moving.     It  was   found  that  it  was,  so  the 
captain  said  "  he  guessed  he'd  better   go  up 
and  steer  a  little,  just   to   keep    the   wheel  in 
working   order   in   case  it  should  be  needed." 
We  crawled  along   for   about  twenty  minutes 
then   without  any  disturbance,  when  all  of  a 
sudden  the  captain  got  up  a  regular  riot  in  the 
pilot   house    again,  and  then  he  and  the  engi- 
neer had  a  nice  little  duet.    "Great  Heavings!" 
shouted  the  captain,  "we're  lost.  We're  all  gone 
entirely.  Here  comes  a  lager  beer  cask  bearing 
right  down  on  us.    Quick  there,  reverse  the  en- 
gines!    Cut  away  the  walking  beam!    Man  the 
life  preservers.     Hey  there  !     By  heavings!" 

"  What  yu  doin'  up  thar,  any  way  ?"  drowsily 
replied  the  engineer,  as  he  emerged  from  the 
gents'  cabin.     "  Did  you  say  beer  ?" 

"  Holy  tripe  !  now  we're  wrecked  sure," 
bawled  the  captain.  "  I  thought  you  had 
them  engines  reversed.  You're  a  healthy 
engineer,  you  are.  You  knock-kneed  old  Fiji." 
Stop  gettin'  pusonal,  cap,  or  I'll  break 
your  back.  Ain't  I  goin'  to  see  'bout  them 
engin's  right  away  ?  I  guess  they're  reversed 
any  way." 

"  Well,  why  didn't  you  say  so  ?  There  goes 
the  cask  past  the  stern  now.  Turn  the  engin's 
round  again,  and  s'pose  you  sit  in  the  en  gin' 
room  for  a  change." 


L 


88 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


"  All  right,  cap/'  answered  the  engineer,  as  he 
hitched  up  his  overalls  and  returned  to  the 
engine  room  ;  but  he  hadn't  been  there  more 
than  five  minutes  before  the  old  hulk  began  to 
jump  around  like  a  billy  goat. 

"Give  us  a  rest  on  that  now,"  yelled  the 
captain.     "  I'm  fick  of  you  foolin'." 

Shut  up,  cap,"  said  the  engineer.  "  I'm 
only  seeing  how  many  times  I  can  reverse  the 
engine  in  a  minute.  It's  monotonous  down 
here;  and  can't  you  let  a  feller  do  a  little 
sumthin'  once  in  a  while  ?" 

"  No  ;  I  can't.     Now,  you've  got  to  stop 

your  dam  fooling,  any  way,  or  I'll  tell Oh, 

great  heavings  !  The  whole  boat  is  a  goner. 
There  comes  part  of  the  Freshman  navy,  and 
they've  been  layin'  to  sink  us  for  a  long  while. 
Quick,  around  about,  harraye  there!  Cut  loose 
the  keel.  Hurry  up,  then  kick  a  hole  in  the 
boiler.  Hurry  up,  then,  you  flat  footed  Malay. 
Shove  every  passenger  overboard.  It's  the 
only  thing  to  save  us.  Take  a  reef  in  the 
smoke  stack,  and  a  whole  gang  of  reefs  in  the 
cook  stove.  Do  yer  hear  me  ?  Then,  quick 
now,  cut  away  the  rudder  and  the  left  paddle 
wheel.     The  boat  must  be  saved." 

But  before  these  orders  could  be  executed  it 
was  discovered  that  it  was  not  the  Freshman 
navy  after  all,  so  we  proceeded  on  our  voyage. 

It  wasn't  very  long  before  the  captain's  hat 
blew  off,  and  the  tug  was  put  about  and  tied 
to  a  shad  pole,  while  the  boat  was  lowered  for 
the  hat.  After  this  was  obtained,  we  once 
more  proceeded,  but  very  cautiously,  being 
very  careful  not  to  get  any  of  the  swash  from 
a  tug  boat,  as  it  would  have  swamped  us  sure. 
The  engineer's  vest  got  caught  in  the  machin- 
ery at  one  time,  and  the  whole  concern  had  to 
stop  and  get  that  out,  then  we  had  to  wait  for 
several  boats  that  were  entering  the  Narrows, 
and  at  one  time  we  came  within  an  ace  of  run- 
ning into  a  floating  log,  and  if  we  had  struck 
it,  we  would  have  gone  to  the  muddy  terra 
fir  ma  very  shortly,  because  the  cohesion  be- 
tween the  different  portions  of  the  Rumsey  is 
not  as  great  as  it  might  be,  and  the  force  of 
such  a  shock  would  undoubtedly  have  de- 
stroyed the  cohesive  force  entirely  and  the 
Rumsey  would  therefore  have  fallen  apart.  It 
was  on  this  account  that  the  cask  was  so  much 
feared.  We  entered  the  slip  after  the  usual 
club  footed  fashion,  and  proceeded  on  our 
way  to  the  Institute,  where  we  met  new  trou- 
bles, and  if  you  ever  try  a  Rumsey  trip,  you 
will  find  quite  enough  trouble  in  that  to  satis- 
fy you.  Even  the  employees  of  the  Rumsey 
are  wont  to  sing,  when  a  trip  is  finished,  this 
charming  little  hymn : 


Safely  through  another  trip 
Has  been  spared  this  aged  scow 

Safely  now  within  the  slip 
Calm  and  peaceful  rests  it  now. 

8va. 

Dodlc  E  Doob  D  Dirt D 


! 


and  we  believe  that  they  have  reas< 
so.  T. 


«^» » 


THE  ORIGIN  OF  RAILROADS  IN  I 


When  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Raili 
first  opened,  in  1830,  from  Baltimore 
cott's  mills,  the  cars  were  drawn  by  h< 
mules.  Locomotives  had  not  yet  c( 
use.  Mr.  Thomas,  a  gentleman  of  B 
constructed  at  this  time  a  sailing  ca 
ran  successfully  up  and  down  the 
propelled  by  the  wind.  The  "  Eoluj^ 
car  was  named,  was  often  called  upor 
on  scientific  excursions  many  passt 
^distinction.  The  Baron  Krudener, 
*  Envoy  to  the  United  States,  on  one 
made  the  trip,  trimming  the  sails  him 
on  the  return  he  expressed  himself  ; 
delighted  with  the  behavior  of  the  n( 
yacht.  Mr.  Philip  E.  Thomas,  pre 
the  road,  hearing  of  the  intense  pi 
had  given  the  baron,  concluded  to  n 
a  present  of  one  of  the  same  design, 
structed  another,  therefore,  and  had 
with  the  friction  wheels  invented  by  ] 
ans.  of  Baltimore.  This  he  presente 
Russian  envoy,  and  accompanied  it 
several  reports  that  had  been  publish 
company,  to  be  sent  to  the  Emperor  c 
In  answer  to  this  high  compliment,  th 
wrote :  "  The  nature  and  importanc 
great  undertaking  to  which  you  have 
your  exertions  cannot  fail  of  givinj 
degree  of  interest  to  the  documents  n 
its  origin  and  progress  ;  and  I  do  n( 
that  his  majesty  will  find  them,  as  well . 
geniously  improved  principle  on  whic 
is  constructed,  deserving  of  serious  at 
After  a  short  period  had  elapsed, 
was  received,  introducing  a  deput 
scientific  men  from  Russia,  who  h 
appointed  by  the  Emperor  to  visit  th 
States.  Without  delay,  these  g< 
entered  upon  a  minute  examination  o: 
division  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  1 
and  all  the  machinery  used  upon  it. 
return  to  St.  Petersburg,  the  deputat 
municated  such  valuable  information 
accurate,   relative   to   the    construct 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


89 


management  of  the  railroad  inspected  by  them, 
that  the  Emperor  extended  an  invitation  to 
Mr.  Ross  Winans,  of  Baltimore,  to  superintend 
in  Russia  the  construction  of  machinery  for 
the  extensive  railroads  then  contemplated. 
Mr.  Winans  accepted  the  invitation,  and,  in 
the  words  of  a  well  informed  writer,  "  There 
is  no  doubt  that  the  early  introduction  of  rail- 
roads into  Russia  originated  in  the  disclosures 
made  to  his  court  at  this  time  by  the  Baron  de 
Krudener." 

It  would  be  interesting  here   to   give   in 
part  some  of  the  remarks  made  by  Mr.  Thom- 
as, president  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio,  con- 
cerning the  effects  which  the  railroad  system 
vould  produce.     In  connection  with  the  ex- 
tension of  the  railroads  in  Russia,  as  well  as  in 
fhe   United   States,   he   said  :    "  Should   our 
present  anticipations  of  the  efficiency  of  rail- 
roads be  realized,  a  total  change  will  be  brought 
about  in  commercial  and  social  intercourse  in 
every  country  where  these  roads  may  be  in- 
troduced ;  that  experiments  already  made  had 
demonstrated  them  to  be  capable  of  affording 
to  an  extensive  continent  the  facilities  of  inter- 
communication now  incident  to  a  small  island  ; 
aad  that  the  discovery  promises  greater  ad- 
vantages to  Russia  and  to  the  United  States 
tI13.11  to  any   other  countries."     The  sound 
judgment  of  Mr.  Thomas  is  here  displayed, 
^01-  there  is  no  more  striking  instance  in  the 
''^orld  of  the  debt  owed  by  civilization  to  the 
railroad  than  the  rapid  growth  and  progress  of 
oiirown  country.     As  to  Russia,  the  extreme 
complacency   with   which   she    regards  Eng- 
larxd's  frantic  efforts  to  avert  a  war  upon  the 
^■>c3ian  border,  shows  the  confidence  which  she 
f^^-s  in  the  utility  of  her  own  railroad  system, 
*^^c3  the  power  afforded  thereby. 

Wr.  Thomas  further  observed  that,  "should 
\He  Emperor  introduce  railroads  into  Russia, 
^  'Would  not  be  many  years  before  a  railroad 
^'ould  be  constructed  between  the  Baltic  and 
^Vie  Black  Sea,  and  that  such  a  road  would 
enable  Russia  to  encircle  in  her  arms,  not  only 
the  entire  northern,  but  also  the  eastern  fron- 
tier of  Europe,  and  thus  to  greatly  extend  her 
power  and  influence."      The  foresight  of  Mr. 
Thomas  was  here  again  conspicuously  mani- 
fested, for  the  year  1853  witnessed  the  com- 
pletion of  a  large  portion  of  the  great  railroads 
that  are  so  rapidly  stretching  over  the  Russian 
continent.     The  railroad  between  St.  Peters- 
burg and  Moscow  was  opened  in   1852,  and 
its  continuation  to  Odessa,  on   the  Black  Sea, 
was  soon  in  process  of  completion.     It  is  for 
the  present  generation  to  witness  a  new  era  in 
Russian  history,  in  commerce  and  industry,  as 


well  as  in  politics  and  war,  brought  on  and 
maintained,  in  a  great  measure,  by  the  sole  in- 
fluence of  the  powerful  railroad  system. 

Albitan. 


*  ♦  » > 


A   NEW    SYSTEM    OF    STEAMSHIP 
PROPULSION. 


The  invention  consists  of  an  improved  form 
and  construction  of  hull,  in  which  provision 
is  made  for  a  novel  location  and  operation  of 
screw  propellers  in  cavities  or  recesses  on  both 
sides  of  the  vessel,  thus  securing  more  effect- 
ual and  certain  access  of  water  to  the  propel- 
ling apparatus. 


'*-'>. 


7.r2 


In  Fig.  I  are  shown  the  relative  positions  of 
the  two  propellers  with  regard  to  the  longitu- 
dinal line  of  the  ship;  in  Fig.  2  the  dip  of 
the  propeller  shaft  is  shown,  and  these  angles 
of  divergence  on  which  the  propeller  shafts 
are  operated  and  the  location  of  the  propellers 
in  the  recesses  are  the  main  features  of  the  in- 
vention. 

These  cavities  are  located  about  one  fifth 
of  the  length  of  the  vessel  aft  of  the  bow,  and 
are  formed  of  curved  surfaces  so  proportioned 
and  arranged,  with  regard  to  the  divergent  en- 
gine shafts  and  propellers,  as  to  guide  by  the 
forward  curves  the  incoming  water  directly  to 
the  most  effective  line  of  propulsion.  The 
after  curves  direct  the  disengaged  water  in  the 
diverging  lines  of  the  shafts,  thereby  relieving 
the  pressure  at  the  bow,  and  at  the  same  time 
producing  an  outward  reaction  from  the  stem 
toward  the  midship,  thus  greatly  reducing  the 
skin  friction  of  the  vessel.  Experimental  tests 
indicate  that  this  reaction  is  about  20  per  cent. 

The  effect  of  this  combination  of  propellers 
with  such  cavities  is  to  produce  a  downward, 
rearward,  and  outward  reaction.  The  oblique 
thrust  across  the  longitudinal  line  of  the  vessel 
is  similar  to  ^at  made  by  a  fish  in  swimming. 


90 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


A  left  screw  is  used  in  the  starboard  and  a  right 
screw  in  the  port  recess. 

The  invention  also  does  away  with  the  long 
and  cumbrous  shaft  of  the  ordinary  steamship, 
and  the  propellers  being  always  under  water, 
there  can  be  no  racing  of  these,  as  is  the  case 
when  they  are  placed  in  the  stem. 

It  is  also  valuable  as  a  means  of  steering  in 
case  the  rudder  should  break,  as  well  as  greatly 
increasing  the  facility  of  manceuvring  the  ship. 

A  yacht  is  now  in  process  of  construction 
which  is  to  be  thus  propelled,  and  a  thorough 
test  of  the  merits  of  the  invention  will  accord- 
ingly be  made.    Her  dimensions  are  as  follows: 

Feet.    Inches. 

Length  over  all 60 

Moulded  beam 9 

Draft  on  even  keel 3     8 

Displacement 20  tons. 

The  angle  of  divergence  corresponding  to 
a,  Fig.  I,  is  IS**. 

The  angle  of  divergence  corresponding  to 
b^  Fig.  2,  is  10*^. 

The  propellers,  three  bladed,  are  of  29J 
inches  diameter,  having  an  entering  pitch  of 
3  feet  and  a  leaving  pitch  of  4  feet,  each  to  be 
driven  by  a  rotary  engine  attached  directly  to 
the  shaft. 

These  engines  are  to  develop  115  horse 
power  apiece,  and  to  be  operated  entirely  in- 
dependent of  each  other.  Steam  is  to  be  fur- 
nished by  a  "  Ward  "  boiler  at  150  pounds  pres- 
sure, the  boiler  having  previously  been  subject- 
ed to  a  hydrostatic  pressure  of  300  pounds. 
The  plan  of  the  above  vessel  may  be  seen  at 
the  office  of  the  inventor,  Z.  Zoram,  M.  D., 
18  Broadway  (Welles  Building),  New  York. 
The  invention  has  been  patented  in  all  Europe, 
Asia,  Australia,  United  States  and  Canada. 

« ^  » * 

THE  PREPS.  OUGHT  TO  GO  I 


It  happens,  in  the  course  of  events,  that 
the  I.  P.  Co.  must  shift  its  quarters.  The  ever 
advancing  prep,  has  at  last  come  over  us,  and 
we  must  light  out.  In  derision,  they  repeat 
our  faded  out  war  cry,  "  The  preps,  must  go," 
while  they  watch  us  pack  up  our  possessions 
and  prepare  to  light  out.  They  must  have 
our  sanctum,  they  declare  ;  the  edict  has  gone 
forth,  and  so  must  we.  But,  we  will  still  cling 
to  the  friendly  halls  of  the  Institute,  which  so 
kindly  nurtured  us  while  we  were  still  weak. 
For  it  must  not  be  thought  that  we  are  not 
now  strong  :  we  are  but  weaker  than  prep- 
dom  ;  and  in  this  we  are  but  on  an  equality 


with  the  Institute  itself.  When  prej 
tends  itself  over  that,  then  shall  w 
not  until  then. 


AN  INVENTION ! 


The  following  is  a  f(u  simile  of  ; 
postal  card  sent  to  the  Iron  Age,  an 
in  all  good  faith  by  a  genius  from 
West :" 


~^tr  (^'^^J^d 


The  editors  of  the  Iron  Age,  \ 
conservative  paper,  felt  some  delica 
lishing  so  revolutionary  a  communi( 
kindly  forwarded  it  to  the  Indicat 
latter,  being  a  more  radical  shee 
hesitancy  in  revealing  the  astoni: 
covery. 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


91 


PUDLISHKD  ON  THK 

15th  OF  EACH  MONTH,   DURING   THE  COLLEGE  YEAR, 


BY  THB 


INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVen^  In^titate  of  Tecpolosj. 


TERMS  ^-11. 60  por  Year,  in  Advance.     Single  Copy,  20  Cents. 

Atfrml  at  fUbiikem  Port  Cjfice  at  Stcmd  Clou  Mtitttr. 


Extra  copies  can  be  obtained  at  Luthin^s  book  store, 
Hokken,  N.  J. 

Subscribers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
change  in  their  addresses  or  failure  to  receive  the  paper 
regularly. 

Tht  writer's  full  name^  as  well  as  his  nom  DE  PLUME, 
muii  accompany  the  article,  as  assurance  of  j^ood  faith 
and  reliability ;  but  it  will  not  be  published,  unless  desired. 

Exchanges,  contributions,  subscriptions,  advertisements 
and  all  other  communications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
telHi  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Hoboken, 


TN  the  microcosm  of  sportive  college  life, 
^  just  as  in  the  outer  world  of  stern  reality, 
the  same  sentiment  prevails  as  regards  the 
men  whom  unrelenting  fate  forces  to  bid  fare- 
well to  old  associations  that  they  may  attempt 
to  live  another  and  unknown  existence :  De 
morluis  nisi  bonum  !  So  let  it  be  in  our  case  I 
The  Class  of  '85  is  about  to  leave  us  ;  her 
death-knell  is  being  sounded.  Commence- 
ment— the  threshold  is  crossed,  and  naught 
but  their  names  and  eminent  examples  will 
glimmer  forth  in  the  darkness  for  men  of  fu- 
ture ages,  aspiring  to  that  great  honor  of  be- 
coming true  sons  of  our  Alma  Mater.  But 
is  it  possible  that  '85  will  be  altogether  dead 
to  Stevens  ?  If  we  may  judge  from  present 
appearances,  the  men  of  this  class  will  not  for- 
get the  place  where  they  had  endeared  them- 
selves to  everybody.     In  their  struggle  for  ex- 

• 

istence,  while  foiling  for  the  daily  bread  in 
obedience  to  the  common  doom  of  man,  let 
tbem  occasionally  cast  their  glances  in  this  di- 
rection, and  let  them  lend  their  aid  with  heart 
and  hand,  whenever  they  find  Stevens  in 
need. 

Success  has  attended  the  class  of  '85  in  all 
»ts  undertakings ;    in  athletics,   it   has   been 


foremost ;  in  music,  it  has  taken  the  lead  ;  at 
socials,  it  has  distinguished  itself ;  and  last, 
and  according  to  some  least,  in  study  it  at- 
tained a  high  degree  of  perfection.  But,  it 
too  must  go ;  its  men,  too,  having  tasted  of  the 
fruit  of  knowledge,  must  abandon  the  paradise 
of  college  life,  that  dolce  far  niente^  for  a  cold, 
unsympathetic,  Philistine  world.  It  must, 
however,  be  remarked  with  full  justice,  that 
they  go  not  unprepared  to  fight  the  battles  of 
life  ;  they  are  armed  in  point  of  theory  as 
well  as  practice. 

Stevens  Institute,  like  a  provident  mother, 
stocks  her  children  well  before  she  sends  them 
away  to  shift  for  themselves.  So  let  them  go 
forth  to  the  dingy,  smoky  factory  or  work- 
shop, where  they  can  devise  and  build  new 
machinery,  that  grand  exponent  of  the  power 
of  man's  mind  !  Let  them  go  forth  and  tri- 
umph over  every  opposition  ;  make  slaves  of 
the  gigantic  forces  of  nature,  and  cast  in 
bondage  the  elements  themselves  ! 

And,  as  we  bid  them  farewell,  let  us  ar- 
dently hope  that  success  may  attend  them  in 
the  future,  in  order  that  they  may  do  honor  to 
the  name  of  graduates  of  Stevens. 


-•-♦' 


TT7HE  present  number  of  the  Indicator, 
-l  the  official  journal  of  the  Stevens  Insti- 
tute of  Technology,  completes  the  sixth  num- 
ber issued  by  the  great  monopoly,  the  "I.  P. 
Co.*'  From  a  poor,  forlorn  few,  beseeching 
help,  the  company  has  become,  by  dint  of 
judicious  wire-pulling,  a  thriving  corporation. 
From  its  present  prosperity,  it  is  evident  that 
the  proper  chord  has  been  struck  in  the  hearts 
of  the  students,  their  support  coming  unsolic- 
ited and  in  such  an  amount  as  to  warrant  the 
stockholders  to  dream  of  still  larger  dividends 
in  the  future. 

To-day  we  enlarge  our  issue,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  contributions  from  the  company, 
we  take  pleasure  in  acknowledging  several 
from  interested  friends  ;  and  we  make  the  ef- 
fort to  present  an  unusually  attractive  num- 
ber, not  to  make  a  parade  of  our  unbounded 
wealth,  but  in  honor  of  our  departing  Seniors. 


\ 


92 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


We  devote  another  space  to  the  class  of  '85, 
and  will  note  a  few  more  points  in  the  growth 
of  the  Indicator. 

The  Alumni  editor  is  still  at  large,  but  we 
hope  the  association  will  take  some  definite 
action  at  their  meeting  this  week.  We  are  un- 
able to  offer  any  selfish  inducement  to  the 
editor  from  the  Alumni,  as  our  dividends  are 
only  divisible  by  fifteen,  but  we  hope  that  the 
love  for  Stevens  and  a  desire  to  see  this  enter- 
prise still  more  prosperous,  will  be  a  sufficient 
incentive  to  induce  some  member  to  accept 
the  position. 

The  dividend  lately  declared,  although  un- 
precedented in  the  history  of  corporations,  for 
its  volume,  is  still  within  the  imaginative  scope 
of  the  stockholders,  and  in  order  to  follow  out 
our  purpose,  which  is,  as  set  forth  in  Article 
XXI.  of  Constitution,  a  "grasping  after  the  un- 
attainable," we  must  still  progress,  receive 
more  subscriptions  from  the  students,  and  if 
it  be  possible,  a  more  hearty  support. 


*  ♦  » » 


TT7HE  Indicator  learns  with  much  regret 
A  the  fact  that  Prof.  Carr  is  about  to  leave 
the  Institute.  Since  coming  here  in  1882,  he 
has  made  many  friends,  and  has  filled  the 
position  of  Professor  of  Marine  Engineering, 
a  department  created  by  him,  and  one  cal- 
culated to  tax  the  abilities  of  a  young  man  to 
the  utmost,  in  a  very  able  manner,  and  his 
lectures  have  been  of  great  benefit  to  the  men 
who  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  come 
under  his  instruction.  As  assistant  to  Prof. 
Wood,  he  has  supplied  a  want  which  had  ex- 
isted for  several  years  before  he  came  among 
us,  and  which  was  becoming  very  urgent 
about  the  time  of  his  appointment,  and  his 
work  in  that  department  is  worthy  of  great 
praise.  The  Indicator  has  cause  for  much 
gratitude  toward  him,  for  when  the  paper  was 
in  its  infancy,  and  was  looking  about  vainly  in 
search  of  some  place  which  it  could  call  its 
own,  he  stepped  in  and  with  great  kindness 
gave  up  half  of  his  office  as  a  sanctum,  and 
this  at  a  time  when  its  presence  there  must 
have  been  very  annoying  to  him. 


While  his  departure  was  not  wholly 
pected,  it  will  be  received  with  deep  reg 
his  many  friends  here,  and  we  can  onlj 
that  he  may  find  it  for  his  best  interests 
turn  and  resume  his  old  position. 


<^  » » 


WE  take  pleasure  in  presenting  this  1 
a  highly  interesting  article  from  d 
of  Prof.  Thurston.  The  article,  as  ind 
by  its  title,  "Stevens  and  her  Faculty,"  s 
command  the  interest  of  all.  We  insert 
of  the  Institute,  as  originally  designed  wi 
tower.  The  building,  as  it  is  now,  was  fii 
off  with  the  tower  base,  but  with  provisio 
its  completion  at  some  future  time.  Tl 
we  present  is  taken  from  an  old  journal 
lished  shortly  after  the  building  of  the 


tute. 


<  ^  » » 


S.  I.  T.  GLEE  CLUB. 


The  concert  given  on  May  13,  in  Bro 
was  a  very  creditable  performance, 
warbling  of  Mr.  Brainard,  the  solos  of 
and  Burhom,  the  banjo  playing,  as  i 
every  event  of  the  evening,  were  fav< 
commented  upon  by  the  Brooklyn  c 
The  joint  whistling  of  Messrs.  Koll 
Schlesinger  was  a  decided  "  hit  ;"  we 
that  their  repertoire  will  be  increased,  ! 
next  concert,  to  more  than  two  numb 
order  that  they  may  display  their  pow 
better  advantage.  The  Polytechnic  ore 
also  showed  a  proficiency  far  in  advai 
any  ordinary  amateur  performers.  I 
living  proof  of  what  even  busy,  overw 
students  can  do  if  they  only  set  their 
about  doing  a  thing  with  spirit  and 
Stevens  ought  certainly  follow  the  exam 
the  Polytechnic  by  uniting  the  now  sea 
musical  talent  into  one  whole.  Our 
club  is  one  step  in  that  direction  ;  the 
will  undoubtedly  soon  follow. 

The  concert  for  the  benefit  of  the  A 
Association  will  be  given  on  Tuesday 
16,  at  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  The  progi 
for  that  evening  has  been  changed  en 
and  new  songs  will  rouse  the  echoes  • 
hall  for  the  first  time  in  Hoboken. 

The  club  will  need  a  good  many  re« 
some  of  its  best  and  most  energetic  m< 
leaving  with  '85.     The  banjo  club  als 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


93 


hate  lo  become  popular  among  the  class  men, 
if  it  is  desirable  to  have  it  become  a  standing 
inititulioD. 

Id  college  life,  just  as  in  the  outer  world,  it 
appears  at  first  view  that  men,  who  having  run 
ikit  course  pass  out  into  another  existence, 
ue  irreplaceable;  but  invariably  it  is  found 
ihal  posterity  pushes  forward  men  fully  as 
able  as  their  predecessois.  Let  us  hope  that 
thai  will  be  the  case  at  present. 


SOCIAL. 

As  the  college  year  draws  lo  a  close  and  the 
alamni  turn  toward  their  Alma  Mater,  and  the 
audents  gather  to  bid  farewell  to  those  whom 
they  have  reverenced  from  afar,  the  Seniors, 
itbtcomes  our  pleasant  duty  to  chronicle  in  a 
few  brief  words  those  events  which  have  tended 
in  some  measure  to  relieve  the  careworn  brains 
of  our  Seniors  and  Juniors. 

first  of  all  we  touch  a  vibrating  cord  in 
miy  alumnus'  heart  when  we  speak  of  the 
usual  receptions  tendered  by  the  professors 
and  their  wives  lo  the  two  higher  classes.  As 
is  eminently  fitting,  Prof.  Thurston's  name 
beads  the  list  in  both  chronological  and  favor- 
ite order.  His  first  reception  occurred  on 
January  30,  upon  which  occasion  the  Senior 
Class  was  received  by  Mrs.  Thurston,  assisted 
by  Miss  Thurston  and  Miss  Boughton.  The 
glee  club  made  its  first  appearance,  and  was 
«ell  received. 

The  following  week  the  members  of  '85  be- 
'00k  themselves  to  Prof.  MacCord's  residence, 
'here  they  entered  heartily  into  the  games 
wd  card  playing,  which  caused  the  evening  to 
*Mr  away  so  rapidly.  The  only  tabooed  sub- 
ject was  kinematics,  it  being  generally  known 
'lai  the  Seniors  finished  that  branch  last  year. 

Shortly  after  this.  Prof.  Wall,  wishing  to 
sliow  bis  high  estimation  of  the  class  of  '85, 
li"!  noticing  the  effects  of  so  much  recent  dis- 
sipation upion  their  countenances,  invited 
'hem  to  an  afternoon  tea.  This  was  largely 
attended.  Several  of  the  faculty  with  their 
wives  graced  the  occasion.  A  particular  frien  1 
of  ours  remarked  that  she  "  hid  expected  to 
meet  some  rough  young  fellows  covered  with 
oil  and  iron  filings,"  whereas  '85  didn't  appear 
any  different  from  the  dudes  of  any  other  col- 
lege. [As  the  class  graduates,  we  shall  not 
suffer  from  their  arrogance  after  reading  this.] 
Meanwhile  '86  had  been  looking  on  at  all 
these  entertainments  with  an  envious  eye  (if 
'86  ever  could  be  envious).  Now,  however, 
Prof.  I'liurston  decided  that  it  was  time  to 


become  acquainted  with  next  year's  Seniors, 
and  accordingly,  on  the  thirteenth  of  Febru- 
ary the  Junior  class  assembled  at  his  residence 
to  become  more  intimate  with  their  professor, 
as  well  as  to  be  presented  to  a  number  of  Vas- 
sar  young  ladies,  who  had  accompanied  Miss 
Thurston  down  from  Poughkeepsie  "'especially 
for  this  occasion." 

But  Stevens  society  had  still  another  claim- 
ant for  its  attention,  and  this  originated  with 
the  Seniors.  Early  in  the  winter  they  put 
their  heads  together,  and  as  a  result  there 
sprang  into  existence  the  "Stevens  Senior 
Social."  This  very  select  organization  gave  a 
number  of  hops  during  the  winter,  thus  enliv- 
ening Hoboken  society  in  a  great  degree.  It 
needs  hardly  be  stated  that  this  new  venture 
was  a  success,  and  it  remains  for  "86,  when 
her  turn  comes,  to  follow  the  good  example 
set  by  '85. 

The  students  of  the  entire  college  received 
invitations  lo  meet  President  Morton  and  the 
Faculty  at  the  Trinity  Church  Guild.  A  large 
number  of  the  students  were  present.  This 
reception  may  also  be  mentioned  as  tending 
to  show  that  at  least  a  few  outside  of  the  col- 
lege are  interested  in  her  social  welfare. 

In  writing  out  this  little  history  we  have 
come  to  a  place  where  it  is  necessary  to  use 
capitals:  The  Glee  Club  is  a  Grand  Suc- 
cess! Reorganized,  as  it  was  last  fall,  under 
the  leadership  of  Mr.  Camp,  of  Wesleyan,  it  has 
become  decidedly  popular,  not  only  in  Hobo- 
ken, but  also  to  a  less  degree  in  Brooklyn. 

Thus  we  have  come  to  the  end  of  the  year's 
work,  shortened  by  the  gayety  which  has  just 
been  described.  Sadly  we  remember  that  the 
pleasant  lot  of  describing  the  festivities  of 
Commencement  Week  will  fall  upon  other 
hands.  However,  when  we  see  before  us 
prospects  of  some  day  enjoying  those  very 
pleasures  which  we  are  now  content  with  de- 
scribing, we  not  unwillingly  give  up  the  lesser 
joy  for  the  greater,  and  surrender  the  pen  to  our 
successor.  May  the  social  events  of  the  com- 
ing year  be  so  manifold  that  our  successor  will 
grow  weary  of  reporting  them  !  C. 

A  FUNEREAL   DIRGE. 

Oh,  water  balh  !  water  bath  1     Why  art  ihou  gone 
From  under  ihe  hood  ?    Was  the  dmught  loo  strong? 
Oh,  water  bath  !  water  bath  \     Whither  away  7 
Doth  any  vile  Junior  oblige  thee  to  sl«y  ? 
Ob.  water  bath  !  water  bath  !     Cotne  back  to  me  ! 
Confide  to  thy  warmest  friend  what  made  thee  flee. 
Oh,  water  bath  !  water  bath !     Gone,  gone,  forever  ! 
Revenge  will  Iw  sweet !     Forget  thttf    No,  ntverl  I 
Da  capo  al  infin. 


94 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


COMMENCEMENT  WEEK. 

The  Class  of  '85  has  done  well  in  preparing 
to  follow  ihe  brilliant  example  set  by  the  Class 
of  "84,  in  regard  to  carrying  out  an  extended 
programme  forcommencement  wetk.  Equally 
extensive  preparations  have  been  made  this 
year,  and  the  Seniors  hope,  if  possible,  to  im- 
prove on  the  past  year's  programme. 

The  week  will  commence  Sunday,  June  14, 
with  the  baccalaureate  sermon  by  Prof.  Ed- 
ward Wall,  A.  M.,  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  corner  Sixth  and  Hudson  Streets,  at 
3  o'clock  p.  m. 

On  Monday  night,  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Thurston 
will  hold  their  final  reception  to  the  Senior 
Class. 

CLASS  DAY, 

Class  Day  exercises  will  be  held  the  follow- 
ing day,  Tuesday,  commencing  at  half  past 
two  in  the  afternoon.  Mrs.  Stevens  has  again 
offered  the  free  use  of  Castle  Point  for  the 
occasion.  The  opening  address,  by  the  presi- 
dent of  the  class,  will  be  followed  by  the 
class  oration,  delivered  by  Mr,  Henry  Abbey. 
The  class  ode  will  be  presented  by  Mr.  Paul 
Hussey. 

Pipes  having  been  distributed,  Mr.  Arthur 
Glasgow  will  deliverthe  pipe  oration,  at  the  end 
of  which  the  class  will  unite  in  the  singing  of 
the  pipe  ode.  One  of  the  most  amusing  and 
interesting  features  of  class  day  exercises  in 
general    is    the    giving    of    personal    hits,   or 

grinds."  These  will  be  given  by  Mr.  Anson 
Burchard,  and  will  close  the  exercises  at  <'astle 
Point.  Then  the  grand  march  to  the  college 
campus  will  take  place.  After  the  solemn 
ceremony  of  planting  the  ivy  against  the  wall 
of  the  Institute,  Mr.  William  Adriance  will 
give  the  ivy  oration.  Then  follows  the  class  his- 
tory by  Mr.  Lewis  N.  Lukens,  which  traces  the 
various  successes  (there  have  beenno  failures) 
of  the  class  during  its  four  years'  course.  Mr. 
William  Dilworth  will  deliver  the  farewell  ad- 
dress. Music  will  be  furnished  by  the  Glee 
Club  and  by  an  orchestra. 

The  programme  distributed  is  as  follows; 

pro(;ramme. 

Overture Orchestra. 

Opening  Address Harvev  Damel  Williams. 

ClasK  Onlion Henry  Abbev. 

Seleclion. S.  I.  T.  Glee  Club. 

aassOile Paul  Gordon  Hussev. 

Selection Orchestra. 

Pipe  Oration Arthlir  Graham  Glasgow. 

Pipe  Ode Class  of  'Sj. 

Grinds .,,... .Anson  Wood  Burchard. 


IvyOnUion William  Allrn  / 

Seleclion S.  I.  T.  Glee  Curl 

Class  Hlslorr LkwisNeviss  I.u 

Farewell  Address WilLIAh  S.  Dilwi 

Seicclion Orchestra. 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  evening  of 
day,  the  Glee  Club  concert  will  be 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  No  effort  has  bet 
to  make  this  the  most  successful  ap 
of  the  Glee  Club  this  year,  and  the  pn 
will  embrace  the  most  pleasing  and 
selections  suiting  the  occasion,  Tht 
is  under  the  auspices  and  for  the  bene 
Athletic  Association;  and  the  proceet 
used  for  building  dressing  rooms 
grounds.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
the  Senior  Class  will  assemble  at  Mi 
to  enjoy  their  class  dinner, 

COMUENCEUENT    DAY. 

The  Alumni  meeting  will  take  ] 
usual,  in  Prof.  Thurston's  lecture  rooi 
idem  Wm.  Kent,  "76,  and  secrelai 
Trautwein,  '76,  will  officiate.  The  s 
be  brought  up  for  discussion,  which  hs 
been  mentioned  in  the  Indicator,  is 
lion:  "What  changes  should  be  ma. 
curriculum  of  the  Institute?"  Mem 
cannot  be  present  at  the  meeting  h 
requested  to  send  their  suggestions  ir 

President  and  Mrs.  Morton  will  h 
annual  reception  to  the  students,  in 
lors,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  alumni 
At  half  past  six  o'clock,  the  alumni 
take  of  a  supper  at  the  Park  Hotel. 

The    thirteenth    commencement 

will  occur  in  the  First  M.  E.  Church,  < 

inglon  Street.     The   order  of  exerci 

follows,  interspersed  with  selections  1 

ORDER  OF  EXF.RCISES, 

Inlrodudory  Rcmaiks. PRFSitiENr  M 

Salulatoty  Addres.^ John  Mcirret 

Address  lo  Gradualing  Class. 

Conferring  of  Degrees  and  Annount-tmenl  r. 

Valedictory  Address ClaVtun  Ali 

The  Graduating  Class  this  year  c 
36  members. 

GRADUATES  AND  SUBJECTS  OF  1 
CradHnles   HeceiviKg  Digrtt  ef  Meikanicit 

Henrv  AiiBEV,  Ohio. 
Oscar.  Howard  Baldwin,  N. 
Report  on  Triol  of  Locomolive  No,  ifiij. 
N.   j,     (Trial   on    Regular   Trips.    Haulin 
Trains  over 'Bound  Btoofc  "  Route  ) 

William  Allen  Adkiakce.  N. 
Mowing  Machiner)'.     (Including  Experii 
terminal  ion  of  Resistance.) 


THE    S  TE  VENS  JNDICA  TOR. 


95 


ALTER  Joseph  Broadmeadow,  N.  J. 

Paul  Willis,  N.  J. 
sers  for  Steam   Engines:    Theory  and   con- 

Edwin  Burhorn,  N.  J. 

North  McLean,  N.  J. 
r "  Boilers.     (Results  of  Trials  to  Determine 
) 

Anson  Wood  Burchard,  N.  Y. 

Leon  Greenebaum,  Cal. 
Nffachinery  in  the  Manufacture  of  Fur  Hats. 

iViLLiAM  Thompson  Clerk,  N.  J. 
gineering  of  an  Internal  Ship  Basin :  Original 

Barton  Haxall  Coffey,  N.  Y. 

Job  Rockfield  Furman,  N.  Y. 

iry  Engine  and  Boiler  Test.     (Experimental 
tion  of  efficiency.) 

William  Herman  Cor  win,  N.  J. 

al  Motors :  Commercial  Economy  of  Systems. 

William  S.  Dilworth,  N.  J. 
Charles  Emmet  Machold,  N.  J. 
of  Engines  of  Penn.  R  R.  Tug  Boat  ••  Dela- 

Ernest  Dreyspring,  Ala. 
r  Machinery :  Construction  and  Operation. 

Frederick  Fischer,  Pa. 
ind  Engine  Test.     (Report  on  Trials.) 

Arthur  Graham  Glasgow,  Va. 

Richard  Henry  Rice,  N.  J. 
i'lant  for  Cotton  Mill.     (An  Original  Design.) 

Paul  Gordon  Hussey,  N.  Y. 
on  Engine  and  Boiler  Test. 

Lewis  Nevins  Lukens,  N.  J. 

il  Fuels.     (Commercial  Values   and   Devices 

'g) 
Simeon  Martinez,  Mexico. 

on  Performance  of  Two  Saw  Mills  and  their 
tors  (Steam  Engine  and  Water  Wheel). 

Joseph  Sylvester  McCoy,  D.  C. 
ission  of  Energy  by  Electricity. 

)dward  Herman  Munkwitz,  Wis. 
Villi  am  Herman  Munkwitz,  Wis. 
on  Test  of  Pumping  Machinery. 

Rollin  Norris,  Md. 
of  Watts,  Campbell  &  Co. 's  Corliss  Engines. 

Clayton  Allen  Pratt,  III. 
Harvey  Daniel  Williams,  Pa. 
and   Constniclion   of  Governors  for    Prime 


Jose  Charles  Rendon,  EcuadoIi. 
Plan  of  Workshop.     (Original  Design.) 

William  Whitten  Renwick,  N.  J. 
Fire' Proof  Materials. 

John  Morrell  Rusby,  N.  J. 

William  Norton  Stevens,  N.  J. 

Leading  Points  in  Locomotive  Construction  and  Per- 
formance. 

Albrrt  Anton  August  Silbur,  N.  J. 
Hoisting  Machinery. 

Thomas  Gardner  Smith,  Ohio. 

Experimental  Determinations  of  Efficiency  of  Gov- 
ernors. 

William  Harvie  Wade,  Va. 

Steam  Engine  Efficiency. 

John  Francis  Wilkes,  N.  C. 
Fitting  up  and  Management  of  a  Machine  Shop. 

The  following  are  the  prizes  annually 
awarded: 

The  Priestly  Prize,  for  commendable  work  in  the  De- 
partment of  Chemistry. 

The  E.  G.  Soltmann  Prize,  for  excellence  of  work  in 
Mechanical  Drawing. 

The  Wm.  A.  Macy  Prize,  for  highest  standing,  during 
the  Freshman  year,  of  student  entering  from  Hoboken 
public  schools. 

RECEPTION  COMMITTEE. 


Emile  M.  Cotiart, 
Cornelius  J.  Field 
Edward  P.  Mowton, 
Edward  D  Self, 


Charles  R.  Collins. 
Henry  K.  Morrison, 
William  Randolph, 
Edward  F.  White. 


At  the  close  of  the  exercises  the  Senior 
promenade  will  take  place  at  the  German  Club 
House. 

The  invitations  issued  are  neatly  drawn  by 
Mr.  Williams.  The  design  consists  of  a  plaque 
on  which  is  represented  a  steamer  going 
to  sea ;  about  this  are  the  words,  "  Stevens 
Institute  Tech."  Under  the  plaque  to  the 
left  side  is  a  medallion  with  the  monogram  of 
S.  I.  T.,  under  which  is  a  spray  of  spruce 
crossed  by  a  spray  of  clover  leaves  and  a 
flower  upon  which  has  settled  a  bee.  The 
meaning  of  the  spruce  is  ''farewell,"  while 
that  of  the  clover  is  "  industry."  Whether  by 
this  the  class  mean  that  when  they  leave  the 
Institute  they  thereby  bid  farewell  to  industry, 
or  that  in  bidding  farewell  to  the  class  the  In- 
stitute loses  its  highest  example  of  industry, 
is  not  explained.  If  any  of  the  members  of 
the  class  should  be  asked  concerning  it,  we 
are  inclined  to  think  that  they  would  give  the 
latter  solution. 


96 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


BASE   BALL. 

The  base  ball  team  needs  no  more  criticism  ; 
the  batting  averages,  given  below,  will  show  in 
part  what  was  needed,  and  were  we  able  to  the 
fielding  averages,  too,  perhaps  the  main  reason 
for  our  record  this  year  would  appear.  We 
are  glad  to  see  the  improvement  toward  the 
end  of  the  season,  and  hope  it  will  show  earlier 
next  year. 


Names. 

TimoM 

B^. 

Morrison 

33 

30 
3" 
25 
16 
l6 

iB 
S 
6 
7 
6 
4 

'545 
■335 
.333 
.a  14 

seven^kV;.::::::::::' 

Whieharo 

"7 
.o6a 
.047 

Coen 

LACROSSE. 

The  review  of  the  lacrosse  season  has  been 
given  elsewhere,  and  we  now  give  the  record 
of  the  games.  They  .speak  for  themselves,  and 
should  give  Stevens  a  great  deal  o(  encourage- 
ment. The  games  are  not  given  in  the  order 
in  which  they  were  played,  or  the  great  im- 
provement made  as  the  season  progressed 
would  show  more  clearly.  Let  us  hope  the  im- 
provement will  not  stop  here,  but  carry  "Ste- 
vens "  near  the  top  of  the  League. 

New  York  Lacrosse  Club  i-i.  Stevens 5     1 

New  York  University         ■■        ■■       4     ....     o 

Williamsburg  "         "       5     ....     o 

Williamsbut^  "        "       5     a 

Druids,  1st,  "         "       4     ....     3 

Druids,  ad,  "         "       o   ' 3 

New  York  University  ■'  "        '.''.'.'.'. l     '.'..'.     1 

Total  points  gained  by  opponents,  36  ;  Stevens,  15. 
With  the  tournament  held  on  Decoration 
Day,  the  lacrosse  season  at  Stevens  is  practi- 
cally at  an  end,  though  at  the  time  of  writing 
this  we  have  still  before  us  a  postponed  match 
with  New  York  University. 

Reviewing  the  work  of  the  past  spring,  we 
have  every  reason  to  congratulate  ourselves 


upon  the  progress  made.  Improven 
lack  of  it,  is  the  standard  by  which  the 
of  a  team  should  be  gauged,  and  not 
the  score  of  games.  This  fact  seems 
been  appreciated  in  the  college  genera 
I  take  this  opportunity  of  thanking  th 
bers  of  the  Institute  for  the  cordia 
support  which  has  generally  been  exte 
us.  Of  course,  there  are  always  a  few 
tutional  growlers  who  are  never  satisfi 
who  make  a  point  of  making  the  m^ 
couraging  remarks  ;  but,  in  spite  of  tf 
have  progressed,  and  are  now  establisl; 
firm  footing. 

Of  last  year's  team  we  lost  four  by 
tion,  and  three  others,  members  of  '8 
been  unable  to  play  this  season  on  ace 
thesis  work.  This,  of  course,  weak* 
very  seriously,  and  the  outlook  at  first 
very  gloomy.  During  the  autumn,  h 
several  men  managed  to  get  in  a  little  p 
and  later,  when  the  meadows  froze,  a 
of  new  men  played  on  the  ice,  and  tho 
had  no  regular  games,  the  practice  wa 
greatest  benefit  in  teaching  the  boys 
handle  their  sticks. 

Toward  spring,  when  Hexamer's  h; 
secured  for  base  ball  practice,  almo; 
some  three  or  four  of  the  lacrosse  men 
avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  of 
ing  their  catching  and  short  throwinj 
good  effects  of  this  preliminary  trainii 
very  evident  when  the  weather  permiti 
of -door  work. 

During  the  season  we  have  playe( 
matches,  of  which  we  won  two.  Ou 
nents  scored  twenty-two  goals  to  our  f( 
In  one  game  only  have  we  been  white 

Of  the  present  team  we  lose  this  yi 
two  by  graduation,  and,  with  an  ei 
captain,  we  ought  next  year  to  be  nearl 
quite,  at  the  head  of  our  local  league, 
of  at  the  foot,  as  we  are  this  year. 

The  management  of  the  team  this 
has  been  faulty,  in  not  having  enough  1 
games.  This  has  been  partly  due 
causes  :  one  was  the  reluctance  to  i 
with  such  of  the  base  ball  men  as  we' 
the  upper  end  of  the  grounds,  and  ll 
was  the  difficulty  of  getting  together 
men  at  any  one  time  to  form  two  sides 
that  so  many  have  sticks,  I  hope  that 
cessor  will  have  less  trouble  in  this  la 
reclion,  and  the  rudiments  of  the  gan 
now  somewhat  famihar  to  the  team,  I 
him  the  task  of  teaching  them  the  refii 
and  possibilities  of  lacrosse. 

ROLLIN    NORRIS,  Ca 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


97 


SPRING   GAMES. 


We  give  below  a  result  of  the  spring  meet- 
ing. Some  of  the  results,  obtained  as  they 
were  with  no  training,  show  that  there  is  some 


excellent  material  at  Stevens,  and  we  hope 
next  year  to  see  more  training  and  better  re- 
sults. The  time  made  by  Isaac  in  the  lOO 
yards  dash  was  not  allowed,  although  both 
time  keepers  agreed. 


Events. 


100  Yards  Dash 

220  Yards  Dash , 

One  Quarter  Mile  Run, 

One  Mile  Run 

One  Mile  Walk 

Three  Legged  Race. . . . 
Sack  Race , 


Ruming  High  Jump 

Standing  Broad  Jump. . , 
Running  Broad  Jump. . . 
Hop,  Step  and  Jump. . . . 
Throwing  Lacrosse  Ball 
Throwing  Base  Ball. . . . 

Kicking  Foot  Ball 

Putting  Shot 

High  Kick 


Winner. 


Isaac,  '88 

Cotiart, '86 

Isaac,  *88 

McLean,  '88 

McLean,  '88 

Isaac  and  Hawkins,  '88. 
Rickoff,  '88 


Greenebaum,  '85, 

Isaac, '88 

Crisfield,  '87 

Greenebaum,  '85 

Flack,  '87: 

Morrison,  '86. . . 

Kletzsch,  '84 

Kletzsch,  '84 

Herring,  '88 


Second. 


Lyall,'88.... 
Aguilera,  '86. 
Crisfield,  '87. 


Fuller, '88 

Quimby  and  Wheatley,  '87. 


Glasgow,  '85.. 
Herring,  '88. . 
Crisfield.  '87., 
Burhom,  '85., 

Finch,  '89 

Adriance,  '85 
Adriance,  '85, 
Adriance,  '85 


Time. 


26^  sec. 
57^  sec* 
5  min.  23I  sec. 
8  min.  43  sec. 
14  sec. 
43  sec. 


Feet. 

5 

9 
18 

38 
289 
311 
168 

31 

8 


Inches. 
O 

10* 
I 

3J 
o 

3 
6 

®** 
3i* 


T«^  o'  War j  :g  -  ;88 . ...... . .  '87  Team  won  by  3  inches  J  ^,^^,^  .3,  ^^.  3^  ^  .3,  ^,,  .^  ,  j^,,,. 

Class  '85,  Events  Won,  2 ;  '86,  3  ;   '87,  3  :  '88,  8.      •  Stevens  record  broken. 


I        --~ 


POLO. 

The  Polo  Club  has  done  excellent  work 
this  spring,  and  the  team  is  one  of  which 
Stevens  ought  to  be  proud.  The  team  had 
the  misfortune  of  being  compelled  to  play 
under  unfair  referees,  or  the  results  would 
kave  been  even  better.  Below  is  a  list  of  the 
games  : 

Hoboken  vj.  Stevens o  o 

Somenrille  "  »*  o  o 

Hoboken  ••  **  i  2 

Somemlle  **  "  o  ...  i 

NewYork  »*  "  i  ....  i 

MetropoUtan  "  **  ...   o  i 

Hoboken  ••  "  2  2 

Pwonia  •*  "  o  ....  3 

P»»onia  "  "  2  I 

Crescent  "  '*  o  2 

Hoboken  •*  "  o  o 

Totals  won :  Stevens,  5  ;  opponents,  i  ;  drawn,  5. 
1^»» 

Priest :  "  The  devil'll  have  you  sure,  Pat,  if 
I  hear  of  you  being  drunk  on  Sunday." 

Patrick  :  "  Rest  aisy  there,  yer  riverince, 
^or  it's  only  last  night  I  dramed  I  saw  his 
^nor,  St.  Peter,  and  his  riverince,  the  divil, 
a-chuckin  dice  fur  me  sowl.  *Dad,  how  I 
J^iyered  whin   the   divil   got    double   sixes ! 

Rnmiricles,  Peter,'  sez  he.  *  Ye  spoke  too 
«^c,'says  Pater,  as  he  chucked  double  sivins" 
"Spectator. 


iBRSSRAUS. 


'76. 

E.  P.  Raque  is  in  New  York. 

•77. 

Maurice  I.  Coster  has  received  six  months* 
leave.  He  is  now  travelling  through  the  States, 
preparatory  to  going  abroad. 

E.  P.  Roberts  was  present  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers,  and  read 
his  paper  on  "  Storage  Batteries." 

E.  A.  Uehling  is  the  inventor  of  a  gas  seal 
for  blast  furnaces.  He  is  having  his  patent 
put  on  a  furnace  at  Sharpsburg. 

'81. 

H.  (>.  White  is  in  charge  of  the  New  York 
office  of  the  Payne  Engine  Company. 

'84. 

A.  Saunders  Morris  has  returned  from 
Europe. 

F.  Van  Vleck  visited  us  last  month. 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Toasts  in  order  ! 
'85 — The  Going,  going,  gone  ! 
'86 — A  Happy  New  Year  ! 
Vacation  is  a  tiptop  time  ! 
Hot  sodium  and  water  are  bad  things  for 
Christians  to  play  with. 

In  many  cases  Freshman  is  decidedly  a  mis- 
nomer, Freshboy  being  more  appropriate. 
The  Senior  thinks,  while  M.  E. 
Behind  his  name  n  pinned  ; 
"  That  I  mighl  have  a  sheepskin 
"  A  skinny  sheep  was  skinned." 

Do  not  fail  to  make  yourself  acquainted 
with  Che  features  of  the  celebrated  aJbino  of 
■88. 

It  can  be  demonstrated  mathematically  that 
an  engine  is  "  off  its  base  "  when  it  is  "  on  its 
centre." 

That  suits  me  square  to  a  T,  said  the  stu- 
dent as  he  "borrowed"  somebody  else's  T- 
square. 

When  a  photographer  gets  shook  by  his  best 
girl,  may  he  be  said  to  have  developed  a 
negative  ? 

This  is  a  degenerate  age.  One  of  the 
"preps."  dared  to  flaunt  a  giddy  cane  in  the 
faces  of  the  Sophs. 

Now  is  the  time  for  the  Freshmen  who 
were  dropped  during  the  year  Co  hang  around 
and  swindle  '8g  with  Hawkridge's  Cools. 

One  of  the  Preps,  speaking  of  the  quality 
of  the  tobacco  smoked  by  some  of  the  Seniors, 
said  that  even  Ihe  Freshmen  were  obliged  to 
close  the  doors. 

Physics  and  French  mixed  ; 

Student  translating:  "  But  here  comes  Ozone, 
he  will  bring,  etc."  (Accompanying  electrical 
discharge  from  the  rest  of  the  class.) 

A  moke  and  a  representative  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  both  of  very  tender  years,  were  seen 
about  the  Instilule  a  few  days  ago.  It  is  sus- 
pected that  they  are  candidates  for  '89. 


"  Come  on,  Sam,  let's  go  down  to  Busch's 
and  get  a  glass  of  milk."    (Cox.) 


The  Indicator  offers  a  prize  of  1,000  ctnti 
for  a  bran-new  subject  for  witticism,  wanaattd 
to  last  a  year,  its  stock-joke-cow,  O'W.  J.  re- 
fusing to  yield  any  other  than  stale  milk. 

The  drawing  rooms  have  lately  been  kept 
locked  whenever  they  were  not  used  by  any  of 
the  classes.  Is  this  precaution  expected  to 
prevent  the  absconding  of  tacks,  T-squarcs, 
etc.  ? 

The  Juniors  are  considering  the  advisability 
of  changing  the  design  for  their  class  pin.  A 
winged  water  bath  is  seriously  advocated  by 
some,  as  being  more  appropriate  than  the  bird 
of  Juno. 

"  1  have  a  case  against  you,"  said  the  Soph. 
to  the  purp,  when  he  had  locked  him  in  tbe 
show  case. 

"Don't  mention  it,"  said  the  purp.  "lean 
howl  my  own," 

At  the  concert  in  Brooklyn,  the  glee  club 
seemed  to  be  somewhat  in  doubt  as  to  whetbci 
George  Washington  was  the  father  of  his 
country  or  not,  so  they  had  to  go  back  and 
argue  the  question  all  over  again. 

After  a  life  of  nine  months  at  Hoboken,  llif 
Freshmen  have  lose  their  aforetime  verdancy. 
That  is  what  the  juniors  thought,  so  they 
turned  the  fire  hose  on  '88.  However,  ihe 
class  pictures  were  a  great  success. 

"  Do  you  play  cards?"  asked  a  Sophomore 
of  a  Freshman,  the  other  day.  "  Oh,  yes  !  « 
have  'em  every  day  in  Math."  "Indeed! 
what  game  do  you  play  ?"  "  Cribbage.' 
"Ha — hem  !     How  quickly  they  learn." 

Professor:  "Can  you  tell  me  someching 
about  Francis  Parkman  !" 

Snph.:  "  Did  he  write  histories  ?" 

Prof.:  "Yes." 

Soph.:  "  Well-  ah — he  wrote  histories." 

During  the  trip  lo  Troy,  one  of  the  meiP' 
licrs  of  our  base  ball  team  ordered  whath* 
called  a  hearty  meal.  The  waiter,  evidently  - 
novice,  surprised  Che  party  hilariously,  by  aslt- 
ing  very  blandly  :  "How  many  is  that  for?" 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


99 


)fessor  of  Chemistry,  while  walking 
cture  room,  found  a  large  pumpkin 
tly  in  his  path.  He  calmly  picked 
forward  in  front  of  the  assembled 
showing  the  fruit,  said,  with  his 
J :  "One  of  the  students  has  lost  his 

'.,  etc.'s,  number  elevens  haye  flour- , 

lerfully  last  term,  and  he  now  sports 

pair  in  '87.    They  have  assumed  the 

he  tractrix,  and  are  tangent  to  an 

somewhere   in  the  vicinity  of  his 

;  but  as  we  could  not  find  that,  we 

must  be  at  infinity. 

Endeavoring  to  explain  to  the  preps, 
nee  between  shall  and  unll  : 
what  is  the  principal  difference?" 
Prep. — "  Please,  sir,  I  know.*' 
"Well,   Johnny,   my  boy,  what  is 

Why — why,  sir,  they're  spelled  dif- 

s — n  says,  that  "  St.  George "  has 
of  a  good  trotter,  and  only  needs 
I  little  to  fit  him  for  the  track.  He 
ill  rijn  him  an  "  'alf  "  mile  against 
e  B— ss  or  J-hn  C-x.  J-hn  says, 
s,  some  one  will  have  to  carry  a  pail 
round  the  track,  so  that  he  can  get  a 
t  in  a  while. 

the  Juniors  asked  for  and  obtained 
d  bill  for  chemical  apparatus  bought; 
ng  recovered  from  the  transitory 
sequent  upon  his  perusal  of  aforesaid 
is  mind  seemed  "visibly  affected." 
le  enormous  profit  tempted  him  to 
he  glass  blowers'  business. 
"Where  ignorance  is  bliss,"  etc., 

ance  from  along  suffered  evil  is  now 
*88  has  organized  a  navy  for  the 
cultivating  biceps,  dorsal,  and  other 
tissues,  and  of  exterminating  the 
imsey  and  the  Weehawken.  The 
3f  the  navy  are  becoming  proficient 
nagement  of  their  vessels,  and  it  is 
that  the  James  Rumsey  will  be  dig- 
;  at  the  bottom  of  the  Hudson  before 
f  the  term. 

1  machine  shop  : 

-"  Hey,  there  ;  what  are  you  moving 
with  that  crowbar  for?  Don't  you 
e  getting  it  out  of  line  with  the  main 


Freshman. — "You  told  me  to  do  it,  sir." 
M.  L.— "  I  told  you  to  do  it !     What  did  I 

say? 

Freshman.— "You   said   to   set  my   lathe 

over  so  as  to  turn  a  taper,  and  I'm  a-doing 

it." 

The  detective  who  was  intrusted  with  track- 
ing up  the  water  bath,  that  has  recently  been 
mean  enough  to  escape  without  any  apparent 
cause  (the  professor  says  he  always  treated  it 
with  extreme  kindness,  or  rather  water,  when- 
ever it  was  dry),  has  found  no  clue  as  to  its 
whereabouts.  The  man  that  accompanied  the 
W.  B.  in  its  flight  more  than  likely  needed 
one.  What  will  become  of  our  professor  if  he 
cannot  enjoy  even  the  pleasures  of  a  water 
bath  unmolested  ? 

If  you  wish  to  flatter  a  Senior  and  to  pay 
him  a  compliment,  show  his  so  called  photo- 
graph around,  and  tell  everybody  it  is  a  per- 
fect counterpart  of  him. 

The  student  goes ;  his  heart's  not  over  sore ; 
He  takes  his  trunk  and  leaves  the  Jersey  shore. 
Midsummer  comesj  of  all  its  charms  bereft. 
How  cold  the  day  when  Hoboken  is  left  / 

The  Senior  smokes  his  farewell  pipe,  and  drinks  his 

farewell  beer, 
Then  gives  his  lass  a  farewell  kiss — "  Oh  (U  write  soon, 

my  dear !  ** 

A  messenger  boy  entered  the  Institute  the 
other  day  from  Hudson  Street,  and  cast  an 
anxious  look  about  him.  Seeing  a  student  in 
the  chemical  laboratory,  he  plucked  up  cour- 
age enough  to  ask  him  how  he  could  deliver 
his  message.  "  Just  go  outside  and  ring  the 
bell  twice,"  was  the  answer.  After  an  inter- 
val of  five  minutes,  the  Junior  glanced  up 
from  his  work  and  saw  the  messenger  boy  near 
by,  looking  at  him  with  extreme  suspicion. 
"  Well,  Johnny,  did  vou  ring  the  bell  twice  ?  " 
the  student  asked.  Ya-as,"  was  the  spiteful 
reply,  "  and  I  rang  it  three  ox  four  times  !  " 

"He  who  laughs  last  laughs  best " — 

Student :  "  Taking  an  isosceles  triangle  for 
example,  it  may  be  a  right  angled  isosceles 

triangle  or (Class   laugh  uproariously, 

and  Professor  laughs  twice  as  much,  only  he 
does  not  make  as  much  noise.) 

Prof.  "  Hadn't  you  better  modify  your  state- 
ment? Just — just  draw  such  a  triangle  on 
the  board." 

(Student  draws  the  triangle  correctly.  Great 
astonishment ;  and  class  and  professor  assume 
a  knock-kneed  smile.  Student  then  indulges 
in  a  little  private  laugh  of  his  own.  Sneaky 
music  and  colored  lights.) 


roo 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


Translations  from  ^^Die  Anna  Liese^*  by 

Soph. : 
Anna,  fass  dich  !    resolut !    resolut !      Ich 

bin  da ! 

"Anna,  compose  yourself !  Resolute !  reso- 
lute !     I've  been  there  " — 

Zeit  von  1694- 1698.  Anna  mit  einem  Rah- 
zeug  beschaftigt. 

"Time  from  1694-1698.  Anna,  with  some 
sewing  machine  material." 

We  always  thought  the  sewing  machine  was 
an  ancient  invention.  In  fact,  we  were  once 
told  that  a  man  in  Plymouth,  Mass,  had  a  piece 
of  the  old  rock,  said  to  have  been  knocked  off 
by  the  pilgrims  while  trying  to  lug  a  sewing 
machine  ashore.  This  fact  places  its  origin 
further  back  than  the  Sophomores. 

TRAGEDY   IN   FOUR   ACTS. 


Act  I. 

The  purp  comes  in  the  drawing  room, 

And  casts  his  eyes  abour : 
The  Sophs,  him  spy,  and  soon  their  cry 

Has  risen  to  a  shout. 

Act  II. 

McKibben.  of  electric  fame, 
Then  grabs  him  by  the  collar  ; 

His  dogship  reels,  then  softlv  saueals, 
And  ends  up  with  a  **  holler. 

Acr   III. 

Professor  M appears  in  view  ! 

The  Sophs,  o'er  boards  bend  low. 
McKibben  works,  with  steady  jerks, 

Upon  his  dynamo. 

Act  IV. 

Professor  then  steals  softly, 

Takes  the  canine  unawares 
Through  the  room,  unto  his  doom, 

Which  he  meets  upon  the  stairs. 


T;vi^.tI»«Jl'' 


K<.')^if</ 


One  not  acquainted  with  amateur  literature 
would  be  surprised  to  know  the  amount  pub- 
lished in  this  country.  With  few  exceptions, 
every  college  has  a  publica^tion  carried  on  by 
its  students,  and  many  high  schools  and 
academies  have  publications  of  a  similar  char- 
acter. The  majority  of  this  class  of  periodi- 
cals are  published  monthly,  and  a  few  bi- 
weekly. But  it  is  the  character  and  the  value 
of  this  literature  that  we  wish  here  to  notice. 


From  SD  SMiky  different  sources  we  must 
necessarily  have  the  gicatest  variety  of  com- 
position and  style,  and  we  must  often  ex  pact  to 
detect  in  the  style  and  the  thought  the  inex- 
perienced writer  and  the  youthful  mind  ;  while 
on  the  other  hand  we  may  often  be  surprised 
to  find  much  of  value  in  the  subject  matter, 
and  that  so  well  expressed  that  the  composi- 
tion may  compare  favorably  with  many  of 
those  from  our  standard  writers.  Many  art- 
icles in  their  subject  matter  show  the  result  of 
extended  reading  and  thinking,  and  in  their 
composition  great  accuracy  and  care. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  find  much  that  is  pro- 
gressive and  truly  excellent  in  many  of  our 
college  papers.      All   encouragement  should 
be  given  to  carefully  published  amateur  litera- 
ture, and  with   such   we   are   always  happy 
to  exchange.     There  are,  however,  papers  pub- 
lished for  the  mere  sake  of  having  a  paper. 
In  such  periodicals  there  is  easily  traced  a  lack 
of  thought  and  work,  and  the  presence  of  ^ 
hurried  and  careless  style  throughout.     It  ^s 
not  right  that  such  papers  should  be  allowe<^ 
in  one's  sanctum  ;  and  if  all  college  pape"r^ 
were  careful  to  glean  from  the  list  of  public^' 
tions  only  those  that  show  real  earnestness    ^^ 
succeed  and  to  improve,  the  general  run    ^ 
amateur  literature  would  be  greatly  improve ^^* 
Suffice  it  to  say,  to  the  credit  of  Americ^*^ 
colleges,  that  the  better  class  of  college  pape 
would  form  the  greater  list. 


i 


THE    BOLT. 

We  have  received  the  "Bolt "  for  '85,  and  it 
affords  us  pleasure  to  compliment  the  mana- 
gers on  its  good  features.  The  illustrations  are 
very  creditable.  The  pictures  of  students  in 
the  cartoons  are  easily  recognizable,  and  this, 
for  a  college  paper,  is  high  praise.  Although 
the  literary  portion  of  the  book  has  the  too 
great  fault  of  brevity,  this  is  partially  re- 
deemed by  the  good  quality  of  contents.  One 
of  the  best  articles  is  the  little  poem  "  Stevens," 
modelled  after  "  Hiawatha."  Although  here 
and  there  a  line  is  at  war  with  the  metre,  the 
composition  is  an  excellent  imitation,  even  to 
the  repetition  of  idea  in  successive  lines, 
which  is  so  often  noticed  in  the  original  poem. 
The  little  poem  "A  Health  to  '85  "  is  well 
written,  and  has  a  very  pretty  illustration. 
Many  of  the  squibs  are  very  good,  and  the  book 
makes  a  very  favorable  impression  upon  the 
reader,  although  we  wish  that  the  literary  con- 
tents were  a  little  more  extensive. 


•  u 


/ 


y   -l^.    V'     C.    '         '"■' 


I 


"1 


rrrr  stkvens  fifDTCATOR. 


rae 


tevens  Institute  of  TechiioloQ;y, 


SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGmEERING, 

FODNI>EI>   BY  THE   l^TK  EDWIN    A.  STEVENS, 

— *i^ — 

HOBOKEN,  N    J, 

'     ^.  ^Hil,  M>ch.  EaEinU^ 

E-,  Piur  Malli.Tind*       "■ 


RlESti!D£ReEIl."M.  E., 
W.  E.  GEYER.Ph.  a, 


» 


STEVENS  _HIGH   SCHOO 

THE    ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 


"t 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY. 

BIVEB  STREET,  bei.  Sth  and  Bth,  HQBOKEN.  S.  J- 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER  -16.  1885. 

£;;ftT&liistio<w  tor  h&rabviia^  on  the  14th  and  IBbh  or  SEptember. 


IFQU  COURSES  OP  STUDY,  PREPARATORY  TO  SCHOOLS  OFSCEBNCE  UFD  COLLEGB 


JUNIOR    DEPARTMENT, 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT, 


S7B.0O  PER  ANNUM. 

sreo.oo  per  annum. 


>.l,.  all   lb*  •tuai.'i 


;r]an  dl  Son^QB  Ih£U(ace. 


tHfi 


^fleve^s  TRdi^alsi^. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  NOVEMBER,  1885. 


No.  8. 


THE  LATEST  CRAZE. 


nt  man,  S.  1   T.,  'eighly-five, 

'  the  needful  to  keep  him  alive, 

iself  last  July  in  a  very  bad  way  ; 

ork  from  Prof.  D.  at  a  dollar  a  day. 

ig,    **  Since   in   my  pocket  a  sheepikin   I've 

ced, 

>ing  to  work  on  the  new  aqueduct." 

ghtway  our  President  that  very  day 

in  a  hurry  with  O.  W.  J., 

led  down  South  fast  as  steam  cars  could  go, 

t  fetch  up  until  in  Mexico. 

ig,   *'  In   my   valise  a  new  note   book   I've 

ked. 

pne  to  get  points  for  the  new  aqueduct." 

er  invented  a  little  machine 

'twill  work  remains  yet  to  be  seen) 

tg  experiments  very  complete, 

amount  of  the  earth's  latent  heat 

Qg,   *'  If   they  dig  deep  'nough,  I  soon  will 

iduct 

imetry  tests  in  the  new  aqueduct." 

>d  set  to  work  both  with  might  and  with  main 

t  improvements  on  rock  drills  again. 

;htly  conjectured,  when  they  reached  bedrock, 

aen  around  him  in  coveys  would  flock. 

ng,  '*You  must  for  us  some  new  rock  drills 

istmct, 

:  we  can't  do  without  them  on  our  aqueduct." 

lear  the  shanty,  called  chemical  lab., 

id  of  cobbles,  green,  yellow  and  drab, 

ped  in  the  midst  of  all  prepdom  at  play, 

infinite  joy  and  poor  Donald's  dismay, 

ing,  "I  am  Prof.  Leeds,  and  these  boulders 

:re  plucked 

a  the  very  bed  rock  of  the  new  aqueduct." 

ned  Prof.  Kroeh,  just  to  keep  his  hand  in, 
for  the  sake  of  the  *'  boodle  "  or  "  tin," 
work  on  the  subject ;  as  yet  it's  in  press — 
Iter  has  fooled  him,  or  I  miss  my  guess. 
ring,  "Gentlemen  all,  if  you  are  not  'plucked,' 
le  day  you'll  be  working  on  this  aqueduct." 

urday  noon,  after  some  slight  reflection, 'i 

all  took  the  preps  on  a  tour  of  inspection. 

ent  up  to  Yonkers  to  see  the  great  tunnel, 

nt  down  a  hole,  like  an  inverted  funnel. 

ging,  as   the  wet  clay  in  their  pockets   they 

ackcd, 

11  make  some    nice  marbles  with  this  aque- 

luct" 


When  the  Seniors  grew  weary  of  locking  their  door, 
And  had  given  out  contracts  for  cleaning  the  floor, 
They  turned  their  attention  to  G^/nmencement  night. 
And  then  in  their  note  books  began  to  indite. 

Singing,  "  It  is  now  time  our  theses  to  construct, 
We're  all  going  to  write  on  *The  New  Aqueduct.'  " 

And  poor  'eighty-seven,  dyspeptic  and  meek, 
Is  bulldozed  into  working  twelve  hours  in  the  week 
In  the  chemical  lab.,  with  a  Alter  and  funnel, 
A  testing  for  ore  in  the  aqueduct  tunnel. 

Moaning,  "  Prof.  L.  should  let  us  by  means  of  re- 
duct- 
ion test  for  rich  ore  in  Ma/  o/J  aquedtut  /" 

So  the  fever  spread  on,  and  one  '88  man 

Was  found  drawing  in  full  a  complete  working  plan 

Of  some  modern  design  for  a  hydraulic  ram, 

To  be  used  in  some  part  of  the  new  Quaker  Dam. 

Singing,  '*  '8q  thinks  she  don't  want  to  be  ducked. 
She'd  better  not  visit  our  new  aqueduct." 

Thus  Graduate,  President,  Senior  and  Soph, 
And  Junior  and  Freshman,  Instructor  and  Prof., 
All  went  wild  over  one  and  the  very  same  thing  ; 
With  th'  exception,  perhaps,  of  Professor  MacString. 

Singing,  '*  How  in  the  mischief  can  our  Profs,  in- 
struct 

If  they're  all  taken  up  with  that  blamed  aqueduct?^ 

But  Professor  MacCord,  far  renowned  for  his  years, 
In  a  most  solemn  voice  expressed  his  grave  fears 
That 

[This  will   be   continued   in   number  9  of  volume 
XVII,  of  the  Indicator,  price  20  cents.] 


PRIZES:    THEIR  USES  AND  ABUSES. 


For  I  have  them  on  the  list 

As  I  am  sure  they  won't  be  missed. 

Prizes,  like  all  else  mundane,  have  their 
abuses  as  well  as  their  uses.  If  all  things  earthly 
were  classified  into  those  useful  and  those  use- 
less, I  would  be  inclined  to  class  prizes,  to- 
gether with  Jersey  mosquitoes,  among  the  lat- 
ter. The  custom  of  awarding  prizes,  though 
an  ancient  and  universal  one,  is  sanctioned  by 
so  many  good  and  wise  men,  yet  it  is  open 
to  many  serious  objections.  There  have  been, 
however,  instances  in  which  the  offer  of  prizes 
has  brought  good  results.  Prizes  are  now 
offered  for  new  and  important  discoveries  in 


ti8 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


X  science,  and  for  excellencies  in  works  of  art 
and  literature.  Though  the  intentions  are 
good  and  commendable,  yet  as  the  end  can 
never  justify  the  means,  they  should,  in  equity, 
never  be  used.  The  use  of  prizes  may  in  some 
cases  be  more  excusable  than  in  others.  For 
instance,  in  reference  to  works  of  art.  But  in 
no  case  are  they  justified,  nor  are  they  neces- 
sary. The  best  works  of  science  and  art  have 
been  done  without  their  intervention.  The 
greatest  writers,  scientists,  and  artists,  are 
those  who  work  through  a  love  for  their  calling 
and  not  for  other  rewards  ;  the  only  good 
that  prizes  can  do  is  to  call  attention  to  the 
subject ;  but  such  men  do  not  need  this.  The 
moment  that  they  put  a  prize  on  their  work, 
their  object  becomes  mercenary  and  all  its 
beauty  is  destroyed.  The  giving  of  prizes  for 
the  performance  of  good  deeds  is  barbarous. 
Good  should  be  done  for  its  own  sake. 

A  prize  is  in  itself  intrinsically  wrong. 
When  divested  of  everything  but  plain  facts, 
it  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  bribe  given 
for  something  that  should  be  done  without  its 
aid.  It  is  simply  a  name  for  a  very  bad  thing. 
Why  not  call  it  a  bribe  at  once  ?  for  that  is 
what  it  really  is. 

I  remember  that,  at  the  institution  to  which 
I  was  sent  in  my  more  youthful  school  days, 
the  discipline  of  the  place,  together  with  the 
learning  of  our  lessons,  was  maintained  by 
the  fear  of  punishment  on  one  hand,  and  by 
the  bribery  of  prizes  on  the  other.  Then,  in 
our  youthful  days,  before  reason  and  judgment 
had  been  fully  developed,  our  minds  needed 
something  to  force  them  into  the  path  of  recti- 
tude, as,  of  course,  small  boys  do  not  know 
what  is  good  for  them.  On  my  part  I  enjoyed 
the  companionship  of  both  the  rod  and  the 
prize,  and  I  should,  therefore,  have  no  preju- 
dice for  the  one  more  than  the  other.  How- 
ever, I  look  back  with  less  satisfaction  on  the 
results  obtained  from  the  latter.  I  can  re- 
member distinctly  all  the  ill  feeling,  jealousies, 
squabbles,  and  broils  growing  out  of  the 
awarding  of  prizes.  A  prize  was  often  the  de- 
stroyer of  the  warmest  friendship. 

After  having  grown  out  of  the  need  of  the 
rod,  I  had  hoped  never  to  meet  again  its  boon 
companion  the  prize.  But  I  was  doomed  to 
be  disappointed.  Here  at  the  Institute,  where 
young  men  who  are  old  enough  to  see  the  earn- 
est side  of  life,  come  to  prepare  themselves  for 
their  profession,  there  are  given  three  prizes. 
Two  of  these  are  comparatively  harmless,  but 
the  third  is  a  doer  of  much  evil.  This  enemy 
of  humanity  is  thie  Priestly  prize.  Every  Junior 


class,  but  the  present  one  in  partici 
suffered  from  its  evil  eflFects.  In  the  \ 
obtain  it  the  object  of  the  study  of  cl 
is  lost  sight  of.  Its  victims  become  sel 
forget  the  considerations  that  they  o 
classmates. 

This  year  the  study  of  chemistry  \ 
made  much  harder,  though  the  formei 
found  it  hard  enough.  The  work  has 
most  doubled.  Besides  having  to  pre 
usual  amount  of  qualitative  analysis, 
fortunate  Juniors  are  required  to  prepa 
nine  pages  of  the  hardest  kind  in  the 
chemistry,  to  review  the  former  les 
each  day  to  take  down  and  copy  is 
note  books,  about  nine  or  ten  questic 
the  laboratory,  besides  the  usual  qu 
analysis,  they  are  given  salts  to  prepa: 
Together  with  all  this  misery,  the 
prize  comes  in  to  make  itself  felt.  Tho 
ing  for  it  spend  four  instead  of  two  afi 
a  week  in  the  laboratory,  thus  getting  f 
of  where  they  should  be  if  they  work< 
fully  during  the  required  time.  Our 
professor  seems  so  absorbed  in  the  com 
that  he  forgets  how  much  an  ordinary 
working  faithfully,  should  do.  The 
quence  is,  that  already,  some  of  the  I 
dents  who  are  not  working  for  the  pr 
been  informed  that  they  are  behind, 
have  to  exert  themselves  to  get  up 
mark. 

It  is  a  fact  that  may  seem  strange  t( 
vocates  of  prizes,  that  in  the  departi 
which  there  are  no  prizes,  the  student 
as  well  and  even  better,  than  in  those  i 
there  are.  The  money  spent  in  priz< 
be  spent  in  a  much  better  manner. 


•^-^ 


ELEMENTARY    BLOW-PIPE  AN/ 


I. 

The  subject  of  blow  pipe  analysis 
which  very  little  or  no  time  can  be  de 
the  chemical  laboratories  of  college 
taught  at  all,  there  are  generally  bi 
prominent  reactions  to  which  any  c 
ation  is  given.  These  reactions  are  > 
ful  and  simple,  and  require  but  lit 
still  there  can  be  no  true  satisfaction  i 
ing  them,  without  also  knowing  some 
the  system  to  which  they  belong. 

Blow  pipe  analysis  has  several  prac 
vantages  over  the  ordinary  methodj 


TH^    ST^V^NS    tNDtCATOk. 


tt9 


analysis,  viz.:  The  necessary  apparatus  for 
qualitative  analysis  occupies  but  a  small  space 
and  may  be  contained  in  an  ordinary  cigar 
box,  thus  being  especially  adapted  for  travel- 
ling ;  the  determinations  require  far  less  time 
than  if  done  by  wet  analysis;  and  finally,  the 
amount  of  substance  used  is  very  small,  when 
compared  with  the  amount  used  in  wet  analy- 
sis. In  many  cases  the  latter  can  give  no  reac- 
tion unless  much  larger  quantities  are  taken. 
Blow  pipe  determinations  are  mainly  appli- 
cable to  mineral  analysis,  as  in  minerals  the 
number  of  elements  rarely  exceeds  four,  ex- 
clusive of  the  water  of  crystallization,  while 
the  larger  and  far  more  important  classes  of 
minerals  contain  only  from  one  to  three  ele- 
ments. 

A  skilful  operator  is  generally  able  to  deter- 
mine four  elements  in  a  mineral  without  diffi- 
culty, when  any  of  these  elements  is  not  less 
than  one  per  cent,  of  the  substance,  although 
with  some  elements  the  amount  may  be  less, 
while  in  some  others  it  must  be  more  than  one 
percent,  before  they  can  be  determined. 

The  subject  is  logically  divided  into  three 
parts: 

fl.  The  reactions  of  the  elements;  in  which 
a  known  substance  is  taken  and  the  reaction 
observed.  The  object  being  to  familiarize 
one's  self  with  these  reactions. 

^.  Qualitative  analysis ;  in  which  an  un- 
known substance,  generally  a  mineral,  is  taken, 
treated  in  a  systematic  manner,  and  the  occur- 
ring reactions  observed.  The  object  being  to 
determine  the  elements  of  the  substance  by 
nieans  of  the  observed  reactions. 
!  c.  Quantitative  analysis;  in  which  a  definite 
quantity  of  a  substance  containing  the  known 
clement  is  taken  and  the  amount  of  the  latter 
\  found  by  weight.  The  object  being  to  deter- 
(  mine  the  percentage  of  the  element  in  the  sub- 
stance. This  division  requires  complicated 
apparatus,  including  a  very  delicate  balance, 
^d  thus  far  includes  only  the  elements,  silver, 
gold,  lead,  bismuth,  tin,  nickel,  cobalt  and 
niercury. 

The  extent  of  the  present  article  will  only 
permit  us  to  consider  the  reactions  of  the  ele- 
ments with  any  degree  of  thoroughness.     A 
knowledge  of  elementary  chemistry  is  presup- 
posed, in  order  to  understand  the  chemical 
reactions  that  take  place,  and  which  will  be 
illustrated  by  formula  whenever  it  is  possible. 
It  is  not  surprising  to  see  that  groups  of 
elements  which   are  similar  in   their   nature 
with  regard  to  fluid  reagents  should  also  be 
similar  when  subjected  to  the  action  of  heat. 


either  alone  or  in  the  presence  of  dry  reagents. 
There  are  some  exceptions  to  this  rule  ;  how- 
ever, on  the  whole,  we  may  say  that  group  II. 
of  qualitative  analysis  corresponds  to  the 
group  which  is  determined  by  the  incrusta- 
tions on  charcoal ;  groups  III.  and  IV.  cor- 
respond to  the  group  determined  by  the  color 
of  borax  beads,  and  groups  V.  and  VI.  cor- 
respond to  the  group  which  is  detected  by  the 
color  imparted  to  the  Bunsen  flame. 

For  practical  reasons,  this  system  is  but  the 
main  portion  of  a  larger  system,  which  embraces 
also  a  few  smaller  groups  and  several  special 
tests  for  certain  elements. 

As  in  wet  analysis  the  elements  are  mainly 
determined  in  the  form  of  certain  invariable 
compounds  having  special  properties,  so  also 
in  dry  analyses  compounds  principally  oxides 
are  formed,  and  the  elements  determined  by 
the  properties  of  these  oxides.  In  a  few  cases 
the  element  is  determined  in  its  pure  state  or 
in  form  of  other  compounds. 

The  following  order  of  groups  is  adopted  in 
working  through  the  reactions  of  the  elements, 
being  also  the  order  in  which  a  single  un- 
known substance  is  treated  when  analyzed, 
the  main  object  being  to  make  the  largest  pos- 
sible number  of  tests  with  the  same  portion  of 
the  substance  : 

Group  I. — Elements  determined  by  the  sub^ 
lunation  tube. 

Group  II. — Elements  determined  by  the  oxida- 
tion tube. 

Group  III. — Elements  determined  by  the 
flame  coloration. 

Group  IV. — Elements  determined  by  the  in- 
crustation on  charcoal. 

Group  V.^Elements  determined  by  the 
colored  borax  beads. 

Group  VI. — Elements  determined  by  the 
heating  with  soda. 

It  may  be  stated  that  some  elements  belong 
to  two  or  more  groups,  and  that  the  special 
tests  for  certain  elements  will  be  given  at  the 
end  of  the  group  to  which  they  properly  be- 
long. 

The  apparatus  required  are  :  A  blow  pipe^ 
having  platinum  tip.  This  is  the  most  im- 
portant instrument,  therefore  close  attention 
should  be  given  that  all  the  joints  are  tightly 
fitted,  and  the  opening  in  the  tip  a  perfect 
circle,  .4  mm.  to  .5  mm.  in  diameter. 

An  adjustable  blow  pipe  lamp^  having  a  rec- 
tangular wick.  Rape  seed  oil  or  a  mixture  of 
6  volumes  of  alcohol  and  i  volume  spirits  of 
turpentine  produce  a  pure,  luminous  flame. 


120 


TH£    STEVE  Us    INDICATOR. 


An  ordinary  alcohol  lamp,  platinum  pointed 
forceps  y  brass  forceps  y  a  few  pieces  oi  platinum 
wire  about  2  inches  long,  melted  into  the  end 
of  a  short  glass  rod,  the  latter  serving  as  a 
handle  ;  a  piece  of  sheet  platinum  about  i  inch 
by  \  inch  ;  some  glass  tubes  3  to  3  J  inches 
long,  \  inch  diameter,  closed  at  one  end  ;  some 
glass  tubes  8-9  inch  long,  \  inch  diameter, 
open  at  both  ends  ;  a  few  pieces  of  fine  grained 
charcoal y  made  from  fir  wood,  being  4  to  5 
inches  long  and  from  |  to  i  inch  square  at 
the  ends. 

The  reagents  are  borax,  phosphorus,  salt, 
soda,  saltpeter,  hydrochloric  and  sulphuric 
acids,  cobalt  nitrate  solution,  water,  litmus 
and  fernambuc  papers,  and  metallic  tin. 

O.  Pf. 

( To  be  continued, ) 


-♦-♦ 


THE  SUCCESSFUL  COLLEGE  PAPER. 


To  make  a  college  paper  a  successful  ven- 
ture is  not  as  easy  a  thing  as  it  would  seem  at 
first,  especially  not  in  a  college,  where  but  very 
little  time  is  devoted  to  literary  work.  Lit- 
erary exercise,  outside  of  a  decided  talent  for 
writing,  is  largely  a  matter  of  training. 

Children  should  be  made  to  begin  early  in 
life  to  write  their  compositions,  and  follow 
these  up  by  essays  ;  so  that  they  may  be 
taught  how  to  express  themselves  concisely 
and  at  the  same  time  clearly. 

The  expenses  of  a  college  paper  are  very 
seldom  paid  by  the  subscriptions  to  it.  This 
necessitates  advertisements  placed  in  the  front 
or  back  of  the  sheet.  To  collect  these,  send 
in  bills  for  them,  and  get  the  money  all  paid 
up,  keep  the  books  and  see  to  the  subscrip- 
tions, is  in  itself  a  very  formidable  work. 

Then,  for  the  matter  contained  in  the  paper, 
there  ought  to  be  a  personal  interest  shown  by 
every  member  of  the  college  in  the  welfare  of 
the  college  journal.  Support  should  never  be 
found  wanting,  no  matter  to  whom  one  may 
turn. 

Unfortunately  this  is  rarely  the  case,  and 
the  editor  of  the  paper  has  to  spend  a  great 
deal  of  time  going  around  soliciting  articles 
to  fill  up  his  sheet.  And  although  there  are 
but  few  willing  to  write  articles,  there  are 
always  a  large  number  ready  to  run  down  the 
paper  for  not  containing  enough  material. 

Besides  collecting  the  material  from  the 
contributors,  some  one  has  to  see  that  it  is  put 
in  the  printers'  hands  in  time  to  get  the  paper 
out  at  the  proper  date. 


Before  the  final  copies  are  struck  oflF,  the 
proof  sheets  have  to  be  thoroughly  revised  and 
corrected,  and  then,  finally,  the  paper  comes 
out  and  has  to  be  distributed  among  the  sub- 
scribers. 

For  all  this  the  editor  gets  but  little  credit,  and 
a  great  deal  of  blame.  His  pay  consists  in  the 
appreciation  of  his  work  and  encouragement, 
but  how  can  he  feel  encouraged  when  students 
will  not  contribute  or  subscribe  ?  To  be  a 
success,  a  college  paper  must  have  the  support 
and  interest  of  all  the  students  in  the  college 
at  least.  The  alumni  can  help  a  great  deal 
It  is  always  interesting  for  the  undergraduates 
to  hear  of  those  who  have  gone  before  theo, 
and  to  see  what  positions  they  are  filling.  On 
the  contrary,  the  alumni  cannot  help  but  take 
a  deep  interest  in  their  alma  mater. 

A  college  paper  containing  alumni  news  is 
sure  to  be  much  more  interesting  to  every- 
body, and  it  is  sure  to  be  taken  by  each  right 
spirited  alumnus. 


-♦♦♦- 


WHAT  IS  AN  M.  E.  ? 


Editor  American  Mcuhinist : 

Having  long  been  an  admirer  of  the  Ameri' 
can  Mcuhinisty  on  account  of  the  excellent 
work  it  has  been  doing  as  an  educator  of 
American  mechanics  and  mechanical  engineers, 
it  is  with  regret  that  I  notice  in  an  editorial,  in 
its  issue  dated  September  5,  what  I  con- 
ceive to  be  an  erroneous  view  concerning  the 
meaning  of  the  letters  M.  E.  when  placed 
after  a  man's  name,  and  the  right  of  any  per- 
son to  place  them  after  his  name.  The  edi- 
torial in  question  conveys  the  impression  that 
these  letters  mean  simply  that  the  man  is  a 
mechanical  engineer,  or  that  he  practices  me- 
chanical engineering  for  a  living  ;  that  they 
are  a  descriptive  title  of  the  same  kind  as  the 
words  "  machinist  *'  and  "  boiler  maker,"  and 
that  they  may  rightly  be  used  by  any  one  who 
considers  himself  a  mechanical  engineer. 

Will  you  allow  me  to  enter  a  protest  against 
this  view,  and  to  state  my  own  opinion,  which 
is  :  I  St.  That  the  letters  M.  E.  mean  not  that 
the  man  is  a  mechanical  engineer  by  virtue  of 
his  having  actually  labored  as  such,  but  that 
he  possesses  a  diploma  conferring  the  degree 
of  mechanical  engineer,  which  diploma  has 
been  conferred  upon  him  by  a  college  having 
authority  by  law  to  confer  such  a  degree. 
2d.  That  no  other  person  has  any  legal  or 
moral  right  to  use  them.  3d.  That  while 
there  may  be  no  penalty  attached  by  law  to 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


121 


the  wrongful  use  of  these  letters,  such  as  there 
is  in  many  States  to  the  wrongful  use  of  the 
letters  M.  D.  (which  mean  that  the  user  of 
them  is  the  possessor  of  a  college  diploma  con- 
ferring the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine),  the 
man  who  uses  them  and  who  is  not  the  posses- 
sor of  a  legally  conferred  diploma  which  en- 
titles him  to  use  them,  is  guilty  of  a  wilful 
deception  of  the  public.  It  is  possible  that 
scHne  who  wrongfully  use  these  letters  are  not 
guilty  of  wilful  deception,  since  they  are 
actually  ignorant  of  their  meaning,  but  they  at 
least  lay  themselves  open  to  the  suspicion  of 
wilful  deception,  and  if  honorable  men  they 
will  no  longer  use  them  after  they  become 
aware  that  such  use  renders  them  liable  to 
such  suspicion. 

That  the  letters  M.  E.  do  not  mean  that  the 
user  of  them  is  entitled  to  any  special  emi- 
nence as  a  mechanical  engineer,  gained  by 
years  of  labor  or  great  achievement,  is  evi- 
denced by  the  fact  that  not  one  of  the  eminent 
American  engineers,  whose  long  experience 
and  high  reputation  entitle  them  to  the  front 
rank  as  mechanical  engineers,  now  uses  these 
letters,  or  ever  has  done  so.  The  late  A.  L. 
Holley,  who  was  pre-eminently  a  mechanical 
engineer,  used  C.  E.  after  his  name,  but  never 
M.  E.  John  Ericsson,  Horatio  Allen,  Charles 
T.  Porter,  Charles  E.  Emery,  A.  H.  Emery,  R. 
H.  Thurston,  Charles  B.  Richards,  John  E. 
Sweet,  E.  D.  Leavitt,  Jr.,  and  many  other  em- 
inent engineers  who  might  be  named,  never 
used  the  letters  M.  E.,  not  having  had  the  col- 
Icgediploma  legally  entitling  them  to  use  them, 
and  they  would  scorn  to  use  them  without  such 
legal  nght.  Some  of  these,  however,  use  the 
C.  E.  or  the  Ph.  D.,  to  which  they  are  right- 
fully entitled  by  diploma,  although  they  do 
not  now  practice  civil  engineering  or  that  class 
of  scientific  research  for  which  the  degree  of 
Ph.  D.  is  granted. 

Still  further,  the  letters  M.  E.  are  (with  pos- 
sible rare  exceptions)  rightly  used  at  the  pres- 
ent time  only  by  the  younger  men  in  the  pro- 
fession of  mechanical  engineering,  and  their 
use  actually  advertises  the  fact,  that  their  users 
^  of  comparatively  limited  practical  experi- 
ence, because  they  are  young  men.     This  re- 
sults from  the   fact  that  it  is  but  little  over 
ten  years  since  the  degree  of  M.  E.  was  first 
granted.     The  large  majority  of  M.  E.'s  of  the 
present  time  have  not   been  graduated  from 
(xl^%^  over  five  years. 

The  American  Machinist  has  frequently  had 
sneers  at  college  graduates.  I  am  not  pre- 
pared to  say  that  some  of  them  are  not  de- 


served. The  fresh  college  graduate  with  the 
M.  E.  degree  is  apt  to  know  very  little  of  ac- 
tual practice  ;  but,  as  Prof.  Thurston,  over  ten 
years  ago  said  to  a  graduating  class,  the  col- 
lege course  well  fits  them  to  begin  to  learn  to 
become  mechanical  engineers.  Many  of  such 
graduates  I  know,  who,  after  receiving  their 
diplomas,  aware  that  the  diplomas  did  not 
confer  the  advantages  which  only  practice 
could  give,  went  into  apprenticeship  in  ma- 
chine shops  and  iron  works,  working  like  labor- 
ers, at  first  on  wages,  from  fifty  cents  to  a  dol- 
lar a  day.  Who  shall  say  that  these  men, 
after  five  years  of  actual  practice,  are  not  likely 
to  be  the  equals  as  mechanical  engineers  of 
men  of  the  same  experience  who  have  not  had 
the  advantage  of  a  college  training?  Three 
such  men  I  have  in  mind,  who  thus  began  at 
the  bottom  in  1876.  They  have  been  ad- 
vanced by  their  own  merits  from  one  position 
to  another,  till  they  now  have  hundreds  of 
men  under  their  control.  Two  of  them  are 
superintendents  of  motive  power  of  prominent 
railroads,  and  the  other  is  superintendent  of 
large  steel  works.  Are  there  any  mechanical 
engineers  in  the  country  who  are  not  college 
graduates  who  have  advanced  so  rapidly 
during  the  last  ten  years  ? 

I  have  no  objection,  Messrs.  Editors,  to 
some  of  your  correspondents  continuing  to 
sneer  at  college  graduates.  It  will  do  the 
graduates  good.  They  cannot  have  it  too 
severely  rubbed  into  them  how  ignorant  they 
are  of  practice.  It  may  teach  them  a  proper 
humility  which  some  of  them  are  sadly  in 
need  of.  But,  say  a  good  word  for  them  oc- 
casionally in  your  editorial  columns,  and 
thereby  acquire  for  yourselves  a  reputation 
for  fairness.  Laugh  at  them,  if  you  will,  for 
sporting  the  cabalistic  letters  M.  E.  These 
letters  are  only  a  little  bit  of  plumage,  which 
the  new  fledged  bird  is  apt  to  be  rather  proud 
of,  but,  in  the  spirit  of  justice,  at  least,  do  try 
to  discourage  a  certain  class  who  are  not  emi- 
nent engineers,  and  never  will  be,  from  bor- 
rowing or  stealing  this  plumage,  and  thereby 
making  themselves  contemptible.  "  Fine 
feathers  don't  make  fine  birds  ;"  the  M.  E.  don't 
make  a  mechanical  engineer.  The  strutting 
peacock  and  the  newly  fledged  M.  E.  may  both 
be  objects  of  ridicule,  but  the  crow  that  steals 
the  peacock's  feathers,  and  the  mechanical 
engineer  who  steals  the  M.  E.  that  he  has  no 
right  to,  can  only  be  objects  of  contempt. 

William  Kent. 
26  Highland  Ave.,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR, 


The  whiteness  of  porcelain  is  principally 
due  to  kaolin,  which  is  a  clay  consisting  al- 
most entirely  of  pure  hydrated  silicate  of 
aluminium.  Other  materials  are  combined 
with  this  to  give  the  necessary  toughness  and 
cohesion  ;  these,  in  the  requisite  projiortions, 
are  placed  with  a  quantity  of  water  in  large 
vats,  in  which  a  thorough  mechanical  mixture 
is  obtained  by  means  of  agitators.  When  the 
mixture  in  this  fluid  state,  as  white  as  milk, 
has  been  sufficiently  stirred  up,  it  is  strained 
through  sieves,  varying  in  fineness  from  30  to 
30  threads  to  the  inch.  This  liquid  com- 
pound is  reduced  to  the  form  of  stiff 
dough  by  pressing  out  the  superfluous  moisture 
in  strong  cloth  bags.  In  this  condition  it  is 
ready  for  the  potter.  Before  reaching  him, 
however,  it  is  weighed  out  into  lumps  by  his 
assistant.  The  lump  is  first  rolled  into  a  pear 
shaped  ball  and  then  placed  in  the  centre  of 
the  wheel  or  disk  revolving  horizontally. 
This  disk  is  fixed  on  the  end  of  a  vertical 
shaft  which  is  supported  so  as  to  have  as  little 
friction  as  possiUe.  Another  disk  is  fixed  on 
the  shaft  about  a  foot  from  the  floor,  and  it  is 
by  means  of  this  that  the  apparatus  is  made  to 
rotate.  The  potter  sits  with  the  apparatus 
directly  in  front  of  him,  he  places  his  feet  on 
the  lower  disk  and  by  pushing  with  one  and 
pulling  with  the  other  foot,  the  apparatus  is 
made  to  rev61ve  with  quite  a  high  velocity. 

The  clay  on  the  upper  disk  is  made  to  per- 
form the  most  extraordinary  evolution.  It 
spreads  out,  leaving  3  hollow  centre,  and  grows 
like  a  mushroom  under  the  skilful  hand  of 
the  operator.  As  the  clay  revolves  rapidly, 
the  operator  has  only  to  change  the  position 
of  his  hands,  which  are  dipped  in  water  at  fre- 
quent intervals,  to  produce  any  shape  he  may 

The  exquisitely  thin  Tups,  etc.,  from  Sevres 
are,  however,  made  in  an  entirely  different 
way,  (.  e.,  by  means  of  plaster  of  pans  moulds. 
The  moulds  for  cups  are  made  like  a  cup 
with  sides  about  j  of  an  inch  thick,  the  in- 
terior of  which  corresponds  exactly  to  the 
exterior  of  the  cup  to  be  made.  Into  this 
mould  is  poured  an  aqueous  solution  of  the 
clay,  which  is  about  the  consistency  of  thick 
cream.  This  solution  is  allowed  to  stand  in  the 
mould  a  length  of  time  proportioned  to  the 
desired  thickness  of  the  cup. 

After  the  mould  has  stood  the  required  time 
the  solution  is  poured  out  and  the  mould  set 


aside  to  dry.  As  soon  as  the  1 
is  poured  into  the  mould  its  po: 
moisture  from  the  liquid,  and  tl 
deposited  in  a  thin  film  all  over  t 
the  thickness  of  which  keeps  incre 
the  solution  is  poured  out.  As  thi^ 
it  gradually  contracts,  so  that  whec 
it  can  be  easily  turned  out  of  the  n: 

The  articles,  after  leaving  the  ha 
potter,  are  placed  in  the  drying  hou 
sufficiently  dried  they  are  placed  in 
cuit "  kilns,  as  they  are  oddly  callec 
celain  ware  is  baked  twice,  once  in 
and  once  in  glaze.  Some  of  the  flu 
are  submitted  three  times  to  the  ii 
of  the  kilns.  The  process  of  bakii 
from  35  to  50  hours. 
To  ehe  Indicator  : 

The  above  is  described   from 
actually  seen  at  Sevres,  by 

C.  H.  P 


THE  SONG  OF  RANKIA 


Come  all  fc  close  students  and  listen  u 
1  will  sing  of  a  man  and  a  bold  engince 
Who  wrote  large  red  volumes  of  many  1 


It  by  the  memorable 


And  w 


Singing  fulcrum  and   lever,  coi 
Resultant  of  motion  with  the  { 

His  teil  book  of  mill  work  was  worst  o: 
Containing  hard  chapters,  good  drill  foi 
On  cog  wheels  and  cycloids  he  talked  a 
But  what  struck  us  most  was  his  skew  I 

Singing,  fulcrum,  etc. 
Ua  side  valves  and  pistons  he  had  a  qu 
As  well  as  a  chapter  in  parallel  motion 
And  he'd  muddle  you  so  with  1  demons 
That  you'd  wish  yourself  at  the  end  of  < 

Singing,  fulcrum,  etc. 
He  wrote  a  big  volume  which  is  labelle 
On  the  transfer  of  molion,  with  a  glanci 
And  the  vehicle  moti<m,  with  its  norma 
Either  craies  or  blinds  you— it  is  hard  t 

Singing,  fulcrum,  etc. 
His  book  for  the  civils,  a  solid  old  thin 
The  way  he  made  figures  was  a  shame 
With  stringers  and  trusses,  and  their  re 
And  arches  and  piers,  with  their  solid  I 

Singing,  fulcrum,  etc. 
The  last  thing  ever  wtillen  by  Mr,  Rar 
Was  a  book  ou  engines  to  be  driven  l>) 
With   a  crank   and  crank  arm   Hhich 


.\nd  steady  old  piston  he  callci 
Singing,  fulcrum,  etc. 


Ihc; 


THE     STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


■23 


Mr,  Rtmkine  is  dead,  and  we'll  si 


CHORUS. 

Singing,  fulcrum  and  lever,  connections  and 
Resultant  of  Qiotion  with  the  dead  working 
— Exchange. 


SCRAPS  FROM  OLDEN  TIMES;  OR,  THE 
STUDENT'S  LUNCH. 


HE  morniog  sun 

shinned  up  the 
eastern  slope  and 
a  prize  refulgence 
on  the  "  Land  of  the 
Free  and  the  Home  of 
the  Dutch,"  And  as 
thi;  sunbeams  glimmered 
with  a  nickel  plated 
gtiramer  and  sneaked 
noisily  into  the  eyes  of 
the  Dutch,  the  Dutch 
roatt  up  with  one  accord 
Md  girded  on  their  second  hand  clothing. 
With  one  accord,  they  said  "Wie  Gehts," 
Md  sallied  forth  to  brew  the  vulgar  beer 
Md  drink  thereof.  And  with  the  Dutch  rose 
ftitch  Lewwie,  Lewwie  Iceberg,  the  keeper 
of  the  "beanery."  "I  see,"  quoth  he,  "the 
sunbeams  prowling  in.  'Tis  time  to  agitate 
» limb,  and  mix  the  sawdust  with  the  bread 
loddust  the  ancient  buns  and  pies  that  I've 
lud  on  hand  for  over  oofteen  months.  It's 
tird  lines  to  run  this  baker  business.  Got  to 
reduce  running  expenses  sure.  I'm  only  mak- 
ing four  hundred  per  cent,  on  buns  and  I 
ought  to  make  five.  Now,  '  by  my  troth,'  pul- 
'wiied  sugar  is  too  luxurious  for  this  concern. 
Cnished  lime  is  just  the  thing  to  use,  I  must 
Ixup  and  order  some;  one,  two  or  three,  four 
or  five,  six  or  seven,  eight  or  nine  barrels,  and 
■bat  1  don't  order,  by  heavings  I  will  steal, 
»ith  ray  hand  cart  and  my  little  son,  when  the 
niidnighl  shades  cavort  and  wilt  the  carrots  in 
yon  grocer  shop." 

And  as  he  spake  he  gaped.  Not  an  ordin- 
"y  Dutch  gape,  gentle  reader,  but  a  Lewwie 
Iceberg  gape.  A  gape  which  goes  around  beg- 
png  for  description.  But  Lewwie  was  very 
considerate  about  it  though,  and  roofed  it 
O'er  with  a  wash  bowl.     He  let  the  board  of 


health   have   their  own  way  about  it.     They 

told  him'  several  times  that  they  wasn't  going 
to  have  him  circulating  his  breath  all  over  the 
country,  and  then  have  the  people  promenade 
all  over  their  shapes  for  bad  sanitary  condi- 
tions. No,  sir!  The  board  said  they  were 
altogether  too  fat  and  lazy  for  anything  of 
that  kind. 

"Yes,  yes,  yes,"  continued  Lewwie,  as  he 
gave  a  hop,  skip,  and  a  jump  into  his  under- 
shirt, and  adjusted  the  rest  of  his  rags.  "  Lime 
is  quite  the  proper  article  for  sugar.  Sprinkle 
molasses  water  over  it  for  taste.  Taste  don't 
amount  to  much.  Bulk  for  one  cent  is  the 
great  unvarnished  end.  Ho,  ho!  I  am  a 
snoozer,  though.  Great  and  deep  is  my  ex- 
pansive intellect,  and  great  and  deep  is  the 
gouge  I  make  in  the  students.  Ho,  ho!  He, 
he!  Ha,  ha!"  and  right  merrily  his  spirits  can- 
tered on  the  up  grade,  and  very  shortly  he 
spread  out  in  a  little  thing  of  his  own.  Just 
listen. 

Oh,  I'm  the  chump  thai  keeps  the  place, 
And  I'm  the  cook  as  well. 

My  wife  she  tends  the  "  beanery  shop,"     ' 
And  Ihc  ancient  food  dolh  sd). 


My  pies  and  cakes  and  penny  buns 
.     I  never  have  to  bake, 
But  from  the  ofher  bakeries 
Their  antique  stock  I  lake. 


And  full  price  I  make  ihem  pay. 


Then  give  three  cheers  for  Icebei^  Lew, 

Of  flies  he  is  bereft. 
For  damp  and  chilly  is  the  day 

When  Lewwie  doth  get  left. 


But  Lewwie  got  a  little  bit  too  fly  on  the 
last  choum — m,  and  he  accordingly  fell  down 
two  pair  of  stairs  with  a  genuine  Dutch  thud. 
After  having  performed  this  great  gravity  act, 
he  picked  himself  up  and  began  to  quote 
choice  selections  from  favorite  authors,  Lew- 
wie Iceberg  being  the  prime  favorite. 

"Now,  darn  them  stairs,"  he  began,  as  he 
untangled  more  than  half  the  household  fur- 
niture from  his  neck.  "I  shall  have  them  re- 
moved.    Yes,  sir!    That's  the  «th  time  I've 


124 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


fallen  down  'em  this  week.  Yarkup!  Yar- 
kup!  Allez  and  gnaw  the  front  stairs  into 
kindling  wood.  Acquire  a  very  weighty  mo- 
tion, or  I  shall  fall  down  'em  again/' 

And  Yarkup  moved  heavily  with  his  front 
teeth,  and  Lewwie  promenaded  up  and  opened 
the  "beanery"  for  the  day.  And  then  his 
wife  appeared,  to  engineer  the  "  snyde  "  store, 
while  Lewwie  went  below.  She  took  her  place 
behind  the  counter  and  gnawed  on  bologna 
and  the  low  bom  onion,  while  the  cockroaches 
held  a  dress  parade  on  the  show  case.  The 
time  was  6  a.  m.,  and  Lewwie  rushed  about 
below  to  make  people  outside  believe  he  was 
baking  something  fresh,  but  of  course  he 
wasn't  rash  enough  to  do  a  thing  of  that  kind. 
He  had  eight  baking  pans  down  there;  and 
first  off  he'd  put  'em  on  a  shelf,  and  then  all 
of  a  sudden  he'd  knock  'em  off,  and  then 
you'd  hear  more  noise  than  all  the  steam  bak- 
eries in  New  York  put  together.  Then,  when- 
ever a  customer  came  in,  he'd  shove  all  the 
pans  ofif  twice  and  rush  upstairs  and  lug  big 
baskets  of  stale  rolls  out  to  a  cart  in  front  of 
the  store,  just  as  fast  as  his  two  legs  would  let 
him.  Then,  as  fast  as  he  put  'em  in  the  wag- 
on, his  little  son  came  up  the  cellar  way  and 
took  'em  back  down  stairs,  so  as  to  have  an- 
other basket  for  his  pop  to  take  out.  They'd 
keep  this  up  as  long  as  there  were  any  custom- 
ers in  the  store,  and  then  when  there  were  two 
or  three  customers,  all  his  wife's  Dutch  rela- 
tions would  pile  into  the  store  and  leave  big 
orders  for  bread  and  all  kinds  of  truck.  Ev- 
ery other  day  the  whole  family  would  take 
down  all  the  stock  and  soak  it  up  and  pum- 
mel it,  just  to  keep  it  capable  of  being  masti- 
cated by  anything  this  side  of  a  goat.  That 
is,  anything  with  a  liberal  jaw  this  side  of  a 
goat.  False  teeth  and  gums  wouldn't  work 
for  a  cent,  unless  the  article  was  soaked  all 
night,  and  then  the  individual  might  be  led 
into  the  belief  that  he  was  eating  a  dish  rag  or 
stale  flour  paste.  Lewwie  had  any  quantity 
of  "skin  games,"  but  lack  of  space  prevents 
an  enumeration  of  them  all.  A  few  speci- 
mens will  do,  just  to  show  how  he  could  bull- 
doze the  public  with  eight  baking  pans,  a  big 
Dutch  family  and  excessively  ancient  victuals 
of  all  descriptions. 

The  morning  wore  on,  and  so  did  Lewwie's 
pants,  sitting  around  and  waiting  for  noon, 
for  then  was  the  time  that  the  great  jingling 
of  shekels  took  place,  as  at  that  hour  the 
blithe  hearted  and  thoughtless  students  wan- 
dered over  for  the  noonday  meal,  and  got 
stuck  the  worst  way  by  Lewwie. 


Well,  as  was  previously  mentioned,  the  morn- 
ing and  Lewwie's  pants  sang  softly  the  duet, 
"Wear  on,  oh  double  jointed  morning,"  and 
in  reply,  the  double  jointed  morning  kept 
wearing  right  steadily  on  until  it  run  out  of 
"wear"  entirely,  and  had  to  stop  short.  Then 
was  noon  at  hand,  and  up  rose  Lewwie  and 
smote  his  hands  anon;  and  in  piled  the  whole 
family  to  tend  the  "beanery,"  at  the  hour  of 
jingling  shekels. 

In   something  that  approximated  to  a  few 
minutes,  the    first  detatchment  came.     The 
same    old    dingy  mob   in    the    same  place. 
Every  detatchment  had  always  just  the  same 
number    and    just  the  same  place  to  stand, 
and  masticate  baked  lumber.     First  came  old 
Korpzingaboom  the  Lean,  with   the  flowing 
shape  that  bulged  in  seven  consecutive  direc- 
tions without  making  any  deliberated  attempts 
to  bulge  anywhere  in  particular.     And  then 
in  contrast  came  Sir  Bung,  with  a  shape  that 
did  not  pretend  in  the  least  to  do  anything 
but  bulge.     Then  followed  Peed,  the  Micro- 
scopic Mackerel,  Skein,  St.  Luke,  and  many 
more.     With  the  same  movement  they  simul- 
taneously cast  their  eagle  eyes  on  the  proper 
article  of  distress  and  dyspepsia  and  fell  upon 
it,  also  simultaneously.     After  the  first  round 
the  amount  eaten  began  to  vary  in  direct  pro- 
portion to  the  strength  of  the  eater.     And  the 
amount  eaten  at  the  end  of  any  one  second 
was  equal  to  the  strength,  into  the  size  of  the 
mouth,  specific  gravity  of  the  article  and  num- 
ber of  the  second.     In  this  connection  it  is 
well  to  mention  that  in  finding  the  specific 
gravity  in  this  case,  bricks  are  taken  as  unity. 
In  a  few  minutes  the  company  began  to  con- 
verse on  various  topics  highly  instructive  and 
entertaining. 

"  I  say,"  said  Koopzing,  as  he  picked  up  an 
imitation  doughnut,  "what's  this  doughnut 
made  of  ?  It's  the  best  I've  had  this  season. 
Try  one,  fellus.     I've  eaten  eight." 

Lewwie  heard  the  question,  and  told  Koop- 
zing that  it  was  made  out  of  a  superior  kind 
of  butter  and  sugar,  and  then  he  laughec 
clear  way  up  his  sleeve  and  down  his  back 
because  he  knew  all  the  time  that  it  was  mad< 
out  of  whale  oil  and  smoked  herring  (old). 

"  Got  any  apple  pies  ?"  continued  Koopzing 

"  Yes,"  said  Lewwie,  and  he  brought  fortl 
an  old  pin  cushion  in  disguise,  **  fine  ;  bake< 
to-day."  And  Koopzing  ate  thereof  an< 
thought  it  rich  in  flavor. 

"  Now,  I  wot,"  spoke  up  St.  Luke,  "  bu 
this  is  something  rare.  No  flies  on  this, 
grasping  a  cream  cake  that  had  begun   to  rt 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


125 


a  corn  fritter  from  age.  St.  Luke 
e  indeed.  No  flies  there  were  on  that, 
glorious  old  reason  that  the  flies  could 
J  on  it ;  too  rank  for  'em. 
w,  I  think  truly,"  he  proceeded,  "  that  I 
e  a  few  of  these  home  in  my  hat.  I'm 
nd  of  these  ;"  and  he  took  four  more 
)sided  into  masticating  silence, 
ur  taste  is  very  good,  St.  Luke,"  an- 
Mackerel,  "  but  mine  is  undoubtedly 

in  G.  These  are  the  things  to  grow 
n,"  and,  taking  a  charlotte  made  out  of 
d  plaster  paris  and  asbestos,  he  began 
id  to  business. 

n't  either  of  you  know  what  is  good," 
Bung.  "  This  is  the  thing  that  is  su- 
to  everything  else,"  and  he  tackled 
3usly  a  ham  sandwich  stuffed  with  lard, 
srrily  did   a   little   stream  of  it  trickle 

adown  the  front  of  his  breeches, 
te  in  silence  for  a  few  moments,  when 
ly  Peed  dropped  his  cream  cake  all  over 
y  shirt  front  of  Koopzing,  and  with  one 
they  all  dropped  the  objects  of  their 
efforts,  for  afar  off  had  they  simulta- 
r  spied  the  **  beanery  "  belle,  and,  as 
Qod  in  rapturous  silence  watching  the 
ching  maid,  the  festive  Lewwie  stole 
isly  around  the  backs  of  their  chairs 
thered  in  the  dropped  victuals,  and  he 
them  on  the  counter  and  sold  them 
;ain.  You  see,  that  was  one  of  Lewwie's 
ames.  The  maid  was  one  of  his  Dutch 
is,  and  she  used  to  assist  I^ewwie  every 
the  great  second  hand  racket.  In  this 
e  boys  used  to  buy  the  same  article  over 
several  times.  They  always  forgot 
iropping  the  things,  and  came  to  the 
iion  that  they  must  have  chawed  it  up 
^  so  they  usually  dealt  out  the  ducats  in 
It  for  another  supply.  Shortly  after 
\  second  detachment  came  in,  contain- 
irge  percentage  of  "preps.,"  with  va- 
inds  of  shapes,  all  of  them  inferior  to 
an  early  potato. 

w,  look  at  that,"  said  St.  Luke,  point- 
i  big,  fat  and  lazy  prep.,  old  enough  to 
ried  ;  **  do  you  'spoze  that  would  float 
)uld  fall  in  the  river  ?" 
er,"  answered  Koopzing  ;  "  soap  fat  al- 
Dats."     And  then  the   prep,  took  sick, 
aldn't  eat  his  rubbish. 
ly,"  spoke  up  Peed,  "  these  preps,  draw 
id  bugs.     Look  at  the  size  of  *eni.     I 
's  move  off  and  let  the  vulgar  prep,  pur- 
way  alone." 
say  we  all  of  us,"  rejoined  the  mob ; 


and  straightway  they  lit  out  and  got  them- 
selves hence.  The  preps,  ate  on  and  on  until 
they,  too,  were  filled  with  past  ages,  and 
heavily  they  dragged  their  gigantic  feet  behind 
their  diminutive  bodies  and  left  Dutch  Lewwie 
to  himself.  He  gathered  up  his  shekels  in  a 
pile  and  counted  up  his  goodly  stock.  Then 
laid  he  them  away  in  a  stocking  that  he  stole 
the  week  before  from  his  neighbor's  clothes 
line. 

"  Now,  on,  on  with  to-morrow,"  he  ejacu- 
lated, and,  with  a  laugh  that  shook  all  the 
mortar  out  of  the  wall,  he  sang  in  a  swan's 
down  manner  : 

Then  give  three  cheers  for  Iceberg  Lew., 

Of  flies  he  is  bereft, 
For  damp  and  chilly  is  the  day 

When  Lewwie  doth  get  left. 

(Rubbi  dub,  de,  de,  de  !  with  both  heels  in  the  show 
case.) 

T.  Dingus  Kehoe. 


-♦♦- 


^%mmA^\Q,Yimm. 


IC 


OH,   YE   TEES!" 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

If  all  the  students  take  the  Indicator,  as 
they  should,  this  notice  will  come  under  the 
eyes  of  all.  It  is  in  regard  to  the  way  in 
which  T  squares  belonging  to  some  of  us  are 
handled  by  the  members  of  the  other  classes. 
There  are  very  few  members  of  the  Institute, 
I  think,  who  would  be  unwilling  to  allow 
members  of  the  other  classes  to  use  their 
squares,  if  they  would  use  them  properly. 
But,  when  students  persist  in  taking  other 
people's  squares  and  having  fencing  matches 
with  them,  or  bat  their  neighbor  over  the 
head  with  them,  or  use  them  to  drive  in  tacks 
with,  naturally  the  owner  of  the  mutilated 
square  feels  rather  badly  about  it.  As  long 
as  this  continues,  there  is  no  use  in  buying 
new  squares  to  be  broken  up  by  those  stu- 
dents who  never  have  gotten  one  of  their 
own,  but  persist  in  using,  or  rather  misusing, 
those  belonging  to  some  one  else.  Our  pro- 
fessors have  taken  every  precaution  they  can 
to  protect  our  property,  but  they  cannot 
watch  over  each  student's  individual  property. 
It  rests  entirely  with  the  students,  who  should, 
as  gentlemen,  have  regard  for  the  property  of 
others.  Hoping  that  this  may  assist  us  all  in 
keeping  our  T  squares  in  good  condition, 
Yours,  for  fairness,  T.  S. 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


!Fhe  Sfeevei^g  Indiealieir. 


IBtk   OF   EACH   MONTH,   DUMHQ   THE  COLLEQE   VEMR, 

INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVen^  Institute  of  Tec|noIog  j. 

TEiH  t-ciu  r«'  v*V'  *"  lUniM-    u»ti*  c»n,  ao  Ctote. 


Exira  iapitt  can  it  eilaineJ  at  Lutkiii's  book  ttertt 
HobBktn,N.J. 

Smbtcriteri  vrill  pUast  immeJiaUfy  nelify  ui  «f  any 
tkanst  in  Ikeir  addmsts  er  failurt  le  rtciive  the  fafei 
Ttguiarly. 

Tfu  wrilet'i  full  nantt,  at  well  as  kit  NOlf  DB  plume, 
mtitt  atctmtany  Iki  article,  at  atturaiue  of  i^ood  faith 
attd  reliiMlHy  ;  inl  il  vnll  nut  it  fuilithed,  unlest  dttirtd. 

Exchaagtt,  cimtriititiaHt,  luiscriflviiii.  advtrtiiemenli 
ami  a/ialXercmnmuttitalient  by  mail,  theuld  beaddnttid 
te  Thb  Stbvens  Indicator,  Stevens  institute,  NiiioieH, 
N.J. 


^7^£  publish  from  the  American  Machinist 
Vl/  a  communication  from  Mr.  Kent,  '76, 
regarding  the  meaning  of  the  title  M.  E.  In 
an  editorial,  which  claims  to  call  attention  to 
this  tetter,  we  notice  the  following  sarcastic 
remark  :  "  There  is  one  item  of  information 
in  this  communication  covering  a  point  upon 
which  we  are  glad  to  be  infonned  ;  that  is, 
that  the  letters  M.  E.  may  be  rightly  used  only 
by  those  with  little  or  no  practice  in  actual  me- 
chanical engineering.  We  do  not  believe  it  is 
generally  so  understood,  but  if  it  comes  td  be 
the  practice,  it  may  be  just  as  well."  We 
gladly  acknowledge  that  this  anathema  against 
"  technical  schools "  in  particular,  and  all 
graduates  in  general,  is  in  entire  sympathy 
with  the  sentiments  of  most  of  the  Machinist' s 
subscribers,  though  not  accepted  by  its  learned 
contributors.  Nevertheless,  we  beg  to  remind 
the  editors  of  that  paper  that  in  ancient  times, 
before  men  were  licensed  M.  D.  at  an  institu- 
tion of  learning,  there  were  many  persons, 
without  a  collegiate  education,  who  had  ac- 
quired sufficient  experience  and  knowledge, 
by  personal  observation,  to  accomplish,  at 
times,  extraordinary  cures ;  but  still,  at  the 


present  time  nobody  questions  the  exclustvE 
tight  of  medical  graduates,  however  young  and 
inexperienced  they  may  be,  to  the  so  called 
degree  of  doctor  of  medicine. 

Give  the  young  M.  E.  a  chance  to  obtain  a   j 
good  footing  in    the  "profession,"  and  yon    j 
shall  soon  see  whether  or  not  he  will  be  able,    \ 
by  dint  of  a  superior  theoretical  training,  (0 
compete  successfully  with  the  old  and  "prac- 
tised "  men,  who  are  obliged   to  take  thingi 
for  granted  on  authority,  without  individoil 
investigation.     As  the   science  of  mechanical 
engineering  is  gradually  being  reduced  to  1 
collection  of   strict  mathematical    truths  and 
laws,  so  the  necessity  for  a  thorough  theoretical 
training  shall   be  felt  more  strongly  as  yean 
roll  by.     When    the   now  sneered-at  college 
graduate  shall   have  the  recognition  he  prop- 
erly rieseries,  when  one  sided  practical  men 
shall  have  been  mercilessly  swallowed  by  their 
all  consuming  idee  fixr  of  perpetual  moiion,  , 
and  when  science,  in  her  entire  majesty,  shall  ' 
rule  this  sphere,  then  shall  practice  bow  im- 
plicitly to  the  mandates  of  theory,  and  the 
proud  executor  of  reason's  commands  shall 
acknowledge  the  superiority  of  the  humiliate^ 
legislator. 

mR.  PFORDTE,  formerly  a  member  of  the 
class  of  '85,  has  returned  to  finish  his 
course  at  Stevens  with  '86.  He  has  studied 
blow  pipe  analysis  under  Prof.  Richter,  oi 
Freiberg,  Saxony,  and  has  kindly  volunteered 
to  contribute  a  series  of  articles  on  that  inter- 
esting subject.  As  he  is  especially  conversant 
with  this  branch  of  chemical  detennination* 
we  have  no  doubt  but  that  his  concise  and 
elementary  treatment  of  that  study  will  prove 
a  source  of  benefit  and  information  to  all  of  us- 


TTTHE  frontispiece  of  this  number  of  th* 
*1*  Indicator  is  by  Mr.  Kolb,  'SS.  As  af* 
artist,  our  aesthetic  Sophomore  promises  ^ 
great  future.  Entirely  devoid  of  the  crude" 
ness  usual  with  first  attempts  in  sketching 
the  "  Leaf  from  the  Sketch  Book  "  makes  u  - 
anxious  to  see  another  from  the  same  hand. 


IF^BIGBIKBR  CPRBS. 


B  The  other  day  we  entered  the  building  with 
W  an  iDtention  of  taking  a  card  of  the  hbrary. 
W  V^  found  everything  in  splendid  order.  At 
r  th^  librarian's  desk  was  an  alphabetically  ar- 
raxx  £ed  catalogue  of  subjects,  as  well  a^  one  of 
aucliors.  The  books  had  been  classified  and 
re— sirranged;  the  book  cases  were  numbered, 
ar»  <3  attached  to  every  case  was  an  index  show- 
is  ^^  every  book  belonging  to  the  class  for 
wtmmch  that  case  had  been  reserved.  Any 
book  whatsoever  could  be  obtained  from  the 
libvarian  within  a  surprisingly  short  time,  and 
th^s-  key  of  any  case  was  lent  to  any  student 
ors  application.  The  study  room  especially, 
WSL^  as  quiet  and  secluded  as  ever,  no  loud 
talking  being  permitted.  A  writing  table  also, 
w^K.^  noticed,  with  a  pair  of  large  scissors  hang- 
in^^  at  its  side  (evidently  reserved  for  the  edi- 
t»«-sof  the  Indicator). 

Our  indicator  was  evidently  drawing  on  its 
ow^r-fertile  imagination,  and  had  built  a  "card 
in  'fthe  air;"  probably  it  was  taking  a  glance 
ii**«> futurity.  Still  another  explanation  would 
b^»  that  we  had  examined  the  card  upside 
do-^jni,  and  that  it  was  all  vacuum  and  no 
P^'^^^ure.     Take  your  choice. 


-^card  was  taken  this  month  of  the  litera- 
*t»  We  course.     In  this  department  it  should  be 
ix;>ted,  the  "  Shaw  "  packing  was  formerly  used 
**"*-  *irely.     This,  however,  was  of   such  loose 
n*^«.terial,  that  a  large  amount  of  steam  was 
w^«^ted  by  escaping  through  the  stuffing  box. 
P^B-xtof  this  packing  has  now  been  replaced  by 
a        substance   known  as  "Chaucer,"  and    the 
c^»-d  taken  shows  a  much  more  satisfactory 
cc»«3dition  of  things.     The  stuffing  box,  how- 
e'vet,  is  not  yet  what  it  should  be.     We  would 
si»Kgest  that  a  large  quantity  of  the  "  Shaw  " 
psk-cking  be  removed,  and  that  the  remainder 
b«  worked  up  with  more  substances  of  the  same 
r>ature,  as  "  Chaucer,"  such  as  "  Milton,"  and 
"  Shakespeare."     Such  a  change,  we  are  sure, 
would  be  for  the  better,  and  all  the  steam  gen- 
erated would   be  utilized.     As  it  has  been,  a 
8t*4t  amount  of  the  steam  generated  has  been 
™sted  on  the  desert  air. 


•*■■<:>{.  D.  V.  Wood  is  taxing  the  powers 
?*  *^vir  Juniors  and  Seniors  to  a  surpris- 
^^i  tlegree  by  making  them  solve  a  great 
maay  real  and  imaginary  problems  of  mechan- 


T//£    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


ical  appliances,  as  well  as  of  proportioning  of 
parts  according  to  mathematical  principles. 
Apart  from  that,  short  essays  on  different  parts 
of  the  steam  engine  are  written  or  compiled 
by  the  students,  and  read  almost  daily  before 
the  class.  The  only  drawback  seems  to  be 
that  the  class  at  large  do  not,  and  perhaps  often 
cannot,  follow  the  thread  of  the  article  with 
the  close  attention  it  may  require  ;  still,  it  is 
beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  that  the  student 
who  writes  such  a  short  thesis  profits  greatly 
by  being  obliged  to  hunt  through  numerous 
books,  and  to  read  many  opinions,  before  he 
can  give  even  the  most  superficial  view  of  his 
subject. 


The  athletic  grounds  have  received  their  due 

proportion  of  attention  the  last  month ;  the 
team  practising  as  usual  every  afternoon  from 
five  to  six.  During  the  early  part  of  the  month, 
it  was  customary  to  see  but  one  whole  director 
on  the  field  at  one  time,  but  lately  we  notice 
with  satisfaction  that  the  occasions  are  rare, 
when  a  quorum  of  the  board  is  not  present. 
The  board  is  in  good  working  order,  they 
meet  occasionally  every  day,  the  corresponding 
secretary  has  bought  a  "Complete  Letter 
Writer  "  with  an  appendix  on  "  Bulldozing  as 
a  Science  " — so  all  goes  well.  We  hope  to  see 
the  games  with  Ihe  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Wesleyan  and  Rutgers  arranged  defin- 
itely, after  which  the  team  will  probably  go 
into  quarters. 


The  team  in  the  games  played  thus  far  have 
earned  the  reputation  both  of  good  players 
and,  to  our  sorrow  {at  Easton),  of  developing 
some  characteristics  which  would  make  an 
honest  player  blush. 

The  first  Princeton  game,  on  our  grounds, 
was  a  disappointment  to  many,  after  witness- 
ing the  Yale  game.  To  be  sure,  Princeton  has 
a  first  class  eleven,  but  still  that  does  not  ex- 
plain why  all  the  hard  work  was  left  to  Coti- 
art  and  Cook.     These  two,  of  the  whole  team, 


128 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


were  the  only  players  who  tackled  surely. 
The  half  backs  were  wild,  wild  !  Gilchrist 
made  plays  that  showed  plainly  the  need  of  a 
penissd  of  an  elementary  treatise  on  foot  ball. 
At  one  time  we  had  the  ball  within  a  few  feet 
of  Princeton's  goal  line,  yet,  without  an  effort, 
this  chance  was  lost,  and  touch  downs  for 
Princeton  continued  with  a  regularity  and 
rapidity  that  made  good  people  pray  for  dark- 
ness or  rain. 

The  following  Saturday,  the  eleven,  although 
crippled,  went  to  Princeton,  to  play  the  re- 
turn game.  Rash  people  in  Hoboken  staked 
money  as  a  guarantee  for  the  assertion  that 
the  score  would  be  up  in  the  hundreds.  The 
game  was  an  agreeable  disappointment  to 
every  one,  and  a  decrease  of  twenty-two 
]>oints  on  Princeton's  former  score  was  very 
cheering. 

With  such  a  showing,  the  game  at  Easton 
was  looked  forward  to  with  much  interest ;  but 
it  was  an  off  day  (or  something  similar),  and 
we  lost.  The  record  of  the  eleven  was  re- 
ported as  follows  :  So  and  so  played  poorly  ; 
so  and  so,  very  poor.  This  one  walked  up 
and  down,  as  though  on  dress  parade ;  an- 
other forgot  he  was  on  the  field  ;  and  but  one 
out  of  the  eleven  amounted  to  anything,  and 
with  such  poor  support  he  was  unable  to  make 
headway  against  Lafayette's  eleven. 

The  game  between  Columbia  Law  School 
(so  called,  for  why  we  can't  say)  and  our 
team  was  a  very  pretty  game  and  well  con- 
tested. The  Columbia  eleven  was  made  up 
of  old  players  from  Princeton,  Yale,  Harvard 
and  Columbia,  and  naturally  were  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  game.  A  serious  fumble, 
followed  by  a  splendid  run  of  Hodge,  gave 
Columbia  a  touch  down.  This  was  the  only 
point  scored  during  the  game.  The  appear- 
ance of  three  new  men  on  our  team,  and  the 
manner  in  which  they  played,  deserve  special 
comment.  Captain  Hart  per  the  Board  of 
Directors,  is  (or  are)  to  be  congratulated  in 
his  (or  their)  choice. 

Campbell,  to  be  sure,  occupied  his  old  posi- 
tion of  half  back,  and  proved  his  former 
reputation  of  a  strong  and  brilliant  player. 
Crisfield,  as  end  rush,  played  a  faultless  game, 
and  elicited  much  enthusiasm.  His  manner 
of  tackling  excelled  any  on  the  field.  Ran- 
dolph was  capital  and  worked  effectively. 

Captain  Hart  resumed  his  old  position,  but 
the  remainder  of  the  centre  was  weak.  Con- 
sidering the  amount  of  weight  there  is  next  to 
him,  very  little  of  it  is  put  to  good  use. 

The  class  games  have  not  been  played,  but 


'89  has  been  busy,  and  handsomely  defeatec^ 
C.  C.  N.  Y.,  '89,  by  a  score  of  55  to  o,  and 
the  High  School  have  won  two  or  three  games 
from  neighboring  schools.     The  game,  '88  rx. 
'89,  was  an  occasion  of  considerable  import- 
ance, and  proved  most  exciting,  finally  ending 
in  a  draw,  the  score  being  4  to  4.    The  ad- 
herents of  both  teams  displayed  their  loyalty 
in  the  usual  way.    The  referee,  although  an 
honorable  gentleman  and  known  to  have  great 
presence  of  mind  in  times  of  public  disturb- 
ances, entirely  lost  his  usual  admirable  con- 
trol over  himself,  and  drew  forth  volumes  of 
applause  for  the  faultless  game  he  played  as  a 
rusher  for  '89.     His  placing  of  the  fresbmen 
was  admirable,  and  the  only  evil  result  notice- 
able was  a  great  many  chances  lost  to  *^, 
Then   once  he  forgot  entirely  that  he  was 
referee,  and  began  a  disconnected  tirade  on 
some  one  in  the  distance,  but  coming  to,  he^ 
like  a  good  referee,  played  an  '89  man  oppo- 
site '88's  centre  rush  and  nobly  saved  a  touch- 
down for  the  freshmen.     The  game  **  wound 
up  in  a  row." 

Princeton, 

On  October  14th  Princeton  played  on  the 
Stevens  grounds,  and,  as  was  expected, 
gained  an  easy  victory.  There  are  no  com- 
ments to  make ;  the  game  was  too  one  sided 
to  be  of  interest,  save  in  the  fact  that  the  In- 
stitute eleven  was  gaining  additional  expen- 
ence,  but  it  was  too  well  paid  for,  as  the  total 
score  was  94  points  to  o,  in  Princeton's  favor. 

The  return  game  was  played  the  following 
Saturday,  Oct.  17,  and  was  a  better  game. 
Princeton's  referee  was  up  to  the  standard, 
but  displayed  a  surprising  ignorance  of  the 
rules,  occasionally,  whenever  an  opportunity 
offered,  to  aid  the  home  team. 

In  the  first  half,  Princeton  scored  38  points, 
Stevens  o.  The  excellent  passing  of  the 
Princeton  men,  and  brilliant  playing  by  D^ 
Camp,  Lamar,  Cowan,  Irvine  and  Haines, 
yielded  them  34  points  in  the  second  half-' 
the  score  standing  72  points  to  o,  in  Prince- 
ton's favor. 

Stevens'  rush  line  was  fair.  Cook  and  Coti- 
art  played  the  strongest  game  ;  White  an^ 
Gilchrist,  also,  did  well. 

Lafayette, 

Saturday,  Oct.  31,  the  Institute  eleven  weO^ 
to    Easton   and   played  a  very   loose  gair>*^! 
which  cost  them  a  victory.     Game  was  call^ 
at  3  p.  m.,  Stevens'  playing  up  hill,  with  sU^ 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


1^9 


aces.  A  series  of  fumbles  gave  La- 
touch  down  in  ten  minutes.  This 
lesired  effect  on  our  men,  and,  work- 
her  well,  the  ball  was  forced  within  a 
s  of  Lafayette's  goal,  when  T.  Hart 
Fair  catch.  A  placed  kick  for  goal 
liave  been  made,  but  through  bad 
t  this  opportunity  was  lost.  The 
y  was  repeated  shortly  after  this,  and 
r  chance  for  a  goal  was  lost.  Lafay- 
ad  another  touchdown,  when  time  was 
Lafayette,  lo  ;  Stevens,  o.  In  the 
alf,  Stevens  scored  three  touchdowns 
succession,  two  by  Cotiart,  one  by 
yr,  but  no  goals  resulted.  Play  con- 
rhen  a  Lafayette  man  started  with  the 
caught  and  "  held  "  by  our  men,  still 
down  the  field,  making  a  touchdown, 
e  referee  allowed.  A  goal  resulted, 
:  was  called,  with  Lafayette  winners 
re  of  i6  to  12. 

New  York  {graduates). 

earn  met  the  Institute  eleven  on  the 
ounds,  Oct.  31.  As  originally  organ- 
New  York  team  consisted  entirely  of 
;s  from  the  leading  colleges,  but,  as 
)eared  for  the  game,  they  had  recruited 
rious  outside  sources  until  the  eleven 
iplete.  Bird,  captain  of  Princeton's 
I ;  Hodge,  captain  Princeton  lacrosse 
a,  and  several  well  known  Yale  men 
le  eleven  a  particularly  strong  one. 
me  proved  exciting,  and  was  very 
:on tested.  Hodge,  by  a  beautiful  run, 
a  touchdown  for  New  York.  This 
only  point  scored,  and  when  time 
led,  Stevens  was  disconsolate.  New 
;  Stevens,  o.  We  ought  to  play  these 
lin,  and  do  better  ! 

Inter  Collegiate, 


^ERSe^AUS. 


i  vs.  Wesleyan 16 —  o 

68—  o 

"     Mass.  Inst.  Tech. 51 —  o 

iceton  vs.  Pennsylvania 72 — 10 

''  "  "  80—10 

*  "    Johns  Hopkins  ...108 —  o 

nsylvania  vs.  Haverford 68 — 10 

"    Lehigh 58—  o 

**  "    Lafayette 30 — 22 

54— 10 

sleyan  vs.  Trinity 60 —  o 

ayette  vs.  Lehigh  ;  given  to  former. 
"  Wound  up  in  a  row." 


'75- 

James  E.  Denton  will  lecture,  in  Febru- 
ary, before  the  Franklin  Institute,  Phila- 
delphia, on  the  subject  of  "  Some  Practical 
Examples  of  the  Laws  of  the  Conservation  of 
Energy." 

Frank  M.  Leavitt  is  proposed  for  mem- 
bership in  the  American  Society  of  Civil 
Engineers. 

•76. 

James  M.  Cremer,  Assistant  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Cummer  Engine  Works,  Cleveland, 
is  proposed  as  a  member  of  the  Mechanical 
Engineers*  Society. 

William  Kent  is  Secretary  and  General 
Manager  of  the  U.  S.  Torsion  Balance  and 
Scale  Co.,  92  Reade  Street,  New  York. 

•77. 

John  Rapelje  is  General  Road  Master  of 
the  Denver,  South  Park  &  Pacific  R.R.,  with 
headquarters  at  Denver,  Col. 

'78. 

Brown  Avres  is  Professor  of  Physics  and 
Astronomy  in  the  new  Tulane  University,  of 
Louisiana. 

E.  P.  Thompson  is  Associate  Editor  of  the 
Electrical  Worlds  New  York. 

•79. 

R.  M.  de  Arozarena  is  proposed  for  mem- 
bership in  the  American  Society  of  Mechan- 
ical Engineers. 

'80. 

George  M.  Bond  reads  a  paper  on  "  Stand- 
ards for  Pipe  Threads,"  at  the  Boston  meet- 
ing of  the  American  Society  of  Mechanical 
Engineers. 

Wilbur  V.  Brown  was  appointed  last  June, 
Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  De 
Pauw  University,  Greencastle,  Ind.  He  also 
acts  as  Director  of  the  Neckim  observatory, 
connected  with  that  institution. 

Dr.  B.  F.  Thomas,  in  June,  received  the 
appointment  of  Professor  of  Physics,  in  the 
Ohio  State  University,  at  Columbus,  to  suc- 
ceed Prof.  T.  C.  Mendenhall. 


'50 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Malcou  McNauchton  is  with  the  Torsion 
Balance  and  Scale  Co.,  New  York. 

Joseph  E.  Steward  is  inspecting  bridge  - 
material  for  the  P.  C.  &  St.  L.  R.R.,  at  the 
Central  Bridge  Works,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

L.  S.  Randolph  read  a  paper  on  the 
"Strength  of  Stay  Bolts,"  before  the  Ann 
Arbor  meeting  of  the  American  Association 
for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  in  which  he 
records  some  experiments  made  to  determine 
the  strength  of  socket  bolts,  as  used  in  the 
sides  of  fire  boxes  on  locomotive  boilers. 

'84. 
John  A.  Bensil  was  recently  elected  Junior 
Member   in  the  American   Society  of  Civil 
Engineers. 

E.  L.  Dent  is  proposed  for  membership  in 
the  Asierican  Society  of  Mechanical  Engi- 
neers. 

•85. 

H.  D.  WiLUAHS  is  nominated  for  Junior 
membership  in  the  American  Society  of  Me- 
chanical Engineers. 


Brace  up.  Glee  Club  ! 

Have  you  seen  the  Indicator  gymnasium  ? 

"  Hee-or  !  hee-or  !  come   down    from    the- 


'89  is  already  noted  for  its  poker  playing 
propensities. 

An  ideal  chaplain  for  the  Senior  class,  M-t-lf 
in  a  plug  hat. 

Various   styles  of    "  iron  clad "  books  are 
now  in  vogue. 

Thanks  to  Prof.  MacCord,  the  Indicator 
has  "  come  home  again." 


And  now  the  Junior  breaketh  hi 
struggling  for  the  beastly /r/W. 

Who  is  it  that  says  knickerbo 
shortly  be  worn  again  at  Stevens  ? 

LuTHiN  (to  Soph.) — Have  a  Chai 
Soph.— Tin  Tag  or  Gold  Coin  ? 

There  is  a  lock  on  the  door  of  tl 
more  cloak  room.     How  long  will  ii 

The  freshmen  have  quit  using  t 
as  a  lunch  room  since  the  detect! 
came  into  play. 

Prof. — What  is  a  vacuum  ? 
Student. — A  vacuum  is  anythir 
anything  in  it. 

Patronize  the  "Beanery;"  all 
attractions.  For  further  particulai 
some  of  the  "88  men. 

It  must  not  be  imagined  that 
Junior  is  mentally  weaker  he  is 
weaker  than  a  Senior. 

Class  II.  and  III.  are  precipitatet 
IV.  and  V.  by  alkalies,  but  the  Jun 
precipitated  by  Roscoe. 

Prof,  (dictating)  —  Question  X 
various  descriptions  of  alums — er- 
Ah,  there !— Stay  there. 

Juniors  :  Prepare  to  see  the  cc 
test,  not  between  John  L.  and  Slad 
tween  John  L.  and  Julius. 

Chemistry — 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  he  has  num 
following  question  46  Bg." 

The  freshman  "  hit  the  nail  on  1 
several  times  during  the  first  few  h' 
vice  work  course  in  the  shop. 

"88  has  clearly  demonstrated  that 
what  harder  to  restore  ceilings  to  I 
nal  color  than  to  "  paint  them  black. 

The  depth  of  meanness  is  reach< 
freshman  sticks  a  thumb  tack  rig) 
the  centre  of  a  higher  class-man's  d) 

Prof. — Do  you  know  of  an  engir 

a  connecting  rod  of  infinite  length  ? 

Student — Yes,  sir ;  one  that  ha; 

According  to  a  Soph.,  we  reac 
Machines  "  that  "  in  1840  Jacobus  \ 
boat  by  means  of  electricity  upon  tf 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


i3» 


To  A  Freshman. — Yes ;  we  agree  with 
Daniel  Webster  that  a  man  has  two  •charac- 
ters. To  be  or  seem  to  be,  that  is  the  ques- 
tion. 

The  Juniors  have  revived  their  taste  for 
literature  and  have  taken  kindly  to  Pope. 
The  "  Rape  of  the  Lock  "  seems  to  be  the 
favorite. 

It  takes  a  pretty  girl  just  fifteen  minutes  to 
don  her  hat.  We  doubt  if  the  freshman,  with 
the  carefully  adjusted  bang,  can  lower  the 
record  much. 

Suggested  to  '88. 

Here's  to  '89, 

For  she's  much  in  need  of  brine. 
Drink  her  down,  etc. — Ex. 

We  know  of  an  '87  man  who  comes  under 
the  following  description  :  "  Ful  longe  wern 
his  legges,  and  ful  lene,  Y-like  a  staf,  there 
was  no  calf  y-sene.'* 

(Extraordinary  Deficiency.) — Prof.  — 
Do  you  know  the  answer  to  that  question  ? 

Student. — I  don't  know  that  I  do,  and  I 
don't  know  that  I  don't. 

Delinquents  beware  !  Those  who  do  not 
pay  up  their  subscriptions  within  a  reasonable 
time  will  receive  a  visit  from  the  business 
nianager  and  his  detective  camera. 

The  following  will  apply  to  nine  out  of 
every  ten  men  in  the  college  : 

"  Nowher  so  besy  a  man  as  he  ther  was, 
And  yit  he  seemede  besier  than  he  was." 

The  Senior  decks  his  room  with  sayings  wise, 
And  works  of  art  pour  from  his  skilful  hand  ; 
Here  coming  men  will  gaze  with  wondering  eyes 
At  these,  their  gorgeous  footprints  in  the  sand. 

A  Freshman  must  be  pretty  much  exasper- 
ated to  have  courage  enough  to  rush  into  a 
^phomore  mathematical  recitation  and  clamor 
^dly  for  his  hat  which  he  had  left  in  the 
room. 

Freshman  (watching  foot  ball  game) — 
'''^ich  are  the  further  back,  the  half  backs 
^^  the  full  backs  ? 

Soph,  (contemptuously)  —  The  quarter 
wcks,  of  course. 

The  neutrals  called  a  meeting  on  October 
^Mo  elect  their  representatives  on  the  college 
^^  for  the  coming  year.  J.  R.  Slack  was 
chosen  for  the  "  Eccentric  "  and  Robert  G. 
Smith  for  the  "  Bolt." 


Most  of  the  Juniors  are  busy  drawing  a 
tombstone  and  its  perspective.  Are  they 
afraid  that  their  overwork  will  tell  on  them  or 
are  they  in  love,  that  they  are  for  once  so 
much  concerned  for  the  future  ? 

Prof.  Leeds  brought  down  the  house  the 
other  day  when  he  ignited  H2  +  Q.  The 
bung  went  one  way  and  the  cylinder  the 
other.  No  one  was  hurt,  although  a  few 
sophs,  in  the  bald-headed  row  were  drenched. 

The  student,  whose  message  to  a  senior 
working  in  the  physical  laboratory,  was  a  mere 
nod  of  the  head,  very  easily  got  ahead  of  the 
professor,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  "  the 
rules  are  very  strict  in  regard  to  this  matter, 
sir." 

Now,  subscribers  are  the  first  ones  to  read 
the  Indicator  when  it  comes  out,'by  looking 
over  their  subscribing  neighbor's  shoulders. 
Are  they  the  same  ones  that  pass  their  exam- 
inations by  reading  over  these  same  neigh- 
bor's shoulders  ? 

Prof. — If  you  were  going  to  build  a  blast 
furnace,  by  what  circumstances  would  you  be 
governed  ? 

Junior. — "  I'd  look  for  a  place  where  the 
water  was  good."  Class  laughs,  and  wonders 
why  he  didn't  say  beer. 

Prof,  of  Math. — "  Your  text  book  tells 
you  how  to  get  at  the  distance  of  an  object, 
but  it  makes  use  of  the  optical  law  regarding 
conjugate  foci.  That  is  unnecessary.  I  shall 
now  proceed  to  show  you  how  to  see  this  thing 
without  optics''     And  the  class  did. 

The  following  are  the  officers  elected  by  '8 
for  the  ensuing  year  : 

President R.  N.  Bayles. 

Vice  President M.  C.  Beard. 

Sec.  andTreas Jos.  A.  McElroy. 

Hist R.  M.  Anderson. 

You  must  not  suppose,  because  you  hear  no 
more  grumbling  about  literature  or  descriptive, 
that  the  Grumbling  Sophomore  is  extinct.  He 
has  merely  changed  his  tune,  and  sings  a  full 
contralto  to  the  wild  tenor  obligato  of  the 
Juniors,  in  a  love  song  addressed  to  chemistry. 

While  it  is  true  that  the  black  and  yel- 
low stockings  of  the  Princeton  men  made 
them  look  somewhat  like  a  set  of  potato  bugs, 
it  does  not  follow  that  our  men  should  not 
have  some  uniformity  in  color,  instead  of 
some  wearing  red,  some  blue,  and  others 
black. 


t^i 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


It  was  decided  to  levy  a  monthly  tax  of 
$1.50  on  every  member  of  the  class.  All  the 
necessary  committees  have  been  appointed,  and 
the  work  will  be  started  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  class  of  '86  is  bound  not  to  be  outdone 
by  any  of  its  predecessors^  nor  by  any  that 
may  come  after  it. 


The  glee  club  will  get  under  way  just  as 
soon  as  the  ''board  of  directors"  can  ex- 
amine the  lungs  of  the  applicants.  In  the 
meantime  we  would  advise  each  student  to 
go  down  to  the  grounds  every  afternoon  and 
yell  for  all  he  is  worth.  The  board  will  be 
there  to  pick  out  the  best  men. 

Two  little  Preps.,  in  short  pants,  were  over- 
heard yesterday  in  a  discussion  on  the  relative 
advantages  of  walking  and  running  to  develop 
their  legs  for  kicking  in  foot  ball.  Just  im- 
agine what  abnormally  muscular  men  we  will 
have  on  our  eleven  in  future  years,  if  Prep- 
dom  commence  thus  early  in  life  a  "  scientific 
training !" 

Soph.,  laboriously  endeavoring  to  establish 
electric  communication  between  two  wires  on 
the  basement  ceiling,  in  the  hope  of  ringing 
the  regulator  bells,  "  Say,  Louie,  what  wires 
are  these  ? " 

Louie — **  They  were  used  last  in  a  dynamo 
test  two  years  ago." 

Soph,  comes  off  his  perch  to  remove  the 
plaster  from  his  hair. 

Professor  of  Chemistry  (reading) : 

"  Question  thirty-nine  and  a  half.  What  are 
acids,  oxy-acids  and  salts  ?" 

Student  interrupting — "  Professor,  does  the 
'  oxy '  refer  to  salts  ?" 

Professor  is  completely  paralyzed ;  a  burst 
of  laughter  from  class,  followed  by  silence  for 
the  space  of  five  minutes,  during  which  pro- 
fessor endeavors  to  find  where  he  left  off  read- 
ing, and  class  nervously  sharpen  pencils,  pre- 
paratory to  taking  down  question  *  thirty-nine 
and  three  quarters." 

At  the  meeting  of  '86  the  following  officers 
were  elected  : 

President C.  R.  Collins. 

Vice  President Emile  Cotiart. 

Secretary H.  B.  Everhardt. 

Treasurer. J.  S.  Merritt. 

Historian Wm.  Fuchs. 

Foot  Ball  Captain Emile  Cotiart. 


BOARDING  HOUSE  N01 


—  Hot  lunches  will  continue  1 
cold. 

—  It  is  rumored  that  some  of  t 
have  had  turkey. 

—  Com  beef  and  cabbage  hoi 
quite  strongly  in  some  houses. 

—  A  very  delicate  soup  is  made 
the  shadow  of  a  chicken  for  one 

—  Some  of  the  Freshmen  say  th 
Charlie  Ross  every  Sunday  for  de 

—  A  number  of  houses  are  se 
feather  beds  back  to  the  foundry  tc 

—  Hash  will  be  plentiful  for  sc 
the  game  law  is  off  and  cats  are  qi 
ous. 


B^6II^BERIF26    ^& 


In  round  numbers,  a  modern  hi 
comotive  with  i8''x24"  cylinders  a 
steam  pressure,  when  drawing  a  t 
cars  at  the  average  rate  of  50  mil 
exerts  733  horse  power. — Mech,  E 

A  second  hand  dealer  was  tryi 
boiler  which  had  a  badly  bagged  ( 
"  I  say,"  said  the  customer,  poi 
**  how  is  that  ?  That  don't  appes 
right,  does  it  ?"  "  My  friend,"  sai 
confidentially,  "they  make  'em  i 
nowadays.  Didn't  you  know 
verted  arch  was  one  of  the  strong 
construction  ever  introduced  into  r 
Fact. — Locomotive, 

Two  hundred  and  eighty  thous 
of  dynamite  and  rack  a  rock — a 
plosive — were  successfully  explod 
Rock,  near  this  city,  on  the   lotl 
large  quantity  excited  some  app 
the  public  mind,  as  it  was  unprece 
no  damage  was  done,  and  the  ej 
unnoticed  a  short  distance  away, 
stated  that  so  far  as  danger  was 
vessels  might  have  gone  within  c 
yards  of  it.     The  above  includes 
in  the  case,  but  the  daily  papers 
penny  a  lined  it    out    to  four   pa 
Engineer, 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


m 


Where  is  the  Eighty-Four  1 

Albion  college  has  a  comet  band  of  four- 
en  pieces.  It  has  also  one  of  the  largest  col- 
g«  orchestras  in  the  United  States;  at  pres- 
it  there  are  forty  pieces.— T'/w,/^. 

A  Syracuse  Union  Freshman,  when  asked 
■  asocietv  man  recently,  if  he  had  pledged, 
E>lied  :  '  I  believe  I  did  say  something  to 
1.  about  not  going  into  a  saloon,  but  if  you 
«-«M  get  a  bottle  in  some  retired  spot,  I  don't 
.»ifc  I  would  object." 

"Xhe  Vniv.  Herald,  from  which  we  clip  the 
ove,  must  have  a  large  reportorial  staff.  It 
twages  to  fill  up  four  columns  with  person- 
»  six  with  local  notes,  and  half  a  column 
1 1  marriages  and  deaths, 
^^e  learn  from  the  Purdue  that  the  new 
Ops  for  the  Mechanical  and  Engineering 
-jiartments  are  completed,  and  that  Pur- 
« University  has  the  finest  equipped  Me- 
^Jiical  School  in  the  West.  We  wish  Purdue 

C:«SS. 

"The  Lehigh  .5i<rr  has  an  editorial  on  the 
absence  of  proper  garments  for  gymnasium 
^^k."  We  invite  the  Burr  to  inspect  our 
*as  gymnasium  suits.  Sophomores  on  ex- 
t>ition  on  Monday  and  Tuesday,  Freshmen 
'   Wednesday  and  Thursday,  from  a  to  5, 

We  don't  want  to  poke  fun  at  the  Chronicle 
>OtiQually  on  account  of  its  gaudy  cover,  and 
-',  friend  Chromele,  why  don't  you  place  a 
't  something  like  your  prospectus  on  the 
*ver?  It  would  be  much  neater.  By  the 
ay,  we  are  sorry  that  you  have  lost  Prof, 
aams.  We  can  sympathize  with  you,  as 
•ornell  has  taken  one  of  our  professors  also — 
fot.  R.  H.  Thurston. 

The  success  of  the  Troy  Polytechnic  is  in- 
leed  phenomenal.  Started  last  spring,  it  has 
uready  gained  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of 
"I'lege  journalism.  As  early  as  last  June  the 
P*per  appeared  with  a  large  mathematical  sup- 
P'ement.  We  are  greatly  pleased  to  notice  the 
nnfflber  of  communications  in  the  October 
?"»;  and  we  wish  that  our  students  would 
follow  the  example  of  the  Troy  men  and  use 
|w  college  paper  more  and  the  bulletin  board 
'"^  The  Poly's  alumni  notes  are  very  com- 
plete. 


Heretofore  it  has  been  our  intention  merely 
to  criticise  and  review  the  papers  sent  .to  us  in 
exchange.  From  this  time  on,  however,  it 
shall  be  our  aim  to  commend  or  condemn,  as 

we  see  fit,  such  matters  as  may  be  found  in 
the  local  columns  of  our  contemporaries.  In 
other  words,  the  "college  world,"  which  was 
dropped  from  the  list  of  our  departments  last 
year,  will  be  partially  revived  and  appear  in 
our  columns  merged  into  "exchanges,"  We 
believe  that  this  change  will  bring  the  ex- 
change department  up  to  the  standard,  which 
is  reached  when  the  department  has  become 
interesting,  instructive  and  critical. 

We  are  surprised  to  see  in  the  columns  of 
the  College  J/^z-iraz-^a  clipping  about  a  "  Vassar 
Graduate."  Couldn't  the  C.  C.  N.  Y.  boys 
find  something  better  to  do  than  hold  up  Vas- 
sar girls  to  ridicule  and  contempt  ?  Enough 
harm  has  already  been  done  the  college  by 
thoughtless  reporters.  In  fact,  the  annual 
class  excursion  on  the  Hudson,  if  we  are 
rightly  informed,  has  now  had  to  be  given  up 
because  the  newspaper  men  magnified  girlish 
vivacity  into  indecorous  boisterousness.  For 
shame,  Mercury  !  Let  the  girls  alone.  There 
are  plenty  of  boy  students  within  reach  of 
yourwit.  [We  suspect  that  the  Mercury  might 
properly  have  substituted  "  Madisonensis  "  for 

''  Exr\ 


The  other  day  as  the  Countess  was  hurriedly 
rounding  the  S,  W.  corner  of  Founder's,  he  sud- 
denly collided  with  a  Freshman.  As  the 
youths  stood  with  downcast  eyes,  each  holding 
his  aching  head,  we  chanced  to  catch  the  fol- 
lowing conversation.  The  Freshman  broke  the 
profound  silence  by  exclaiming  :  "  Great 
Scott !  how  that  made  my  head  ring ! " 
"  That's  because  it's  hollow,"  haughtily 
growled  the  Countess.  "  Why,  didn't  yours 
ring?"  timidly  asked  the  Freshman.  You 
fresh  fool,  no ! "  grumbled  the  indignant 
Countess.  "  That's  because  it's  cracked," 
the  fresh  individual  replied,  as  he  started  on  ; 
and  he  don't  exactly  understaitd  yet  why  the 
Sophs,  called  on  him  that  night. — Haver- 
fordian. 


THE    STEVE  MS   INDICATOR. 


F.  W.  DEVOE  &  CO., 

(i-:s'rAiu.iKMi;i>  imo«,) 

Jathem/tical  Instruments, 

Engineers   and  Survt^yors'  Supplies, 

ARCHITECTS'  &  DRAUGHTSMEN'S  MATERIALS, 
ARTISTS'   MATERIALS, 

OIL   COLORS    IN    TUUKS,    WATKK    COLORS, 

FINI-:    BRUSHES, 

KKAWINc;  MATKUtALS,  STUIHKS.  K'I'i:. 

Illuslraled  Catalogues  on  application. 


Cor.  FULTON  ABD  WILLIAM  STREETS, 

Caranu(jh, 

Smidforil 

&  Co., 


la  WoM  ^.i(I  S/rorf, 

Op]..  Cih  Avo.  Hiiuil.  NEW  VORK. 


PiOniiiiiN  und  lIiidcr«vcHr. 


ROGERS,  PEET  tt  CO. 

CLOTUES,  IIAT8  AND  BllOBa, 
MB-OT.t    BRUAD^AT. 
OPPOSITE  MKTROPOLITAN  HirTBL. 
All  till  htlisi  Ij'iui.»i  l-ah-iis  r^,;ifl:lt-/v  importtd.  nitANIII  OVEHCOAT  fiTOHE.  «»  BROADWAY,  H.  T. 


*  u^  t' 


■e?: 


'^^iMK^ter 


*  J)ee«ml»er»,  1885.  * 


f2o.  9. 


)tira  e   Mo<j«?   for  .;■ 
r  ori   ^irgit 

tri   of  »■>  Ju.u^r  il.ir... 
JfiedCdr  i    an  @iftj  ^vafoCi 

1"  -    <•- 
ioriarA  .  .  ,  . 

linunioat'oi 
oofor    (Sc''^ 

f«Co* 

iai» 


C0t2iE/>l5g.- 


«  /beVeDjl»;titateoFS»l2Do|=>J^. 


THE  STEVENS  tNDlCATOR. 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technolop;Y, 


SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERmG, 


POCKDEJD    BY  THE  l^TE  EDWIN   A.  STEVENS. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 


HENRY  MORTON,  Ph.  D., 
ALFRED  M.  MAYER,  Ph.D., 
DE  VOLSON  WOOD,  C.  E,, 
.  aUHKITT  WEBa.  C,   E.,    . 
C  W.  McCORD,  A  M.,       . 
ALBERT  R,  LEEDS,  Ph  D. 
CHARLES  F.  KBOEH,  A.  M.. 
REV.  EDWARD  WALL.  A.  M.. 
E.  DENTON.  M.  E.,       . 


Pi»L  B<i;c*-letlr«t 
ViaX,  dT  ExvetimcfllKl  Ueclasics  and  &1ivpiruiii 


H.  MORTON,  Hoboken,  N.  J. 


STEVENS  HIGH  SCHOOL. 


THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 

op  THP 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

RIVES  STREET,  bet  5ih  and  6th,  HOBOKEN.  H.  J . 

OPENS  SEPTEMBER   16,  1885. 

CXftfnlaftUoni  lav  Admlestoa  on  the  IXth  sad  jath  of  Stplomber. 


FULL  COiresES  OF  STUDY,  PREPARATORY  TO  SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE  A«D  COLLECES 


JUNIOR  DEPARTMENT,   -   ■ 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT,   -   -   ' 

111***  t«niiM  Innluil*  Rll  Cbr  ■< 


•76.00  PER  ANNUM. 
SIBO.OO  PER    ANNUM. 


Par  Oauiar^fli  ftpsly  ts  clu  la&nrjaa  ot  SMTen.  liututmLv, 


if' 


I' 


THE 


^Uevefi^  jRdi(ial©P. 


(/Ol.  2. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  DECEMBER,  1885. 


No.  9. 


AN  EVENING  BY  THE  SEA. 


Still  and  dull  the  evening  air 

O'er  the  water  hovers. 
Shadow-like,  pass  here  and  there, 

A  pair  of  lonely  lovers. 

Lovers  dear,  although  so  few, 
One  can  find  the  world  o'er, 

But  so  many  lovers  true 
Only  by  the  sea-shore. 

Where  the  billows  kiss  the  land, 
Shells  and  corals  bring  her, 

There,  outstretched  upon  the  sand, 
Cupid's  subjects  linger. 

There,  beneath  the  roofing  sky, 
Set  with  stars  all  glowing, 

Near  the  ocean  rolling  by, 
Rolling,  ever  rolling. 

There,  amid  that  darkened  scene, 
Wrapt  in  night,  still  comely. 

Lovers  on  each  other  lean  ; 
None  but  me  so  lonely ! 

Love  I  must,  and  love  I  will ! 

Taste  I  shall  love's  pleasures  ! 
Near  thee,  ocean,  have  my  fill 

Of  life's  greatest  treasures ! 


F.  W. 


NATURE  A  MODEL  FOR  ART. 


^reat  works  of  art  are  the  attempts  of  mas- 
'^}  to  represent  thought.  A  perfect  ideal  has 
xisied  in  the  mind,  and  many  years  of  labor 
'^ye  often  been  expended  in  trying  to  embody 
^is  ideal.  He  has  been  the  most  successful 
^^^st  whose  thought  is  highest,  and  whose 
>Muction  most  vividly  impresses  this  thought 
^pon  the  appreciative  observer.  While,  on 
•^c  other  hand,  he  best  appreciates  art  who 
^adsin  the  production  before  him  the  thought 
^f  the  artist.  Thus  it  is  that  the  artist's 
Profession  becomes  a  power,  and  the  study  of 
^orks  of  art  ennobling.  For  the  purer  the 
Hought  and  the  greater  the  skill  of  the  artist, 
^eraore  powerful  his  influence  in  refining  the 
•^stes  of  men. 
In  nature  the  artist  finds  his  most  perfect 


model,  since  here  he  sees  pictures  which 
represent  thought  and  which  impress  the 
thought  upon  all  lovers  of  beauty.  Here,  the 
beautiful  is  set  forth  in  hundreds  of  varying 
forms.  How  beautiful !  How  peaceful  ! 
How  wild !  and  like  expressions,  are  invol- 
untarily uttered,  upon  beholding  the  different 
scenes  which  illustrate  these  thoughts.  So 
perfect  is  the  picture  in  nature,  that  thoughts 
of  calmness,  confusion,  sublimity  or  sim- 
plicity, as  the  case  may  be,  are  at  once 
impressed  upon  the  mind  of  the  observer. 
The  supreme  artist  of  nature  has  so  arranged 
his  objects  and  so  laid  on  his  colors  that  in  it 
all  and  behind  it  all  stands  forth  pre-eminent 
an  inspiring  and  elevating  thought. 

Pen  pictures  of  nature  are  among  the  most 
precious  of  our  literary  treasures.  Many  a 
cherished  poem  has  been  written  when  the 
author  was  inspired  by  the  scenery  around 
him  and  lost  in  admiration  and  wonder  at  the 
beauty  of  nature.  Similies  taken  from  nature 
give  life,  charm  and  perspicuity  to  our  litera- 
ture. Thus,  as  the  study  of  nature  has  fur- 
nished so  much  that  is  beautiful  to  the 
art  of  expression  by  language,  so  it  reveals 
to  the  painter  the  most  perfect  model  for 
the  art  of  expression  by  colors.  "  To  him, 
who  in  the  love  of  nature  holds  communion 
with  her  visible  forms,  she  speaks  a  various 
language." 

The  first  train  that  went  over  the  Central 
Pacific  Railroad  was  an  excursion,  consisting 
of  many  prominent  men  in  our  country,  to- 
gether with  many  railroad  officials  and  their 
families.  It  was  purely  a  pleasure  excursion. 
The  train  was  at  their  command,  and  stopped 
where  it  was  desired,  in  order  that  the  passen- 
gers might  enjoy  the  delightful  scenery  and  ex- 
amine the  wonderful  engineering.  At  one  time 
the  train  was  stopped  in  the  midst  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  the  whole  party,  consisting  of 
about  150  persons,  proceeded  to  a  deep  canon 
of  wonderful  beauty.  On  each  side  the  rug- 
ged rocks  rose  like  castle  towers,  turret  above 
turret,  to  a  dizzy  height.  The  little  company 
looked  and  felt  like  pigmies  beside  great 
giants.  While  standing  in  the  presence  of 
these  mighty  works  of  nature,  and  impressed 


136 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


bf  dbe  iBacnificeDce  of  die  scene;  the^ 
fdnf  die  long  meter  doxologj.  The  grad 
foond  rebounded  from  sde  to  sde  of  the 
rockj  canon,  echoing  and  re-«dioing^  until  the 
loltkit  turret  took  up  the  notes  and  inng 
from  its  jagged  peaks  the  old  refrain,  ''Praise 
God  from  whom  all  blessings  flov."  Every 
hevt  vas  touched.  It  vas  a  mote  imptessiie 
serrice  than  the  grandest  cathedral  of  Eorope, 
with  its  great  organ  and  wonderfol  workman- 
ship, coald  ercr  famish.  And  so  natiire 
presses  home  its  thoaghu  to  us  at  times  with 
irresistible  force. 

What  better  design  can  the  artist  desire, 
then,  than  the  scenes  and  drcumstanGes  which 
have  stirred  men's  emotions  and  inspired  them 
with  the  purest  and  highest  thoughts  ?  And 
to  what  higher  skill  can  the  artist  aspire  than 
this,  to  represent  his  scenes  with  such  reality 
that  they  shall  impress  the  obsenrer  as  nature 
itself? 

COMMENT  ON  VIRGIL. 


^  They  were  going  unseen  in  the  londy  night 
through  the  shades  and  through  the  desolate 
abodes  of  Pluto  and  realms    peopled  with 
shades,  as  in  the  scanty  li^t  of  the  dim  nKX>n 
a  journey  is  made  in  the  forests,  when  Jupiter 
has  concealed  the  heavens  with  shade,  and 
black  nig^t  has  taken  from  objects  their  color. 
In  front  of  the  very  entrance,  and  at  the  fore- 
most doors  of  Oreus,  Sorrow  and  avenging 
Cares  have  placed  their  couches;    and  pale 
Diseases,  and  sad  Old  Age,  and  Fear,  and  crime 
persuading  Hunger,  and  squalid  Poverty,  forms 
terrible  to  be  seen,  Death,  and  also  Labor,  dwell 
there.    There  sleep  the  brother  of  Death,  and 
joys  injurious  to  the  mind  ;   and,  upon  the 
threshold  opposite,  death  bearing  War,  and  the 
iron  l>ed  chambers  of  the  Furies,  and  frantic 
Discord,  binding  her  viprous  hair  with*  blood 
red  fillets.      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦      Here  is  the 
way  which  leads   to  the  waves  of  Tartarean 
Acheron.     This  torrent,  turbid  with  mire  and 
of  vast   depth,  surges   and  casts  all   its   sand 
into  the  Cocytus.      A  horrid  boatman  guards 
these  waters  and  streams,  (Aharon,  of  terrible 
filth,  whose  very  long  gray  beard  hangs  neg- 
lected from  his  chin  ;    his   eyes  are  orbs  of 
fire  ;  a  filthy  garment  hangs  by  a  knot  from 
his  shoulders.     He  himself  propels  the  boat 
with  his  pole  and  attends  to  the  sails,  and  con- 
veys the  ghosts  in   his  dusky  bark  ;  now  an 
old  man,  but  a  god's  fresh  and  blooming  old 
age.     Hither  the  whole  streaming  multitude 
was  hastening  to  the  banks.       ♦      ♦      ♦      ♦ 


to  cross  first, 

tended  their  hands  with  longing  for 

thcr  shoce.    Bnt  the  ^oomy  boatman 

now  these,  now  those,  but  the  other 

pcxKs  and  kens  far  from  the  beach. 

•      ♦      ♦      •      As  soon  as  the  boa 

holds  them  from  the  Stygian  waves, 

that  d***"**^,  proceeding  through  t 

wood  and  directing  their  steps  toi 

bank,  he  then  first  accosts  them,  ai 

own  accord  challenges  them  :  ^  Whc 

arc,  who  approach  armed  to  our  rive 

tdl  me  even  there  where  you  are,  a 

your  steps.    Thb  is  the  place  of  si 

sleep  and  drowsy  night.     It  is  not 

me  to  convey  living  bbdies  in  my 

ship ;  nor  was  I,  indeed,  pleased  to 

ceived  Hercules  upon    the  lake  a 

proached  me,  nor  Theseus,    nor    1 

althou^  they  were  descended  from 

and  invincible  in  strength.     He  soi 

his  hand  to  consign  to  fetters  the  \ 

Tartarus,  and  dragged  him,  tremblin 

♦      •      •      He,  wondering  at  the 

turned  his  dark  hued  boat  toward  1 

approaches  the  land.     He  then  driv 

other  souls  which  were  seated  on 

benches,  and  clears  the  hold.     At 

time  he  receives  the  mighty  iCneas 

boat.    The  boat  of  sewed  hide  g 

neath  his  weight  and,  full  of  chinl 

much  water.     At  length  he  lands 

prophetess  and  the  hero  safely  a 

river,  amid  the  unsightly  mire  and  c! 

grass." 

It  is  stated  by  biographers  that  b 
gil  attempted  to  depict  the  miseries  a 
of  Hades,  he  took  a  trip  to  Hoi 
chanced  that  he  set  sail  from  Barcl 
and  many  of  the  most  poetic  descr 
his  grand  old  iEneid  (especially  th< 
sixth  book)  contain  allusions  to 
In  the  course  of  my  investigation  o1 
ject,  I  unexpectedly  came  into  pos 
an  old  Dutch  manuscript,  dated 
means  of  this  last  valuable  historic 
we  obtain  a  very  good  idea  of  the  p 
by  Virgil,  Hades,  or  Tartarus,  by 
writer,  hell,  and  by  moderns,  Hobol 
Dutch  writer,  Hoedenschudtel,  was 
monk,  travelling  through  America 
that  time  was  unknown  to  the  worl 
It  is  a  curious  fact,  and  one  enti 
looked  in  histories,  that  the  portic 
York  known  as  Barclay,  as  well  as 
of  Hoboken,  was  colonized  as  earl} 
lime  by  the  Dutch,  who,  about  the 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


^Zl 


Imost  exterminated  by  a  plague  of  bed 

Let  us  turn  for  our  authority  to  the 
cript  and  notice  the  remarkable  coin- 
es  between  it  and  Virgil's  description, 
late  : 

id,  about  the  ninth  period  after  the  es- 
ment  of  Holle,  there  came  unto  the 
I  stranger  ;  for  he  was  strange  with  an 
strangeness.  And,  aforetime  he  came 
mg,  he  caged  himself  in  Barclay.     But 

eaten  inward  by  an  evil  demon,  which 
lole  through  his  stomach ;  that  he  was 
to  carry  a  liver  pad.  Therefore,  de- 
he  to  Holle  ;  and  coming  there  he  was 
or  much  was  revealed  to  him  upon  the 
So  he  rearticulated  his  bones  together, 
t  him  up  out  of  the  place  after  a  day. 
hind  him  he  left  a  dirty  shirt  as  a  sign 
irse.  And  that  very  day  came  there 
he  land  a  plague  of  Jerseys,  or  animals 
g  upon  the  fat  of  the  land,  and  inhabit- 

bed  both  of  the  bachelor  and  of  the 
I.  And  they  were  for  much  time  ;  but 
squito  did  at  last  sting  them  unto  death, 
me,  I  was  spared.     So  be  it.** 

seems  to  prove  conclusively  that  Virgil 
this  spot  long  before  it  was  generally 

in  the  eastern  hemisphere.  He  was 
:ly  the  very  old  fellow  with  the  soiled 
but  in  order  to  convince  the  reader  of 
th  of  this  assertion,  I  will  point  out  re- 
nces. 

il,  according  to  his  own  account,  passed 
Barclay  Street,  which,  on  account  of  its 
:tions  in  the  shape  of  rather  substantial 
:s  "  and  wooden  awnings,  he  compared 
rest  on  a  stormy  night.  Jupiter  is  the 
ed  form  of  the  Dutch  name  Joppit,  who 
yor  about  that  time. 
I  Virgil  reaches  the  entrance  to  Oreus, 
1  house,  where  he  encountered  a  filthy 

Barclay ians,  who  had  just  returned 
.  bath  in  the  Holle  reservoir.  This 
ir  was  a  favorite  watering  place  of  the 

of  Barclay,  and  was  situated  on  the 
3f  hills  now  known  as  Jersey  City 
5.  These  Barclayians  he  designates  by 
opprobrious  epithets  of  his  times. 
;  within  the  ticket  gate  our  hero  is 
1,  and  falls.  He  sees  a  booth  beyond, 
mediately  he  buys  petrified  caramels, 
a  drops,  and  ginger  ale,  and  hot  coffee, 
evidently  gripe  him,  for  in  the  re- 
ihce  of  his  agony,  he  writes,  "  And 
he  threshold  opposite,"  etc.  But  he 
asten  onward ;  and  now  the  slimy 
<iver  attracts  his  attention.    He  starts 


to  go  through  the  second  gate  when  an  old 
man  slams  it  in  his  face.  Forthwith  a  torrent 
of  abuse  springs  to  Virgil's  lips,  some  of 
which  abuse  he  recollects  when  he  comes  to 
write  his  poem,  in  which  he  makes  the  gate 
keeper  out  an  old  tramp.  Notice  the  irony  : 
"  A  god's  fresh  and  blooming  old  age." 

Virgil's  depicture  of  the  independence  of 
these  old  deck  hands  is  very  complete.  The 
fact  is,  that  they  will  only  take  a  person  over  if 
they  like  him,  and  as  their  tastes  are  de- 
praved, a  respectable  fellow  has  very  little 
chance. 

In  the  present  instance,  after  the  pilot  has 
finished  reciting  a  little  piece  he  learned  in 
his  youth  at  the  Holle  kindergarten,  he  fires 
all  the  common  rabble  off  the  old  tub,  and 
takes  Virgil  and  his  littU  gift  on  board.  Then 
he  matches  denarii  with  the  engineer ;  after 
which  he  starts  the  boat,  which  is  a  little  out 
of  repair,  not  very  much  worse  than  it  is  now. 
I  have  not  been  able  as  yet  to  discover 
whether  the  "  boat  of  sewed  hide  "  refers  to 
the  "  Wiekawken  "  or  the  **  Rumsey  ;"  but  I 
hope  at  some  future  time  to  follow  out  this 
subject  with  more  care.  And  at  that  time  I 
will  begin  where  I  now  leave  oflf — at  the 
Hoboken  River  Bath,  floating  "amid  the  un- 
sightly mire  and  dark  sedge  grass." 

Chic. 


-♦♦♦■ 


THE  WORK  OF  THE  JUNIOR  YEAR. 

Stevens  has  enjoyed  for  some  time  the 
reputation  of  being  the  best  college  of  the 
kind  in  the  United  States.  She  has  educated 
men  from  all  parts  of  the  Union,  not  to  speak 
of  many  of  other  nationalities,  to  the  pro- 
fession of  mechanical  engineering,  and  will  no 
doubt  turn  out  many  more  good  engineers. 

But  the  question  which  proposes  itself  to 
most  6f  us  is,  will  she  continue  to  deserve  this 
reputation  ?  As  things  are  now,  it  seems 
doubtful.  For  progress  at  Stevens  seems  to 
have  been  for  some  time  at  a  stand-still,  and, 
what  with  the  many  institutions  of  the  same 
chaiacter  which  are  now  growing  up  and 
coming  into  prominence,  she  will  soon  find 
that  she  is  being  left  behind.  It  is  to  be 
hoped,  however,  that  this  will  not  happen 
— that  the  Trustees  and  Faculty  will  come  to 
realize  the  fact  that  something  must  be  done, 
and  that  soon,  if  we  wish  to  retain  our  present 
standing. 

The  present  year  has  begun  and  thus  far 
continued  with  very  little  or  no  promise  of 
better  times,  and  affairs  have  been  running 


138 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


with  such  a  lack  of  smoothness  and  system, 
that  most  of  us  are  well  nigh  disheartened  and 
tired  of  work  that  is  so  unsatisfactory.  The 
Junior  class  is  especially  unfortunate  ;  for, 
instead  of  this  year  being  one  of  particular 
interest  and  advancement,  it  has,  on  the  con- 
trary, brought  forth  very  little  so  far  but  dis- 
couragement and  waste  of  time. 

An  examination  of  the  Institute  Catalogue 
of  this  year,  and  especially  a  glance  at  the 
roster,  reveals  what  to  us  seems  a  peculiarly 
unfortunate  distribution  of  the  work  in  several 
of  the  departments  throughout  the  four  years 
of  the  Institute's  course.  We  do  not  know 
under  what  circumstances  the  present  arrange- 
ment originated,  and  it  may  be  possible  that 
some  good  reasons  exist  (of  which,  however, 
none  but  the  authorities  are  aware)  for  the 
sequence  of  the  course  as  now  laid  down. 
Certain  it  is,  nevertheless,  that  in  the  minds 
of  the  larger  portion  of  the  students  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  work  is,  to  say  the  least,  un- 
fortunate, if  not  unwise.  This  may  be  said 
with  particular  justice  of  the  work  of  the 
Freshman  and  Junior  years.  In  the  former 
case,  because  the  time  of  the  student  is  so  little 
occupied,  leaving  altogether  too  much  leisure  ; 
in  the  Junior  year,  because  it  is  attempted  to 
crowd  too  much  work,  and  that,  too,  of  a  more 
important  character,  into  the  limited  time  at 
command.  It  is  impossible  to  do  it  justice, 
and  there  is  absolutely  no  time  for  recreation 
or  leisure. 

As  now  provided  in  the  roster,  the  Fresh- 
men are  occupied  with  Institute  work  on  only 
two  afternoons  during  the  week,  these  being 
devoted  to  shop  work.  The  other  afternoons 
are  entirely  unoccupied.  It  surely  cannot  be 
that  this  time  is  designed  for  purposes  of  re- 
creation alone,  for  the  average  Stevens  Fresh- 
man is,  after  all,  a  pretty  hardy  fellow,  who 
can,  without  detriment  to  either  health  or 
comfort,  stand  considerably  more  work  than 
is  required  of  him  at  present.  It  is  fair  to 
assume  that  he  can  be  required  to  do  at  least 
as  many  hours*  work  per  day  as  is  now  cus- 
tomary at  most  of  the  preparatory  schools  in 
the  country. 

At  the  risk  of  assuming  a  privilege  to  which 
we  are  not  entitled,  we  would  venture  to  make 
a  few  suggestions  which,  if  carried  into  effect 
in  substance  or  as  a  whole,  might  do  some- 
thing toward  giving  the  Juniors  their  much 
needed  relief. 

In  the  first  place,  it  would  be  well  to  treat 
the  subject  of  land  surveying,  and  to  afford 
practice  in  the  use  of  the  transit  and  level  in 


the  field,  during  the  Freshman  year, 
should  be  taken  up,  if  not  at  once,  a 
immediately  after  Uie  class  has  complet 
study  of  plan  and  spherical  trigonometi 
is  then  amply  prepared  to  take  up  sun 
applying  at  once  the  lessons  of  the  class 
in  the  practical  work  of  the  field,  and 
pying  one  or  two  of  the  now  unoccupiei 
noons  in  profitable,  as  well  as  pleasai 
healthful,  work.  There  is  no  reas< 
think,  why  this  work,  so  elementary  in 
acter,  is  made  to  occupy  the  valuable  t 
the  first  term  in  the  Senior  year,  as  n 
ransed.  If  this  were  done,  the  subj 
Resistance  of  Materials  could  be  tali 
during  the  Senior  year,  either  relievi 
Juniors  of  so  much  time  entirely,  or  d 
abling  them  to  devote  more  time  to  am 
mechanics. 

Again,  our  chief  cause  for  dissatisfac 

the  present  course  in  chemistry,  and  d 

no  possible  reason  why  this  study  shoi 

be  begun,  by  means  of  lectures  on  theo 

and  general  chemistry,  and  by  means  < 

tations,  in  the  Freshman  year,  here  as  a 

colleges.     The  subject  of  chemistry, 

know,  is  an  important  one  to  the  stud 

engineering,  and   one   to  which  due 

nence  should  be  given  at  Stevens.    Meta 

especially  of  iron  and  steel,  we  ought 

come  familiar  with ;  but  of  this  subj 

really  get  very  little.     During  three  yei 

of  the  four,  we  have  time  which  we 

very  profitably  devote  to  the  study  of 

istry.     But  for  some  reason,  unknown 

save  perhaps  the  Faculty,  only  one  o 

years,  viz.,  the  Junior,  is  profitably  em] 

It  is  time  that  we  take  up  chemistry 

the  Sophomore  year,  but,  as  at  presei 

ducted,  it  is  hardly  more  than  a  mere  in 

time.     It  is  the  opinion  of  all  that  lab 

work  in  qualitative  and  quantitative  a 

should  be  taken  up  in  the  Sophomor 

thus  leaving  for  the  Junior  year  the  st 

such  si>eciad  branches  as  may  be  useful 

profession,  instead  of  spending  it,  as 

done,  in  a  schoolboy-like  squabble  for  « 

It  is  possible,  of  course,  that  the  limi 

cilities  of  the  Institute  would  make  it 

sible  to  act  favorably  upon  these  sugg< 

and,  if  this  be  so,  the  matter  is  mucl: 

regretted.     But  it  does  seem,  to  a  lar 

jority  of  the  students,  that  the  roster 

ranged  with  very  little  attention  to  a 

and  even  distribution  of  the  work  o 

entire  course.     The  complaint  is  alm< 

I      versa],  and  should,  if  possible,  be  met, 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


139 


^  redistribution  of  the  work  will  somewhat  in- 
terfere with  the  plans  and  convenience  of  the 
Faculty.  It  is  the  sincere  wish  of  all  good 
Students  that  the  Faculty  will  soon  see  the 
necessity  for  action,  and  make  some  import- 
ant changes  for  the  better,  especially  with  re- 
gard to  chemistry.  R.  N.  B. 


*  ^  » > 


THE  LUBRICATOR :  AN  OILY 
REVELATION. 


The  fair  mud-rut,  known  as  Hudson  Street, 
stdtered  in  the  noonday  sun.     So  did  Mat- 
thew, as  he  piled  down  the  street  toward  the 
Tenerable  pile,  and  swept  through  the  gate 
with  a  sweep  that  took  three  cords  of  pickets 
vISl  the  fence.     Now,  verily,  the  day  was  shop 
work  day,  and  Matthew  had  tarried  him  more 
r  dwrn  he  should  at  his  quail  and  Rudesheimer. 
-    When  he  saw  the  fodder  hour  was  well  nigh 
.'  passed,  he  grabbed  quickly  a  smoked  herring 
^  and  piled.     Piled  him  where  the  merry  Sopho- 
f  more  "  swynked  and  labored  "  with  his  hands 
^    the  livelong  day,  and  he  held  himself  aloof  and 
L    did  the  grunting  while  they  did  the  sweating. 
^   And  when  he  had  piled  to  the  full  extent  of 
\^    his  piling,  he  found  himself  beside  the  blart- 
t    eyed  piece  of  mechanism  in  the  shop  they  call 
\    Meapne.     The  engine  looked  four  distinct 
\    ▼arieties  of  looks  as  Matthew   hove  ori   the 
landscape,  and  said,  reprovingly,  "Matthew, 
Matthew,  where  wert  thou  ?      Let  not  *  *arf 
and  'arf  *  call  thee  from  thy  post."    And  every 
student  eyed  him  with  an  eagle  eye  and  said 
naught,  for  all  were  waiting  for  "  his  nibbs." 
Then  did  Matthew  sob  one  big  saline  drop  of 
anguish  that  corroded  the  brass  work  on  the 
■     «gine.    "  No  more,"  quoth  he,  "  shall  I  be 
late  ;•'  and  he  grabbed  the  bell  and  started 
^p.    "Then  cryde  he  *  Hor  !'  and  every  man- 
^i  wight  "  bent  to  and  began  again  the  work 
of  spoiling  lathes  and   tools   and  drills  and 
pbnes  and  all  else  that  there  was  to  spoil. 

Now,  Matthew  is   High  Dignitary  to  the 

State  of  New  Jersey  and  Chief  Engine  Mover 

to  the  Mayor  of  Hoboken  ;  so,  to  keep  his 

hand  in,  he  occasionally  put  in  a  little  practice. 

On  this  occasion  he  thought  it  would  behoove 

him  to  haul  about  three  thousand  pounds  of 

iion  all  around  the  cellar  ;  so,  collecting  about 

aU  the  students   in  the  shop,  he  proceeded 

with  them  to  the  cellar,  where  was  deposited 

«n  upright  engine.     "  Now,"  said  Matthew,  in 

a  voice  with  a  trade  dollar  ring  to  it,  '*  eu 

fellers  'ave  to  'elp  me  move  this  hengine." 

Then  he  selected  twenty-three  men,  and  said 


to  each  one  of  them  individually,  "  eu  take 
*old  'ere  and  push  this  road."  Then,  when 
he  had  them  all  arranged  so  as  to  push  one 
way,  he  said,  "  Let  her  go  slow.  Mulligan," 
and  those  twenty-three  men  pushed  that  en- 
gine in  forty-six  consecutive  directions,  and 
when  each  man  found  that  he  wasn't  pushing 
like  any  one  else,  he  kicked  his  neighbor  for 
not  pushing  as  he  did.  Then  his  neighbor 
kicked  him  back,  and  by  the  time  he  got  him 
kicked  back,  his  neighbor  was  getting  in  a 
kick  for  kicking  him  in  the  first  place.  Then 
each  man  tried  to  shove  the  engine  over  on  to 
some  other  man,  and  when  every  man  found 
every  other  man  trying  to  shove  it  on  to  some 
other  man,  he  immediately  tried  to  pull  it 
over  on  to  himself ;  meanwhile  every  man 
making  more  noise  than  Matthew,  and  Matthew 
trying  to  make  more  noise  than  the  whole 
mob.  Now,  at  the  latter  disposition  of  forces, 
the  old  engine  said  **  ta,  ta,"  and  caved  in, 
every  man  getting  the  part  he  had  the  best 
grip  on,  and  when  he  didn't  have  a  grip  on 
anything  he  got  nothing  but  a  big,  extreme 
bump  on  the  head,  which  presently  heaved  up 
to  the  size  of  a  boiled  nut.  When  Matthew 
saw  his  beloved  engine  cave,  he  quoted  pro- 
fusely from  profane  history  and  acted  real 
vexed  about  it.  Matthew  did  the  heavy 
and  general  quoting,  while  each  man  got  up 
a  little  private  quote  on  his  own  account,  best 
suited  to  his  constitution.  After  surveying 
the  ruins  for  about  three  hours,  more  or  less, 
Matthew  awoke  from  his  abstraction  and  said, 
"  Make  'aste,  eu  fellers,  and  gather  up  those 
parts.  Eu  'ave  no  more  sense  than  an  owl." 
And  they  piled  up  the  remains  gently,  and 
Matthew  wended  his  way  slowly  up  the  step 
ladder,  sometimes  called  the  stairs,  and  walked 
into  the  shop  to  pulverize  things  generally, 
for  he  had  acquired  a  pulverizing  mood  in  the 
cellar. 

"  Fee,  foo,  fi,  fum,"  he  ejaculated,  as  he 
entered  the  shop,  "  I  smell  the  oily  Fresh- 
man," and  he  spied  afar  off  the  missing 
link  "  making  cigarettes  on  a  lathe,  and  with 
meteoric  rapidity  he  laid  a  heavy  hand  on  the 
Freshman  and  joggled  four  pounds  of  tobacco 
down  a  knot  hole.  **  What's  this  ?"  said 
Matthew.  **rm  doin*  a  little  work  here," 
answered  the  Freshman  in  a  voice  like  weak 
tea.  "  No  one  gave  you  permission  to  use 
this  lathe.  We  can't  *ave  anything  of  this 
kind  ;  can't  let  you  work  'ere  ;  come  when 
you  belong  'ere  ;  can't  come  any  other  time. 
Geister  heim,"  and  the  **  missing  link  "  was 
missing.     No  sooner  had  he  finished  with  the 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


F.  W.  DEVOE  &  CO., 

(KHTAMI.ISllKU    IH&'J.) 


Mathematical  \ 


Engintteis    and  Sirrveyors'  Supplies, 

ARCHITECTS'  &  DRAUGHTSMEN'S  MATERIALS, 
ARTISTS-   MATERIALS, 

on.   COLOKS   IN    TUUKS.    WAIKR     COI.OKS. 

I-INK   IJRUSHES, 

DRA\V1N<;  MATKKIAI.S.  STlIlilKS.  KTC. 

Illuslrated  Catalogues  on  appiicalion. 


Cor.  FULTON  AND  WILLIAM  STREETS. 


Ni:W    YollK. 


Caranuf^h, 

Sandfortl 

&  Co., 


Hi  Wfsl  iKUl  Slrrrt. 

Opti.  Oih  Avo-  lli^wl.  NEW  YORK. 


Pi\|uninH  and  Underwear. 

rixu/iirfy  imporh-ii. 


18KS,  IT  Kouiiw,  riar  a  on.) 
WHAT  IS  "TIIK  FAKllIOxr' 

(ClupMT  t.) 


All  ll,e  l.iUst  I.,m.t,m  luiM 


ROGERS,  PEET  «  CO. 

CLOTHES,  HATS  AND  SIIUB4, 


THE     STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


141 


ceive  the  most  heat  while  the  upper  end  of 
the  tube  is  kept  cool,  and  it  may  also  be 
closed  with  the  finger  to  prevent  air  from 
entering. 

The  phenomena  which  may  occur  are  either 
of  a  physical  or  chemical  nature. 
The  physical  phenomena  comprise  : 
tf.  Decrepitation,  by  which  the  substance 
breaks  into  a  large  number  of  minute  parti- 
cles, on  account  of  some  exceedingly  small 
portions  of  water  in  the  substance  ;  import- 
ance should  not  be  attached  to  this  phenom- 
ena, as  with  the  same  substance  it  may  or  may 
not  occur. 

b.  Fluorescence,  which  occurs  in  several 
minerals,  and  is  probably  due  to  some  internal 
change  in  the  position  of  the  molecules. 

c.  Evaporation  of  uncombined  water, 
which  is  generally  small  in  amount,  so  as  to 
produce  simply  a  misty  appearance  in  the 
tube,  which  need  not  be  considered. 

d.  A  change  of  color  while  heating,  without 
an  accompanying  chemical  reaction. 

The  chemical  phenomena  are  more  import- 
ant, and  consist  of : 

«.  Charring,  which  shows  the  presence  of 
an  organic  substance. 

h.  Simple  Decomposition,  by  which  a  gas 
is  given  off.  This  is  usually  indicated  by  some 
change  of  color  in  the  substance,  or  the  odor 
and  color  of  the  liberated  gas,  and  also  by  its 
reaction  on  litmus  paper. 

c.  Sublimation,  which  may  be  complete  or 
partial,  consists  in  the  formation  of  a  white  or 
colored  sublimate  in  the  cooler  part  of  the  tube. 

d.  Expulsion  of  the  water  of  crystalliza- 
tion, which  condenses  in  small  drops  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  tube,  and  should  be  tested 
for  an  acid  or  alkali  by  means  of  litmus  paper  ; 
when  the  substance  is  a  salt  containing  much 
water,  it  generally  boils  in  the  same. 

To  illustrate  the  physical  changes,  a  single 
example  will  suffice.  Let  a  piece  of  fluor 
spar  be  heated  in  the  tube ;  it  will  decrepi- 
tate, change  in  color  to  a  grayish  white  and 
flnoresce,  whicli  latter  phenomena  is  best  seen 
in  the  dark.  No  chemical  change  is  produced 
by  the  heating. 

Of  the  chemical  changes,  the  following  may 
serve  as  illustrations  under  the  various  heads  : 

a.  Charring.   Heating  some  sodium  tartrate: 

Na,  C4  H4  Oe  =2  Na  HO  i-  H,  O  4-  CO, 
+  CO  +  2  C. 

The  substance  is  blackened  by  the  liberated 
carbon. 

h.  Simple  decomposition.  Heating  some 
lead  carbonate : 

Pb  CO,  =  Pb  O  +  CO2 


Carbonic  acid  is  given  off,  and  the  lead 
oxide  is  red  while  hot  and  yellow  when  cold. 

Heating  some  spathic  iron  ore  : 
3  Fe  COs  =  Fej  04  +  2  CO,  4-  CO 

The  ore  being  light  brown,  changes  to 
black  and  becomes  magnetic. 

Heating  some  lead  nitrate  : 

Pb  Ng  Oe  =  Ng  64  +  O  +  Pb  O 

Characteristic  odor  and  color  of  the  nitrous 
oxide  fumes  are  produced. 

Heating  some  ammonium  sulphate  : 

Am,  SO4  =  2  Am  4-  SO3 
Indicated  its  odor  and  coloring  litmus  from 

red  to  blue,  and  red  again  when  the  SO 3  begins 

to  act. 

Heating  some  manganese  dioxide  : 

Mn  Og  =  Mn  O  +  O 

The  oxygen  is  indicated  by  the  glow  pro- 
duced when  a  piece  of  charcoal  is  introduced 
into  the  tube. 

c.  Complete  sublimation  takes  place  with 
salts  of  ammonium,  arsenic  or  mercury,  which 
form  a  white  sublimate  in  the  cooler  part  of 
the  tube  ;  to  decompose  the  substances  con- 
taining these  elements,  cover  the  substance  in 
the  bottom  of  the  tube  about  Jjj^  inch  high 
with  dried  soda,  and  heat  gently  at  first  ;  the 
ammonium  will  be  indicated  by  its  odor  and 
changing  moistened  red  litmus  to  blue.  Arsenic 
forms  a  black  mirror  in  the  interior  of  the 
tube  above  the  soda,  while  the  mercury  forms 
small  globules  which  may  be  seen  through  a 
lens  or  combined  into  one  large  globule  by 
rubbing  with  a  stick  of  wood,  or  else,  if  the 
quantity  is  very  small,  a  piece  of  gold  leaf 
may  be  amalgamated  by  the  mercury,  and 
thus,  by  its  change  of  color,  proving  the  pres- 
ence of  the  latter  element. 

Partial  sublimation  takes  place  when  the  test 
substance  contains  one  or  more  volatile  ele- 
ments, either  combined  or  mixed  with  one  or 
more  involatile  elements  ;  when  combined, 
however,  the  volatije  element  must  be  present 
in  a  higher  proportion  than  it  is  entitled  to  by 
its  equivalents  ;  the  extra  molecule  of  the 
volatile  element  is  but  lightly  attached,  and 
therefore  easily  separated. 

The  sublimates  are  usually  colored,  and  are 
produced  when  the  subtances  contain  sulphur, 
arsenic-sulphide,  antimony-sulphide,  arsenic, 
mercury-sulphide  and  mercury. 

Heating  some  iron  pyrites  : 

Fe  Sg  =  Fe  S  +  S. 

The  sulphur  condenses  in  brown  drops  in 
the  middle  of  the  tube,  and  becomes  yellow 
on  cooling.  When  sulphur  and  arsenic  are 
present,  the  sulphide  of  arsenic  which  is  pro- 


THE   STEVE  MS   fNDrCATOR. 


Stevens  Institute  of  Technolo[ 

SCHOOL  OF  MECHANICAL  ENGINEERING, 

POUNDED   BY  THE  LATE  EDWU*  A.  STEVENS. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 


RBNR7  MORTON.  Ph.  D., 
ALFRED  M.  MAYER,  Ph.  D., 
DE  VOLSON  WOOD,  C.  E.. 
j.  BUBKITT  WEBB,  C    E., 

t.  W,  MtCOPD,  AW, 
ALBERT  k    i.f^rri^    pii  n 
CH/i  •  -  ■■•■!. 

REV 


.      Pcol.  M«cii.  Ennince 

Pcof.  Mith.  iuiil  Mcclu 

Prof.  UecA.  DmW 

.     Prof,  C        ^ 

Prof.  I 
PreC  r 
HroC.  ot  ExjietiiaMiUl  MKlMnlca  '^ofl 


0)<n<>(>iri  111''  pi=';ii'-»I  km.w !«J,--  i%  »;T□^lt■^,     Fo:  i^dhcr  (iiiv._ili.t.  *':i!i>--.  ■:.-  t'if.t^cfj!. 

H.  MORTOS,  Hobolcen-  N.? 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL. 


THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 

— or  TiiK — 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY, 

mVER  STREET,  bet.  3>.h  and  6th.  HOBOKEU,  N. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER  i&,  1885. 


4 


BxamlnfttlooB  lor  AAnilselon  on  thd  l4Lh  ftud  iStb  of  Sepcamferi 


FULL  COURSES  OF  STUDY,  PREPARATORy  TO  SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE  AKD  COLL€Gi 


4 


JUNIOR  DEPARTMENT,   •   • 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT,   •   - 

ThA«a   tcctnn  tnoludM  all  tliM  atudtva. 


■      S7a.OO  PER  ANNUM. 
-    SIOO.OO  PER  ANNUM. 


For  Cataloriva  &Dpllr  to  ibs  XJlmilAn  at  Stairsni  InaUcut#. 


f.. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


n^he  Stevei^g  Inelieatop. 

mfc  OF  tMM  wamvn,  ounw  the  ullem  year. 

INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^veoft  iQ^te  of  TBi^oolQjd. 


Extra  tMti  earn  it  tttaimeJ  at  Lmlkitit  t»»k  tttrt, 

Subttribtrt  wiU  pleatt  imnu^utofy  ne/i/ii  ui  »f  onf 
ciaiue  in  Ikeir  aJdrtttet  er  /ailurt  It  rttetvt  Ihep^tt 

TKt  viriUr'i  full  name,  ai  well  at  Kit  noh  DB  PLUUm 
mtui  aitemtany  Iht  artiete,  at  atsumnee  of  good  failk 
and  nliaHlily ;  6nl  it  will  nal  it  fuiHiAed,  tmleit  dturtd. 
ExcMangei,  caittriiulionj,  lubitripHeiu,  advtrtittmattt 
and  all olhtr efmmnniealitin  by  mail,  shfuld  btaddrtnld 
to  The  Stkvins  Indicator,  Slevens  InsHtmlt,  HUektn, 
N.J. 

^yPHO  has  never  felt  the  pang  of  parting 
>^  from  one  lie  has  learned  to  esteem  and 
love?  And  how  great  must  be  his  wmnr 
when  obliged  to  part  forever  !  Aye,  can  ail 
of  you  comprehend  that  word  in  its  entire 
meaning  ?  To  part  forever !  Even  now  are 
we  preparing  for  one  of  these  heartrending 
separations — a  separation  that  knows  no  end, 
not  even  in  that  glorious  future  of  the  prom- 
ised land.  For  twelve  months  has  it  been 
our  daily  companion  ;  for  twelve  continuous 
months  has  it  shared  our  woes  and  our  pleas- 
ures, our  failures  and  our  successes.  Shall  we 
not,  at  least  for  a  moment,  revert  to  all  its 
kindnesses,  its  faithfulness  and  its  blessing? 
No  t  Man's  ingratitude  o'erleaps  itself ;  and 
although  he  owes  this  friend  all,  and  could  not 
have  existed  without  him,  he  lends  his  hand  to 
strike  the  last  blow  at  that  faithful  breast. 
Worse  than  that  light  hearted  race  that  cheer- 
ed, le  rot  est  mart  I  vive  le  rot!  he  will  soon 
exclaim,  without  even  mentioning  the  dead  : 
Long  live  the  new  year  ! 

Let  us,  at  least,  be  more  thoughtful.  Well 
known  as  the  past  year  is  to  us,  shall  we  think 
less  of  it  because  the  new  one  veils  with  an 


impenetrable  shroud  an  unknown  future, 
pregnant,  perchance,  with  an  awful  fate,  per- 
chance with  smiling  loveliness  ?  Shal!  wc 
spurn  (he  old  year  because  it  has  become  ab- 
solutely useless,  and  shall  we  throw  it  into  ihe 
darksome  floods  nf  Lelhe  without  a  momenl's 
golden  memory  and  a  grateful  recollection? 
The  dying  year  of  eighty-five  has  done  its  tin)' 
share  in  the  grand  work  of  eternity.  Count- 
less are  the  blessings  it  has  showered  on 
mankind  ;  numerous  as  the  fleet  seconds  thai. 
following  each  other  like  head  on  bead,  have 
formed  this  shining  siring.  But,  we  hear  ihc 
pessimist  exclaim,  did  it  not  come  filling  this 
small  and  shallow  chasm  between  the  two 
eternities,  wirh  promises  more  nulnerous  and 
bright  than  those  it  has  kept  ?  Nay  !  he  says ; 
let  it  (lit  by,  as  many  have  done  before,  andii 
many  shall  do  after  it  ;  beware  !  expect  noi 
too  much  from  the  false  smiles  of  the  baby 
year,  come  to  supplant  the  old,  and  continue 
lo  decoy  man  by  its  vacant  promises.  Suffici«l 
unto  the  year  is  the  evil  thereof  !  Yes,  indeed, 
we  answer  ;  but  the  good  it  has  done  us,  wc 
must  remember.  Kind  reader,  when,  on  Nt* 
Year's  Eve  you  will  wail  anxiously  for  the 
death  of  this  old  friend,  and  balance  up  your 
accounts,  charge  all  the  good  lo  the  dying 
poor  and  all  the  bad  lo  yourself.  For,  remeiii- 
ber,  that  just  as  time  promises  to  turn  tlie 
leaf,  so  you  have  often  resolved,  or  promisttl 
to  your.self,  to  do  the  same.  Happiness  conns 
to  him  that  will  receive  her  !  Still,  if  human 
wishes  can  do  aught  for  you,  perhaps  iti  cheer- 
ing you  up  for  the  coming  struggle,  receive 
ours  that  come  from  the  heart  and  cannot  help 
but  reach  yours,  A  happv  new  veab!  -^a<» 
may  the  next  year  prove  one  of  more  prosper- 
ity, not  only  to  you,  but  (excuse  our  selfish- 
ness) also  to  the  Indicator. 

^W^E  put  rat  poison  on  the  turkey  dresang 
Vi/  of  the  compositor  who  forfeited  his 
life  at  our  hands  for  writing  years  instwd  of 
gears,  in  connection  with  Prof.  McConl's 
name;  also  for  making  us  say,  "Now, sub- 
scribers," instead  of  "  n  on -subscribers."        ] 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


'45 


THE   GLEE  CLUB. 

Glee  Club  has  reorganized  and  is  now 
ing  regularly.  At  a  meeting  recently' 
was  decided  to  have  no  outside  musi- 
ector,  it  being  thought  that  the  club 
be  an  affair  of  the  students,  rather  than 
lar  outside  affair.  Consequently,  the 
11  proceed  this  year,  under  the  leader- 
Mr.  Cotiart,  whose  popularity  among 
dents,  we  are  sure,  will  recommend  the 
lb  to  all  of  us  as  an  institution  which 
be  supported  by  the  united  force  of 
ege.  It  is  hoped  to  give  one  concert 
oken,  this  season,  for  the  students  and 
lends.  To  make  this  a  success,  it  is 
id  that  all  should  lend  a  helping  hand, 
ng  to  the  old  rule,  that  the  success  of  a 
enterprise  concerns  each  student's  per- 
onor. 

ugh  the  courtesy  of  the  officers  of  the 
Men's  Christian  Association,  the  Glee 
is  the  use  of  the  V.  M.  C.  A.  rooms  for 
actise,  twice  a  week.  The  hall  is  large 
ssesses  great  advantages  for  singing,  so 
actise  proceeds  rapidly  and  success- 
The  club  wish  here  to  express  their 
to  the  officers  of  the  association  for 
ndness. 

Glee  Club  has  been  greatly  strength- 
lis  year  by  the  addition  of  two  more 
on  each  part,  thus  making  the  total 
in  the  club  somewhat  over  twenty- 
The  membership  has  not  been  settled 
that  we  are  not  able,  in  this  issue,  to 
the  names. 


Editors  of  the  Induater  : 
ne  call  attention  to  a  matter  which  has 
seemed  to  me  disagreeable,  to  say  the 
It  is  the  way  in  which  visiting  teams 
ted  by  students.  I  do  not  mean  Ste- 
en  only,  for  I  believe  it  is  an  almost 
al  habit,  Cheerftig  is  always  one  sided; 
rse  when  there  is  a  decision  on  the  pare 
feree  which  does  not  suit  the  home 
That  unfortunate  one  is  hissed,  even 
advice  from  the  on  lookers,  in  a  body. 
^ou  hear  cries  from  several  in  concert; 
\  of  remarks.  Perhaps,  it  is  thought  the 
will  be  encouraged,  but  it  shows  its 
at  such  remarks  seemingly  in  vain. 


The  custom  seems  to  prevail  on  the  foot 
ball  field  alone.  At  lacrosse  or  base  ball  one 
very  seldom  hears  any  such  things,  and  there 
seems  to  me  to  be  no  reason  for  it  at  any 
game.  We  all  like  to  see  good  playing  in  any 
game,  and  it  does  not  seem  fair  to  give  credit 
to  that  made  by  one's  favorites  alone. 

K. 


Everything  in  perfect  order.  Smooth  work 
in  all  parts  of  the  engine.  A  little  too  much 
"cushioning"  in  the  Freshman  class.  The 
Professor  of  Engineering  regaining  his  cus- 
tomary strength.  Theses  half  finished;  Seniors, 
too!  Examination  here  !  Spirits  high,  marks 
low!  Sophomores  orderly  and  quiet;  Juniors 
eating,  drinking,  sleeping,  dreaming,  working, 
etc.,  by  day  and  by  night,  from  Monday  till 
Sunday,  in  the  Chemical  Laboratory;  stagna- 
tion in  the  S.  S.  S.  Not  oil  enough  in  the 
Glee  Club,  and  consequently  too  much  noise, 
and  no  real  work !  The  Freshmen  that  have 
been  distilled  over  from  the  H.  S.,  practising 
for  wire  pullers,  and  future  political  bosses! 
Thanksgiving  after  exam.!  '  Graphical  Stat- 
ics "  made  very  clear. 

Still  engine  needs  rest.  Mud  in  the  boiler  ? 
Turn  the  rascals  out!  Will  come  back  next 
year.  Make  your  resolutions  early,  and  keep 
them  late.  Do  not  waste  fuel  or  gas.  Go 
home  and  eat  enough  to  keep  you  alive  till 
Easter !     Be  merry !     So  long ! 


The  foot  ball  season  closed  with  the  game 
played  Saturday,  November  28,  1885,  and  the 
Indicator  wishes  to  make  a  few  observations, 
hoping  that  some  of  the  suggestions  will  be 
carried  out  by  future  teams. 

There  can  be  nothing  but  praise  for  the 
spirit  displayed  by  the  team,  and  the  manner 
in  which  they  have  faithfully  worked.  The 
Indicator  noted  at  the  commencement  of  the 
season  that  the  men  from  which  a  team  was 
to  be  selected  were  of  the  best,  and  now,  at 


146 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


the  close,  we  see  each  man  developed  into  a 
good  player. 

Still,  some  one  asks.  Why  the  defeats  they 
have  suffered  ?  and  we  propose  to  answer. 

A  team,  let  it  be  ever  so  good,  needs  more 
than  its  own  strength  to  win  games;  it  should 
receive  that  support  from  the  management 
that  will  make  each  individual  of  the  eleven 
feel  that  his  best  interests  and  the  success  of 
the  team  are  thoroughly  cared  for.  This  sup- 
port was  not  given,  and  the  result,  naturally, 
was  repeated  defeats.  Without  exception,  the 
choice  of  referee,  the  point  of  most  im* 
portance,  was  either  neglected  entirely,  or  else 
attended  to  at  such  a  late  hour  as  to  be  of  no 
avail.  But  once  during  the  whole  season  did 
we  have  a  referee  who  was  thoroughly  conver- 
sant with  the  game,  and  he  was  obtained 
through  the  efforts  of  the  captain  of  the 
eleven. 

The  men  whose  business  it  was  to  select  a 
referee  utterly  failed  in  every  instance,  and 
every  one  knows  that  to  put  a  team  in  the 
field  with  an  inefficient  judge  is  but  coveting 
defeat. 

Is  it  necessary  to  point  to  the  Lafayette 
game,  or  to  the  Pennsylvania  game,  to  con- 
vince one  of  the  fact  of  the  negligence  of  the 
officers  of  the  Association  ? 

It  was  folly  for  the  eleven  to  play  against 
such  odds,  and  they  deserve  the  greatest  credit 
for  remaining  in  the  field  throughout  the  sea- 
son. 

Captain  Hart  should  have  refused  to  finish 
the  Lafayette  game.  The  rights  of  the  eleven 
are  to  be  considered  before  all  else. 

The  only  point  open  to  criticism  in  the  team 
was  the  captain's  failing  to  coach  his  men 
during  the  game.  Each  man  played  a  splen- 
did individual  game,  but  their  efforts  would 
prove  of  no  value,  as  the  team  needed  judi- 
cious directing  during  the  progress  of  the 
game. 

Pennsylvania. 

Played  on  the  Stevens  ground,*?,  Saturday* 
November  7,  1885.  The  game  was  called  at 
10:30  a.  m.  Stevens  scored  the  first  point,  a 
touch  down  by  Capt.  Hart,  he  carrying  the 
ball  from  mid  field  to  the  universities*  goal. 
In  quick  succession  the  university  made  three 
touch  downs,  time  being  called,  with  the 
points  18  to  4,  in  favor  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
the  second  half,  Stevens  played  a  faultless 
game,  forcing  the  ball  well  down  into  Penn- 
sylvania's territory.  The  points  scored  dur- 
ing the  half  were  touch  downs  for  Pennsyl- 
vania, and   goal  from  field   for  Stevens,  the 


game  ending  with  Pennsylvania  wini 
points,  to  9  for  Stevens. 

The  referee,  unfortunately,  was  nc 
quainted  with  the  rules  of  the  gat 
great  deal  of  dissatisfaction  was  caus 
decisions. 

Rutgers. 

A  game  was  arranged  with  Rutger 
urday,  November  14,  1885,  the  resul 
correspondence  and  personal  interv 
even  this  did  not  deter  them  from  ba 
within  a  few  days  of  the  game.  It 
ably  another  off  year  with  them,  and 
ferred  breaking  the  engagement  with 
and  playing  Lehigh,  choosing  a  po! 
tory  rather  than  a  sure  defeat.  Bu 
WHIPPED  Rutgers!  What  a  con 
Lehigh,  with  her  persuasive  orators 
ping  to  argue  at  each  decision,  remii 
of  a  pack  of  noisy  children;  and 
athletic  Rutgers.  Do  they  teach  tli 
of  morality  at  New  Brunswick  ? 

Lafayette. 

The  return  game  was  played  on 
grounds,  Wednesday,  Nov.  18,  1885 
putting  her  best  men  in  the  field,  wi 
termination  to  send  the  visitors  horn 
solate.  The  game  was  well  played 
sides,  but  Stevens  clearly  had  the  a 
Cotiart  made  the  first  touch  down  b 
did  run.  Lafayette  shortly  scored 
down,  after  two  decisions  by  the  ref< 

During  the  half,  Stevens  made 
touch  downs,  the  score  standing:  S 
Lafayette  6. 

Play  being  resumed,  Cotiart  mad 
fine  run.  passed  the  ball  to  Campbell 
ried  it  to  Lafayette's  line,  where  C 
made  a  touch  down.  From  a  punt 
bell,  Kawn  obtained  a  free  kick  aboi 
tre  of  the  field.  From  here  he  mad( 
well  merited  point.  From  now  on  t 
played  thq  game,  and  between  hi 
knowledge  of  the  game  and  his  de 
impartial,  he  gave  Lafayette  thi 
downs.  (Considering  the  referee  waj 
tute  man,  Lafayette  had  reason  to 
late  themselves  !  A  game  that  was 
edged  to  be  a  victory  for  Stevens,  i 
heartening  to  lose  through  the  mista 
individual. 

A  great  many  ladies,  friends  and 
of  the  Institute,  witnessed  the  funeri 

Lehigh. 
Saturday,  November  21,  1885.    Le 
down  from  Bethlehem  and  present* 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


'47 


fine  appearance  that  doubts  were  entertained 
as  to  the  result  of  the  game. 

The  game  was  free  from  roughness,  and 
consumed  nearly  the  whole  afternoon,  the 
visitors  assuming  alternately  the  functions  of 
a  foot  ball  and  a  debating  society.  It  was 
decided  by  a  kicking  game,  but  Lehigh 
"  winded,"  and  Stevens  won  by  zo  points 
to  4. 

C.  C.  N.  y. 

The  first  time  for  many  years  we  met  our 
old  friends.  Their  team  lacked  practice,  but 
has  several  good  players.  Stevens  worked 
hard  through  the  whole  game,  and  won 
magnificently— 162  to  o — the  largest  score 
ever  made  on  the  foot. 

Brooklyn  Hills. 

Saturday,  November  28,  1885,  the  final 
game  of  the  season  was  played.  The  visitors 
presented  a  good  team. 

The  game  was  lively  throughout,  the  Brook- 
lyn men  tackling  splendidly,  and  the  Stevens 
teani  surprising  themselves  by  several  good 

Sheldon's  running  and  dodging  was  the 
feature  of  the  game.  In  the  first  half  Stevens 
secured  touch  downs,  T.  Hart  kicking  two  fine 
goals.  In  the  second  half  Brooklyn  was 
forced  to  make  a  safety  score  by  points. 
Stevens,  14,  Brooklyn,  o. 


'77- 

Edward  a.  Wehlinc  has  been  elected  a 
loember  of  the  American  Institute  of  Mining 
Engineers. 

■78. 
Richard  Gerner,  B.  O.  T.,  died  of  con- 
sumption, July  30,  at  his  residence  at  Houns- 
low,  Middlesex,  England,  aged  29  years. 

Brown  Avres. — With  the  change  of  the 
University  of  Louisiana  into  the  Tulane  Uni- 
versity of  Louisiana,  Prof.  Ayres  has  also  been 
transferred,  and  now  holds  the  chair  of  phys- 
i«  and  astronomy. 

'79- 
Kellv-Kennedv. — A  charming  wedding 
w« celebrated  in  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  on  Tues- 
%  October  27.  Mr.  James  F.  Kelly,  the 
eleclrician  of  the  Electrical  Supply  Company, 
"M  married  by  the  Rev.  P.  Corrigan  to  Miss 
Julia  Kennedy,  daughter   of  the  late   John 


Kennedy,  for  many  years  County  Clerk  of 
Hudson  County.  After  the  ceremony  at  the 
church,  the  young  couple  held  a  reception  at 
the  residence  of  the  bride's  sister,  Mrs.  Roh- 
der,  only  the  relatives  of  the  contracting  par- 
ties being  present. — New  York  Sunday  Times. 

Henrv  F.  Dawes  is  chemist  at  the  Port 
Henry  Iron  Works,  Port  Henry,  N.  Y. 

'82. 

Edmund  P.  Lord  is  in  the  Department  of 
Tests,  Pennsylvania  R.R.,  at  Altoona,  Pa, 
In  our  October  number  a  typographical  error 
occurred,  making  us  say  Law,  '8z. 

'83- 
Randolph,  who,  since  his  graduation,  has 
been  Superintendent  of  the  Testing  Depart- 
ment of  the  Erie  R.R.,  at  Susquehanna,  Pa., 
has  recently  been  appointed  as  General  Man- 
ager of  the  Florida  R.R.  and  Navigation 
Co.'s  Railroad,  with  headquarters  at  Fernan- 
dina,  Fla. 

L.  S.  Randolph  is  Master  Mechanic  of  the 
Florida  Railway  and  Navigation  Co.,  at  Fer- 
nandina,  Fla. 

■84. 

William  H.  Bristol  is  appointed  In- 
structor of  Mathematics,  at  Stevens  Institute 
of  Technology,  commencing  with   next  term. 

H.  DeB.  Parsons  is  .Mechanical  Engineer 
and  Marine  Architect,  at  35  Broadway,  New 
York. 

■85. 

E.  MuNKWiTZ  is  with  E.  P.  Allis  &  Co., 
Reliance  Machine  Works,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


Bone,  boys,  bone! 

"  Take  another  color." 

Our  niybtery  — Chem-mystery. 

Are  you  ready  for  the  questions  ? 

A  merry  Christmas  and  happy  Nei 


148 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


Query :  Where  is  the  laboratory  price  list  ? 

"Now  let  us  tore  about  the  effects  of  a 
tore." 

Die  Anna  Lise  and  Lepold  were  married 
last  month. 

United  they  stand,  divided  they  fall — B-t-s 
and  his  bag. 

Look  through  the  advertisements  in  the  In- 
DiCATOR,  and  get  your  presents  ready. 

''The  green  and  the  red  forces  are  in  equi- 
librium." Does  he  mean  the  Irish  and  Eng- 
lish? 

We  recommend  to  the  "class  in  surveying" 
to  invest  in  a  type  writer,  with  different  col- 
ored ink. . 

Searching  for  an  unknown  :  Looking  for  a 
Senior  who  knows  what  subject  to  take  for 
his  thesis. 

Prof.  Denton  was  seen  in  the  "  library  *'  one 
day  last  month.  Verily,  truth  is  stranger 
than  fiction. 

And  now  the  eyebrows  are  flourishing  on 
the  upper  lips  of  the  Freshmen.  Won't  they 
surpnse  ma? 

"  Yes,  sir;  there  are  two  maximums,  only 
one  maximum  is  more  maximum  than  the 
other  maximum!" 

Vanderbilt  should  not  sit  behind  Capt.  Hart 
in  class,  as  even  when  he  stands  up  it  is  hard 
for  the  Professor  to  find  him. 

The  Juniors  have  just  finished  the  subject 
of  cribwork.  Some  classes  are  well  up  on  it, 
even  in  their  first  examination. 

In  heaven  above, 
Where  all  is  love, 

There'll  be  no  chemistry  there. 

Preserve  seems  to  be  the  most  industrious 
man  in  the  Senior  class,  judging  from  the 
manner  in  which  he  fills  the  black  board. 

The  Juniors  were  all  smiles  when  the  Pro- 
fessor read  to  them  "  Smiles*  Lives  of  Engi- 
neers."    What  lots  of  spare  time  we  have. 

Prof. :  "  What  kinds  of  machinery  are  used 
for  raising  building  materials  ?" 

S. :  "  Derricks,  cranes  and — hod  carriers." 

A  specimen  comment :. 
"  Professor,  1  think  he  did  not  give  the  sym- 
bol right ;  it  is  Na^ .1  Na„ — a  something 

cur 


Some  of  the  Freshmen  have  begi 
canes.  They  are  probably  afraid  of 
in  for  tramps  if  caught  without  a  vis 
of  support. 

We  wish  those  Sophs,  that  are  1 
carpentry  would  not  try  to  find  th< 
tion  of  a  plane  with  the  grindstom 
ways  bad  for  the  plane. 

Prof. :  "  Mr.  G.,  describe  a  hydrc 
Mr.  G.:  "A  hydrometer  is  a  hoi 
thing." 

Prof.:  "  So  is  the  earth.     Next." 

There  are  at  present  sixty  studc 
Freshman  cldss.  A  curious  indivi 
us  the  other  day  whether  we  thou^l 
of  them  would  remain  till  graduatic 

Mr.  Ballantine  took  a  picture  of  ' 
think  is  hard  to  beat ;  of  course, 
remarkably  fine  looking  class  to  s 
made  his  task  easier ;  still,  he  des< 
credit. 

The  Freshman  that  sent  us  the 
story,  entitled  "Mamma's  Tree,'* 
the  manuscript  with  our  "extreme  : 
he  searches  our  waste  basket  or 
postage. 

Prof. :  "  What  is  the  zero  of  the 

scale  ?" 

Student :  "  Why,  it's  the  zero." 
Class  applauds,  and  temperature 

rises  to  the  blushing  point. 

Prof.  Wood  has  demonstrated  th< 
the  temperature  of  space   is   only 
the  absolute  zero.     This  tends  to 
the    Esquimau's   idea   of    sheol  is 
nearer  the  truth  than  ours. 

Attention,  Juniors  !     Buy   the   r 
"The   Complete    Commentator," 
W-e-t-ey  &  Co.     Filled  with  the  ra 
comments,  showing  deep  research  ir 
of  chemistry.     Price,  75  cents. 

Prof.  :  "  Yes  ;  some  clay  banks 
treacherous.  When  dry,  they  will 
most  perpendicular  ;  but,  when  so 
fall  very  easily."  Junior  (whisper 
neighbor) :  Just  like  some  men. 

By  the  manner  in  which  "  Deacc 
the  foot  ball  field  during  a  game,  w 
must  be  working  for  a  position  r 
Deac.  would  not  look  bad  in  a  whit 
and  a  cotton  umbrella  under  his  ar 
he? 


THE    STEVEN^   INDICATOR. 


149 


The  Seniors  have  "  finished  "  with  turbines 
and  will  continue  thermodynamics  for  the  rest 
of  the  winter;  it  is  thought  that  the  latter  will 
prove  more  congenial,  helping  to  keep  them 
awake  and  warm  throughout  the  longer  winter 
nights. 

No  longer  will  the  Hobokeni/^jj^j  be  dis- 
turbed in  their  peaceful  meanderings  through 
the  classic  streets  of  this  town,  by  an  indis- 
creet telescope  whose  line  of  collimation 
passes  through  their  hearts  and  a  Senior's 
searching  eye! 

"  Inertia  is  a  remembrance  of  the  ignorance 
of  the  past.*'  It  is  defined  as  passiveness. 
Thus,  if  we  pour  water  into  a  barrel,  the  bar- 
rel remains  passive.  Junior's  version  :  If  we 
pour  beer  into  a  Hobokenite,  the  Hobokenite 
remains  passive. 

Prof,  of  Chemistry,  lecturing  on  oil  of  vit- 
riol—" I  dropped  some  on  the  cover  of  a  book 
some  years  ago,  and  it  still  seems  to  absorb 
moisture  from  the  surrounding  tissue.  In  fact, 
I  may  say,  that  this  peculiar  physical  property 
fuvtr  ceases  to  stop*' 

It  was  the  first  game  of  football  she  had 
seen,  and  it  horrified  her  to  hear  the  players 
cry  "Held!"  She  turned  to  the  mild-eyed 
youth  at  her  side  and  said:  "  George,  could 
you  not  induce  the  young  men  to  say  sheol ; 
it's  so  much  more  cultured,  you  know." 

"Question  87" — Grand  double  shuffle  by 

^7-    Professor  looks  scared,  and  class  stuff 

handkerchiefs  in  their  mouths,  get  down  be- 

'^ind  their  collars  and  look  daggers  at  their 

"Jote  books.     A  member  of  the  class  explains. 

"ofessor's   looks  relax   into  a  broad    smile, 

^'^d  he  proceeds  to  write. 

^rof.,  to  Mr.  M.,  who  has  been  talking  to 
*^>s  neighbor :  "  Mr.  M.,  can  you  explain 
that  ?" 

Mr.  M.:  "  No,  sir;  I  can't  understand  that 
^^  the  book." 

^rof.:  "  Well,  manifestly  tain't  the  fault  of 
^^  book,"  and  gives  him  zero. 

Mrhat  frightens  the  Senior  by  night  and  by  day  ? 
M^hat  makes  him  shudder  with  awful  dismay? 
It  scares  all  his  wits — not  that  he  has  many — 
Bat  losing  them  all,  he  will  not  have  any. 
He  walks  in  a  nightmare  at  every  hour ; 
And  sleeps  wiih  a  day  dream  like  Byron's  Giaour. 
To  be  in  that  terror,  'pon  honor,  no  bliss  is  — 
The  poor  fellow's  thoughts  run  dry  on  his  thesis. 

Two  Students  met  on   the   ferry  boat  the 

^^W  day.     "  It's  a  high  tide,"  says  one  of 

^^  to  the  other,  and  went  on  explaining  all 

i      about  the  relations  between   the   moon  and 

I      ^be  tide  in  a  most  elementary  manner.     "  You 


see  it  is  this  way — you  are  an  '89  man,  aren't 
you  ?"  "  No,"  repled  the  other,  "  I'm  an  '87 
man." 

Exit  Soph.,  very  crestfallen,  while  Junior 
chuckles. 

Professor  (in  calculus  recitation,  to  student 
who  has  worked  example  on  board  incor- 
rectly): "What  value  did  you  find  for  u  in  the 
first  equation  ?" 

Student — *W  plus  2  ab.** 

Prof. — "  Substituting,  in  the  final  equation, 
that  made  you  equal  zero  («  — o),  did  it  not?" 

Student— *' Yes,  sir." 

Class  indulge  in  mirth;  but  the  professor, 
placing  a  "goose  egg"  opposite  the  name  of 
student,  doesn't  see  the  joke. 

We  are  glad  to  see  the  commenting,  as 
formerly  carried  on  in  the  Junior  class, 
stopped.  It  has  been  the  source  of  much  ill- 
feeling  and  unfair  play,  and,  in  one  instance 
at  least,  made  such  an  impression  on  a  stu- 
dent that  he  felt  obliged  to  continue  it  in  an- 
other department.  Thinking  that  the  loads 
likely  to  be  placed  upon  a  bridge  had  not  been 
fully  stated  by  a  classmate,  he  informed  the 
Professor  that  "something  had  been  omitted; 
sometimes  elephants  cross  a  bridge.  He  was 
immediately  sat  upon. 

He  was  a  gay  hearted  youth,  with  blond 
down  on  his  upper  lip,  and  he  hummed  an 
air  from  the  "  Mikado,"  as  he  tripped  lightly 
into  a  Washington  Street  store,  in  search  of  a 
piece  of  music. 

"  I  would  like  *  Only  to  See  Her  Face 
Again,*  "  said  he  to  the  good,  matured  looking 
German  in  attendance. 

"  You  can  see  her,  and  you  can  haf  her.  I 
marry  dot  girl  now  six  months,  and  I  don't 
got  no  more  hair  on  mine  hed  any  more. 
Oh,  yah  !  Lena  !  Lena  !  come  right  away 
quick  here." 

Professor  Leeds  delivered  a  short  but  very 
interesting  discourse  to  the  Junior  class  on  the 
subject  of  phosphorus  in  the  human  system. 
How  much  better  it  would  be  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  class  to  cease  picking  each  other 
to  pieces  with  miserable  little  comments  and 
give  the  Professor  a  chance  to  lecture  to  us. 
In  this  way  those  who  do  not  care  to  com- 
ment would  spend  the  time  with  profit  and 
enjoyment  to  themselves  ;  whereas,  now  they 
are  obliged  to  sit  and  listen  to  a  certain  few 
who  seem  to  think  that  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  chemistry  lies  in  being  able  to  tell  the  Pro- 
fessor that  "  Mr.  so  and  so  said  water ^  while 
the  book  says  H  O^y 


>50 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


K<.')^if</ 


The  Vassar  Miscellany  says  :  "  The  Sopho- 
mores entertained  the  Freshw^«  in  the  college 
parlors,  etc." 

We  notice  in  the  Tech,  an  article  on  "  Stu- 
dent Life  in  Heidelburg,"  which  is  both  in- 
structive and  interesting. 

The  Junior  class  of  Massachusetts  Institute 
of  Technology  is  to  publish  an  anjiual  called 
"  Technique,*'  about  Christmas  time. 

In  the  account  of  the  Lafayette-Stevens 
foot  ball  game,  the  Lafayette  says  :  "  The 
playing  of  Coliart,  Gilchrist  and  Hart  was 
especially  noticeable." 

In  Sweden  a  divorce  may  be  obtained  by 
a  wife  from  her  husband  if  she  can  prove  he 
is  an  inebriate  or  that  he  has  been  twice  con- 
victed of  drunkenness." 

Mechanics  for  November  has  an  illustrated 
paper  on  the  **  Isle  of  Wight  Steam  Ferry." 
As  a  novel  use  of  commonplace  mechanical 
arrangements,  this  ferry  is  noteworthy. 

The  Argonaut  says  that  it  is  too  much  trou- 
ble to  open  tightly  rolled  exchanges.  To  be 
sure  it  is  some  trouble,  but  we  would  never 
exchange  with  such  a  worthless  i)aper  as  that. 

Hereafter  the  exchanges  will  be  placed  upon 
the  table  in  the  library.  Wc  hope  that  the 
students  will  notice  the  Indicator  stamp  on 
the  papers  and  return  them  to  the  tables  after 
reading  them. 

Two  of  the  W.  T.  I's.  so-called  "  Scientific 
Notes  "  are  worth  repeating  :  "  According  to 
W.  Schinkewitsch,  a  new  genus  of  fleas,  the 
Vermipsylla  Alakurty  has  been  discovered. 
Heaven  defend  us!  " 

The  Beacon  has  appeared  again  in  its  at- 
tractive dress,  after  a  long,  long  absence.  This 
absence,  we  suspect,  is  due  to  the  faulty  man- 
agement of  our  exchange  column  some  time 
ago.  We  hope,  however,  that  the  Beacon  will 
continue  to  visit  us. 

The  Chironian^  a  sixteen  page  bi-weekly, 
comes  regularly  to  our  table.  The  articles  are 
mostly  written  by  professors  and  graduates, 
and  embody  the    results  of  their  experience. 


h. 


le 


<s 


^f 
^t 


lie 


We  are  not  at  all  surprised  that  such  a 
able  paper  should  be  copyrighted. 

Students  are  admitted  into  Michigan  U-  ^ni- 
versity  upon  the  presentation  of  satisfactczzury 
diplomas  from  their  respective  schools,  i  he 
system  is  said  to  work  well.  The  Univers  idty 
is  hunting  around  for  a  new  medical  buildic — ig, 
an  art  hall,  and  larger  recitation  rooms. 

We  were  taken  by  surprise  when  we  recei\ —  ^d 
the  Eclipse  for  October.     It  has  taken  uc^  to 
itself  a  new  cover,  and  the  typography  sho- 
marked  improvement.     We  were   particula- 
impressed  with  a  beautiful  specimen  of  rhyl 
mic  prose  entitled,  "Virgil's  Prophecy." 

The  Virginia  Literary  Magazine  is  bef 
us,  TiViA  we  are  enjoying  a  treat  in  the  peni 
of  the  articles,  among  which  are  "  The  Lo^ 
of  the  Poets,"  **  The  Ancient  City,"  and 
oration  entitled  "  A  Congress  of  Nation: 
In  this  last  the  author  shows  a  great  deal 
ingenuity  in  tracing  out  the  early  attempts 
such  a  federation,  and  in  predicting  the  peai 
ful  times  to  come,  when,  as  he  quotes, 

.     .     .     .     **  the  war  drums  throb  no  longer,  and 

battle  flags  are  furled, 
In  the   parliannent   of  man,  the   federation  of   ^"^ 

world." 

The  De  Pauw  Monthly  comes  to  us  witH  a 
new  cover.     It  is  also  more  literary  in  a-P' 
pearance.     We  object,  however,  to  the  unc^J^ 
pages.     This,  for  a  college  paper,  seems  too 
much  like  forwardness.      It  seems  as  if,  in  ol- 
der to  be  literary,  it  Mere  necessary  to  \t^^'^ 
the  pages  uncut;  "  it's  English,"  etc.    Besid*^ 
this,  it    is   very   inconvenient.      We  were  ^^ 
pleased  with  the  cover  that  we  sat  down  ^'^^ 
the  expectation  of  finding  cause  for  congr^t^' 
lation  within  the  covers.     It  reminds  us  of  ^^^ 
time  when  we  gave  up  eating  hickory  n^^^' 
because,  while  the  meat  was  very  good,  it  '^'^ 
too  much  trouble  to  ])ick  it  out. 

There  is  still  running  on  the  Western  ^"^ 
Atlantic  Road,  in  Georgia,  hauling  a  passen^^ 
train,  the  old  locomotive.  General,  which,  ^^^ 
Railroad  Gazette  says,  was  the  pursued  V^^^l 
in  one  of  the  most  exciting  chases  on  record- 
The  locomotive  was    carried  off  by  a  sma/^ 
party  of  Federal  scouts  during  the  war,  whilt^ 
the  engineer  and  firemen  were  at  dinner,  and 
the  train  was  stopping  at  Big  Shanty.     The 
pursuit  was  kept  up  for  over  loo  miles  before 
the  engine  was  finally  recaptured,  and  she  was 
was  only  abandoned  when  entirely  out  of  fuel 
and  water,  and  the  journal   bearings  had  been 
almost  entirely  melted  out,  the  supply  of  oi\ 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


having  also  lun  out.  In  the  chase,  this  General 
and  the  pursuing  engine  probably  made  the 
fastest  time  ever  run  on  a  southern  road, 
although  all  parties  were  too  much  engaged  in 
the  business  on  hand  to  keep  any  record  of 
the  actual  speed. — Ex. 


The  Stevens  battery,  built  during  the  war, 
cost  $4,700,000.  It  never  touched  the  water. 
Wheosold  it  brought  $55,000.  It  cost  831,000 
to  break  it  up.  The  wood  work  was  the  finest 
Georgia  pine,  in  a  high  state  of  preservation. 
That  used  in  the  sides  of  the  hull  was  5  feet  6 
inches.  These  were  dovetailed  together  and 
secured  by  bolts  4  feet  long.  In  and  around 
these  creosote  was  packed  in  large  quantities, 
and,  although  this  wood  had  been  in  place  for 
more  than  twenty  years,  it  was  found  to  be  in 
better  condition  than  when  freshly  cut.  All 
the  skill  of  the  workmen  and  the  strength  of 
the  tools  could  not  force  the  layers  apart,  and 
the  work  was  finally  done  by  burning.  It  was 
found  to  be  exceedingly  dry  and  susceptible 
of  high  polish,  and  a  large  quantity  of  it  has 
been  used  in  the  new  cottages  built  and  build- 
ing on  the  south  shore  of  Long  Island. 

In  the  hold  were  two  engines  of  6,000  horse 
power,  each  made  expressly  for  twin  screws. 
They  were  sold  to  the  works  whence  they 
rame.  In  addition  to  the  two  propelling  en- 
g>Des  there  were  sixteen  auxiliary  engines, 
»hieh  were  taken  to  coal  mines  in  Pennsyl- 
"nia,  where  they  are  still  used. 


GAS  ENGINES  ts.  STEAM  ENGINES. 

In  an  article  extolling  the  good  qualities  of 
R*5  engines  Denny  Lane  says,  in  the  English 

"With  such  advantages,  it  may  be  asked  : 
^^  does  not  the  gas  engine  everywhere 
'[ipciMde  the  steam  engine  ?  My  answer  is  a 
simple  one  :  The  gas  we  manufacture  is  a 
litir  fuel  compared  with  coal.  '  Ordinary  coal 
Ps  taeasures  30  cubic  feet  to  the  pound  ; 
'Mo  cubic  feet,  therefore,  weighs  33  lbs.; 
"id  taking  the  price  at  2%.  gd.  per  1000  cubic 
feet,  it  costs  id.  per  lb.  The  30  cubic  feet  at 
"300  give  190,000,  all  available  heat.  Al- 
'^f^  good  coal  may  yield  14,000  units  by 
'ts  combustion,  only  about  11,000  of  these 
tach  the  boiler ;  so  that  the  ratio  of  the  use- 
ful heat  is  -H-  The  thermal  efficiency  of  the 
'^t  QOD  condensing  engine  to  that  of  the  gas 


engine  is  in  the  ratio  4i\.       Multiplying  t 
gether  these  two  ratios,  we  get 


19  jai  4.28. 
"  That  is,  speaking  roughly,  1  pound  of 
gas  gives  about  ten  times  as  much  power 
as  J  pound  of  coal  does  in  a  good  non 
condensing  engine.  But  at  i8s.  id.  a  ton 
we  get  10  pounds  of  coal  for  id.;  so  that 
with  these  figures  the  cheapness  of  the  coal 
would  just  compensate  for  the  efficiency  of 
the  gas.  As  to  the  waste  heat  passing  away 
from  tlte  engine  being  utilized,  here  the  gas 
engine  has  no  advantage  ;  and  so  far  as  this 
is  concerned,  the  gas  is  about  eight  times 
dearer  than  coal.  The  prices  of  gas  and  coal 
vary  so  much  in  different  places,  it  is  hard 
to  determine  in  what  cases  gas  or  coal  will  be 
the  dearer  fuel,  considering  this  point  alone." 

■  A  temperature  of  570°  will  produce  a  dark 
blue  color  on  polished  steel,  and  590"  a  pale 
blue.  Oil  or  grease  of  any  kind  will  answer 
for  drawing  the  temper  of  cutlery.  The  tem- 
per for  lancets  is  obtained  at  430°  F.,  axes  at 
500",  swords  and  watch  springs  at  530",  small 
saws  at  570",  and  large  saws  at  500°.  Copper 
colored  spots  are  not  produced  by  tempering, 
but  they  may  be  obtained  on  the  polished  sur- 
face of  steel  by  immersing  the  article  in  a 
solution  of  sulphate  of  copper. 


A  NEEDED  REFORM. 
Air-  Til  fVilhw. 
There  are  some  men  in  the  R,  P.  Institute. 

Reform  it,  reform  it,  reform  it, 
Whom  a.  certain  custom  does  not  at  all  suil, 

Reform  it,  reform  it,  reform  it. 
This  business  of  copying  notes  each  day. 
Which  takes  up  his  lime  from  his  studies  and  play, 
Mikes  each  Senior  angry,  and  leads  him  to  say 


Reform  it,  reform  it,  reform  it 


lu  favor  of  printing  them  every  m 

He  should  do  it,  should  do  it,  should  do  it. 
These  men  need  att  their  time  lo  do  other  things, 
Besides  spendiog  it  in  work  which  no  proRt  brings; 
And  that's  why  each  member  of  '86  tings 

He  should  do  it,  should  do  it,  should  do  it. 
—  Trey  Pofyt. 


THB   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


F.  W.  DEVOE  &  CO., 

(ESTABL.t8Ht:D   leas,) 


Jathem/tigal  Instruments, 

Eng[>neets    and  Smveyo's'  Suppliss, 

ARCHITECTS'  k  ORAUGHTSMBN'S  MATERIALS, 
ARTISTS'   MATERIAL'S, 

OIL   COLORS   IN   TUBES.   WATER    COLORS. 

FINE   BRUSHES, 

DRAWlNr,  MATERIALS,  STUDIES.  ETC. 

Illuilrated  Catalogues  on  applicition. 


COR.  FULTON  AND  WILLIAM  STREETS. 


NKW   YOUK. 


Canma({h, 

Sundfortl 


4'  Co., 


Ill  Wrsi  33d  Struct, 

r.tli  Avo  Howl.  NEW  YORK. 


and  Underwear. 

All  Ike  latest  London  Fabrics  regularly  imported. 


3^  January,  1886. 


Ro.  I. 


-CORSE/^Sg.- 


*ian   in  flang;«f 
tKMia ,  .  ^ .  ,  i .   , 

<an<^   (5onf#. . . , 


7  //  /:       .7 


r    •     f  •      I 

f  - 
'        f    .     .    • 


r  » 


^  „  A      ft    f 


S  I  E\'ENS  HIGH   SCHOOL 


•  •      • 


■»    » 


T."' 


X      r      •-  •    %      w    -  «^ 


.*.'.« 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOC 


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«  •!*.•&.»        M         I 


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Ti     ■-     »■•     —     ',      •«Tr» 


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..    .J         .         .  I     •" 


•    .     .     •  .  • 


■»■  ■ 

*.     N.      .     .    .    •    ' 


JUNIOR    DEPARTMENT, 
SENIOR   DEPARTMENT, 


-  S75.00   PER   AWN;; AT. 

-  SI50.00   PER    ANNU.ft''. 


I  !■•>»*«*    «  ♦-rill-*    i!i"  i  -ii..*-    :t .  •    '  *.*•    H*  •. i«  J  :*'s. 


■«  -#  ^  •■ 


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tHfi 


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>1.  3. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  JANUARY,  1886. 


No.  z. 


'WINTER  SONG.— FOR    JANUARY. 


FROM  THE  GERMAN. 


Not  a  flower  is  to  be  seen  ; 
But  the  hardy  wintergreen, 
Peeping  through  its  silver  veil, 
Shivers  sadly  in  the  ^ale  ; 
And  its  ruddy  berries  glow, 
Ripening  upon  the  snow. 

Ah  !  BO  song  of  happy  bird 
In  the  wild  wood  now  is  heard  ; 
Bat  the  mouse's  winter  cry 
To  our  ears  come  sounding  high, 
As  it  runs  around  and  round, 
Seeking  food  upon  the  ground. 

I.0Ye  has  left  his  favorite  wood 

Where  the  little  birds  abode  ; 

Where  the  green  shade  gave  them  rest, 

Each  within  his  mossy  ncsl. 

Love  prefers  a  chamber  warm 

To  the  peltings  of  the  storm. 

Coldest  month  of  all  the  year, 
I  defy  thy  ragings  here ; 
To  my  love  sports  I  can  steal. 
Where  thy  frost  I  never  feel. 
Rule  forever — I've  no  fear. 
Coldest  month  of  all  the  year. 

G.    P.    QUACKENBOS. 

».4  »  » 


OUR  PROFESSION  IN   DANGER. 


There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  discussion 
'^'^g  on  lately  among  mechanical  men,  as  to 
tiat  the  title  of  M.  E.  means,  and  to  whom  it 

applicable.  There  is  published,  in  the  ex- 
^^^gt  column,  a  letter  in  regard  to  this  sub- 
'Ct,  which  appeared  in  the  Mechanical  Engi- 
^^^'  Truly,  our  profession  is  in  danger  of 
cteriorating,  when  we  read  a  statement  like  the 
allowing,  and  are  unable  to  deny  it  :  "  Any 
?€  who  chooses  can  write  the  title  M.  E. 
^^p  his  name — stage  carpenter  or  stage 
^ver."  Soon  the  man  who  manipulates  the 
^^eet  sweeper  will  sign  his  name  (if,  indeed, 
5  is  able  to  write),  Patrick  O'Hoolihan,  M. 
'•    It  looks  well  in  print,  doesn't  it  ? 

The  reasons  for  such  a  loose  state  of  affairs 
•"e these:    i.  Comparatively  few  people  un- 


derstand what  an  M.  E.  really  is.  2.  There 
is  a  disposition  among  a  great  many  to  steal 
any  titles  which  are  not  defined  by  law,  and  to 
appropriate  them  to  their  own  gain.  3.  The 
objection  is  urged  that,  if  the  title  M.  E.  is 
confined  too  strictly  within  its  real  significa- 
tion, men  well  known  in  the  mechanical  field 
will  be  forced  to  drop  the  title  which  they 
(very  properly,  I  think)  use.       , 

In  the  November  Indicator  was  published 
a  letter  by  William  Kent,  M.  E.,  to  the  Ameri- 
can Machinist,  Mr.  Kent,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  graduates  in  the  engineering  pro- 
fession, has,  in  a  very  clear  way,  shown  what 
the  title  means.  I  quote.:  "  ist.  That  the  letters 
M.  E.  mean  not  that  the  man  /V  a  piechanical 
engineer  by  viitue.  of  his  having  labored  as 
such,  but  that  he  possesses  a  diploma  confer- 
ring the  degree  of  mechanical  engineer,  which 
diploma  has  been  conferred  upon  him  by  a 
college  having  authority  by  law  to  confer  such 
a  degree.  2d.  That  no  other  person  has  any 
legal  or  moral  right  to  use  them.  3d.  That, 
while  there  may  be  no  penalty  *  *  * 
the  man  who  uses  them  (/.  ^.,  the  letters  M. 
E.),  and  who  is  not  the  possessor  of  a  legally 
conferred  diploma,  which  entitles  him  to  use 
them,  is  guilty  of  a  wilful  deception  of  the 
public." 

The  popular  opinion  is,  that  the  mechani- 
cal engineer  is  one  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
machinery,  and  that,  therefore,  any  one  in- 
cluded in  this  class  may  write  the  letters  M. 
E.  after  his  name.  Now,  all  this  is  radically 
wrong.  A  man  may  sign  himself  a  mechanical 
engineer.  There  is  no  penalty  provided  by 
law  if  he  fails  to  produce  a  diploma  authoriz- 
ing his  use  of  the  title.  There  should  be 
legislation  on  this  subject. 

A  man,  calling  himself  a  doctor,  may  ad- 
minister the  wrong  medicine,  and  kill  one 
human  being.  Forthwith,  the  law  is  made 
strict,  and  a  heavy  penalty  imposed  upon  any 
one  practising  medicine  or  using  the  title  M. 
D.  without  a  diploma.  But,  when  a  boiler 
bursts,  or  a  great  railroad  accident  occurs,  the 
public  is  so  occupied  with  reading  the  list  of  . 
killed  and  wounded,  and  censuring  the  cor- 
poration and  its  employees,  that  all  forget  en- 


THE    STEVENS    IND/CA'J  OR. 


tirely  the  incompetent  man  whosujjerintunded 
some  point  of  mechanical  construction,  and 
through  Hliose  incompelemy  so  many  livL-s  art 
lost,  Thi.'  corporation  is  not  blamable  for 
aught  more  than  a  mistaken  notion  of  what 
constitutes  a.  mechanical  engineer.  The  homt- 
cide  wrott  M.  E.  after  his  name,  and  the  cor 
poration  employed  him  without  demanding 
his diplonia.  In  the  first  instance  1  mentioned, 
one  life  ia  lost,  and  ihii  result  is  active  legisla- 
tion ;  io  ihe  laiicr  instance,  many  lives  are 
lost,  but  the  culprit  is  forgotten,  if,  indeed,  he 
was  ever  thought  of.  Highly  consistent,  I 
must  say. 

But  it  is  urged  against  any  attempt  at  legis- 
lation, as  I  have  said  before  that  men  well 
known  in  the  mechanical  field  will  then  be 
forced  to  drop  their  titles.  This  argument  has 
no  force  to  it,  as  I  can  verj-  soon  prove.  In 
the  first  place  if  we  consider  twenty  men  who 
are  honorably  practising  the  profession  of  en- 
gineering, we  will  find  but  one  or  two  of  the 
twenty  who  write  M.  £.  after  their  names.  In 
the  second  place,  we  assume  that  the  legisla- 
tion is  to  be  wise  legislation.  Such  legislation 
would  provide  that  "  each  graduate  of  a 
mechanical  school  shall  receive  a  diploma  con- 
ferring upon  him  the  degree  of  M.  £.  provided 
that  said  mechanical  school  be  authorized  by 
law  to  confer  said  diploma  upon  its  graduates. 
Any  mechanical  school  authorized  by  law  to 
confer  diplomas  conferring  the  degree  M. 
E.  upon  the  recipient  of  such  diploma,  shall 
be  required,  upon  satisfactory  evidence  being 
given,  to  give  to  any  applicant  a  diploma  confer- 
ring upon  him  the  honorary  degree  M.  E.  Said 
evidence  to  show  that  the  applicant  is  prac- 
tising the  profession  of  mechanical  engineer- 
ing, and  is  fully  competent  to  take  charge  of 
engineering  work  involving  great  responsi- 
bibty.  Said  applicant  is  to  pay  a  nominal  fee 
to  cover  expenses." 

This  is  rough  and  circumlocutory,  but  it 
may  serve  as  a  suggestion  to  those  who  may 
some  day  be  required  to  frame  a  law  on  the 
subject.  By  means  of  something  like  the 
above  we  would  do  away  with  the  bogus  M. 
E.'s  who  patch  rotten  boilers,  sell  badly 
bagged  crown  sheets,  plug  up  the  safety  valve 
and  perform  other  dangerous  tricks  too 
numerous  to  mention. 

My  friends,  the  Alumni,  we  must  have  legis- 
lation I  Legislation  at  once  and  active  !  It 
is  for  you  to  turn  the  eyes  of  the  legislature 
upon  the  subject.  It  is  for  you  to  see  to  it 
that  tHe  legislature  when  roused  from  its  leth- 
argy shall  pass  a  wise  law.    It  is  for  you  to 


rouse  the  public  to  an  appreciation 
responsibility  of  the  mechanical 
Then,  and  then  only,  will  the  end  it 
attained.  It  is  for  you  to  sustain  an 
our  profession.  Our  part  is  to  cheer 
In  former  times,  upon  mutterings  o 
internecine  strife,  the  consul  was  cot 
to  "  see  to  it  that  the  republic  rec 
hurt."  Each  Alumnus  is  a  moden 
It  is  his  place  to  "  see  to  it  that  his  p 
receives  no  hurt." 


Who  says  America  is  not  a  free  a 
pendent  country?  Who  says  the 
States  and  the  malaria  are  not  stil 
hold  their  own  ?  Yes,  sir !  The  flo* 
dependence  still  blooms  with  a  fifi 
bloom,  despite  the  Irish  and  the  Di 
fill  up  everything  and  spill  over  besii 
repeat  it,  sirs  !  Liberty  still  lives  an 
the  patent  medicine  man,  that  great 
of  liberty  and  union.  See  how  he  t 
people  with  one  mighty  tie.  He  gii 
darned  one  of  them  some  complaint 
and,  after  reading  his  circulars,  they 
choice  selections  from  the  best  sighei 
verily,  they  are  bound  in  their  commc 
by  a  tie  which  naught  can  sever  1 
months  arrears  for  rent  Go,  then,e 
American,  and  give  ihy  shekels  to  tl 
medicine  roan,  that  he  roay  dabble  in 
ing  surf  in  summer  and  place  his  ho 
the  mantel  in  winter,  and  have  naug 
but  tear  off  coupons.  We  take  gre; 
in  adding  our  mite  toward  the  soc 
suffering  humanity  by  annexing  beic 
of  the  results  of  the  glorious  woi 
patent  medicine  mat,,  that  all  may  i 
find  deliverance.  We  have  comn- 
with  a  few  prominent  patent  medii 
and  they  have  very  kindly  sent  us 
their  testimonials  from  the  best  chi 
the  day.  We  hope  that  all  will  find 
extracts  something  adapted  to  their 
ticular  case,  and  that  they  will  be  abh 
thereby. 

See  what  that  great  and  glorious 
"Sard's  Hoopsparilla  "  is  doing  forti 
We'll  quote  a  little  bit  from  some 
nials:   . 

"  Thinkine  you  might  like  to  hear  of  sc 
bcnelits  derived  from  using  Sard's  Hoopspar 
pleasure  in  giving  everything  dead  away.     I 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


Dg  time  a  sufferer  from  California  big  head  caused 
f  attending  Sunday-school  too  much.  I  tried  nine 
lousand  other  remedies  with  no  perceptible  effect,  but 
iter  standing  in  the  shadow  of  your  valuable  remedy 
ir  seven  and  three  quarter  seconds  I  was  entirely  cured 
id  am  now  able  to  wear  the  usual  sized  hat  again. 

•'  Very  truly, 

"  Charlie  Gum.*' 

•*  I  was  troubled  for  some  time  with  my  tailor  and 
ne  mumps.  The  tailor  bothered  me  more  than  the 
[lumps,  and  having  heard  your  remedy  highly  recom- 
mended as  a  rat  poison,  I  concluded  to  present  my 
ailor  with  a  bottle.  I  accordingly  did  so  and  it  worked 
ike  a  charm.  I  haven't  been  troubled  with  the  tailor 
iince,  and  the  mumps  died  when  the  tailor  did. 

••  Yours, 
*•  Shaw  the  Dude," 

Now,  Shaw,  that's  a  big  scheme  of  yours. 
We  think  you  ought  to  get  out  a  patent  on  that 
process.  We  might  be  tempted  to  lend  you 
as  much  as  a  dollar  thirty  to  push  the 
thing  with.  Come  down  and  see  us,  and  we'll 
talk  biz  and  drink  beer  at  your  expense. 

"  About  a  year  ago,  my  wife  was  troubled  with  dys- 
pepsia. She  could  not  keep  her  food  down  and  so  I 
M  to  put  up  an  expensive  shelf  to  keep  it  up.  I 
nought  one  bottle  of  your  cure  and  look  it  home  to  my 
»^fc.  She  said,  *what  elegant  furniture  polish,' and 
<>ok  half  the  bottle  at  once.  I  took  the  other  half, 
^^y  wife  and  I  are  now  confirmed  invalids.  Send  me 
"^0  bottles  for  the  man  that  plays  the  cornet,  across  the 
rcet 

"  George  Milligan,  the  Irish  undertaker." 

"I  take  great  pleasure  in  telling  what  Sard's 
oopsparilla  has  done  for  my  little  boy.  Six  months 
o  he  began  to  wear  out  his  shoes  and  stockings  like 
le  blazes.  I  found  out  that  it  was  caused  by  his  go- 
\  into  the  swamp  to  hunt  mosquitoes,  getting  his  feet 
^  ^nd,  consequently,  ruining  his  feet  attire.  I  pur- 
^sed  a  bottle  of  Sard's  Hoopsparilla  and  treated  his 
Jl^.  I  am  happy  to  say  they  are  now  waterproof 
*  will  probably  last  my  boy  until  he  is  married,  so 
Qp  me  shimminie  gracious  they  will.  I  find  your 
^able  compound  also  very  valuable  for  putting  a  false 
11^  on  bad  ale. 
'Sarah  Dermott,  Captain  of  the  Salvation  Army.' 

Sarah,  you  have  revolutionized  the  old 
^n  racket  "  system  if  you  have  discovered 
tiething  to  put  a  foam  on  bad  ale.  Salera- 
5  was  formerly  used,  but  that's  no  good, 
low  us  to  thank  you  in  the  name  of  all  the 
itnps  and  bummers  in  New  York  City. 
We  have  a  few  scrawls  relating  to  St.  Yar- 
up's  Oil. 

"  Allow  me  to  turn  inside  out  trying  to  tell  how  val- 
ablc  is  St.  Yarkup's  Oil,  We  had  a  picnic  last  week 
*^d  one  of  our  number,  while  stealing  apples  from  a 
«ighboring  orchard,  fell  from  a  tree  and  broke  his 
^eck  in  six  places.  A  single  application  of  St.  Yar- 
kup's Oil  fixed  him  up  all  right  and  he  has  gained  five 
^'unds  since  the  accident.  Another  of  our  number 
^ot  fanny  and  tried  to  dangle  on  a  rail   fence,  and  he 


didn't  know  how,  so  he  tore  his  pants  from  beginning 
to  end.  We  didn't  have  sewing  materials  so  we  ap- 
plied St.  Yarkup's  Oil  and  his  pants  were  better  than 
new  in  three  minutes.  Send  me  fifteen  bottles  of  your 
valuable  compound  to  tack  on  suspender  buttons 
with,  **  Truly  yours, 

'*  Willie  Campbell,  Jr." 

We  know  Mr.  Campbelf  to  be  a  very  reliable 
personage,  and  what  he  says  is  surely  so.  No 
funny  business  about  it. 

"  St.  Yarkup's  Oil  is  a  bonanza.  I  had  a  ten  thousand 
dollar  nose  on  me,  and  by  four  applications  it  was  com- 
pletely disguised,  as  well  as  a  corresponding  breath.  I 
have  found  the  Oil  useful  in  many  directions.  I  had  an 
old  stove  quite  beyond  repair,  apparently,  but  by  ap- 
plying St.  Yarkup's  Oil  I  fixed  it  up  and  sold  it  for 
three  Bridge  tickets  and  a  pound  of  tripe.  I  have  found 
your  valuable  remedy  a  very  excellent  substitute  for 
kerosene  and  intend  to  burn  it  hereafter,  even  though 
it  does  cost  six  dollars  a  drop.  Send  me  eight  bottles 
and  hang  me  up  for  them. 

*•  George  Van,  the  big  fat  man." 

"For  oofteen  years  I  have  been  troubled  with  bunions 
on  the  liver.  I  have  spent  nearly  nine  million  dollars 
on  doctors,  and  every  doctor  I  went  to  managed  to 
grow  another  bunion  for  me,  so  I  had  in  time  quite  a 
collection.  I  saw  St.  Yarkup's  Oil  advertised,  and 
bought  a  bottle.  I  took  the  whole  bottle  at  once,  as 
directed,  and  the  contents  immediately  chawed  off  the 
bunions  and  everything  else,  too.  I  shall  probably  die 
next  week,  but  send  me  another  bottle  before  I  die,  as 
I  like  to  keep  your  compound  around  to  take  spots  off 
from  wood  work, 

"Very  truly,  Clinton  M  UN  VAN." 

You  see,  Clint  drank  so  much  cold  tea  with 
a  stick  in  it  that  he  aggravated  these  bunions, 
and  their  removal  aH  the  more  strongly  proves 
the  great  usefulness  of  St.  Yarkup's  Oil.  For 
sale  by  all  newsdealers  and  milliners.  Price 
six  dollars  per  drop.  Ten  drops  for  fifty  dol- 
lars. Now,  no  doubt,  everyone  knows  of  the 
great  remedy  called  Neuralgine,  and  we  cannot 
pass  on  without  showing  some  of  the  good 
work  that  it  is  doing. 

'*  I  am  pleased  to  be  able  to  state  that  a  sore  throat 
which  has  persisted  in  annoying  me  for  several  months 
still  annoys  me  just  the  same.  I  have  taken  three 
hundred  dollars  worth  of  your  remedy  and  have  con- 
cluded that  it  wasn't  made  for  sore  throat,  but  for  taking 
stains  out  of  carpets.  I  now  use  it  for  that  purpose.  I 
have  dyed  one  set  of  fiannels  with  it,  and  am  now  going 
to  die  myself  from  that  three  hundred  dollars'  worth 
Don't  say  a  word,  but  I  die  in  peace.  I  stole  every  bit 
of  it,  and  I  ain't  losing  anything.  Send  me  two  bottles 
for  nothing.     I  want  to  black  my  wife's  hair. 

•*OxTA  Yazoontike,  Chatham  St.' 

Miss  Mamie  D.  Sweet  writes : — "  I  am  delighted  to 
say  that  your  valuable  remedy  has  cured  me  of  a  serious 
case  of  corns  on  the  heart.  I  also  had  warts  on  the 
intellect,  and  I  found  that  fifty-six  bottles  of  Neural- 
gine entirely  cured  me  of  both  complaints.  I  had  half 
a  bottle  left,  and  have  found  that  Neuralgine  makes  a 
ver}'  elegant  oil  for  the  sewing  machine  ;  and  I  have 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


cleaned  «l»er  •ery  nicely  with  it.  Wlien  yon  get  time, 
I'd  lilie  tu  have  yoD  send  me  niaelr-two  bottlet  and 
a  chromo  for  tailing  them." 

Well,  Mamie,  you  have  a  nerve,  haven't 
you.  We  conclude  that  your  nerve  is  one  of 
those  hard  and  tenacious  ones.  This  subject 
is  also  a  hard  and  tenacious  one  and  would 
last  forever  had  we  but  the  space  to  continue 
it ;  but,  as  we  have  not,  we  will  be  obliged  to 
discontinue  it  until  three-fourths  of  the  popu- 
lation of  the  United  States  ask  us  to  take  it  up 
again.  But,  stilt,  we  do  like  to  do  anything 
we  can  in  the  great  cause,  and  we  can  only 
say,  as  a  final  word,  that  we  can  lecommend  to 
those  who  wish  to  die  young  an  earnest  parti- 
cipation in  the  cause  of  patent  medicines,  and 
the  sooner  you  want  to  die  the  more  you  must 
take.  Good  day.  We'll  come  down  to  the 
jail  and  see  you.  T.  D.  K. 


The  Institute  having  been  founded  by  Ed- 
win A.  Stevens,  it  was  but  natural  to  name 
it  in  honor  of  the  founder.  As  the  time 
passed  by  the  number  of  students  increased, 
until  it  soon  became  evident  that  either  the 
buildings  must  be  enlarged  and  new  ones 
erected  or  the  Freshman  class  be  limited  to  a 
certain  number.  As  the  latter  course  has  been 
pursued,  it  has  resulted  in  competitive  exami- 
nations for  admission.  It  is  admitted,  now, 
that  the  Institute  is  too  crowded,  more  especi- 
ally in  the  lower  classes.  To  erect  new  build- 
ings, or  enlarge  the  present  ones,  will  require 
a  large  sum  of  money,  and  it  is  a  well  known 
fact  that  the  Institute  is  but  poorly  endowed. 
What,  then,  is  to  be  done  ?  President  Morton 
has  presented  to  the  Instituteacomplete  work 
shop,  which  has  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most 
valuable  of  departments.  But  one  could 
hardly  expect  an  outside  purson,  however 
generous,  to  donate  enough  money  to  erect 
new  buildings  to  form  a  part  of  an  institute  of 
learning  bearing  another  man's  name.  More- 
Over,  the  Institute  has  yet  to  receive  an  offer 
to  increase  its  endowment,  and  the  cause  is 
undoubtedly  that  above  stated.  If,  however, 
the  name  be  changed  to  the  New  Jersey  Insti- 
tute of  Technology,  the  Institute  would  re- 
ceive financial  aid  mvich  quicker  than  with  its 
present  title.  The  number  of  patrons  need 
not  be  limited  to  one,  but,  on  the  contrary,  any 
number  who  are  willing  to  aid  the  progress  of 
science  by  increasing  the  Institute's  endow- 
ment.    By  this  change  of    name  the  State 


increase  the  present  endowment.     The 
tages  are  easily  seen. 

The  electrical  department,  which  pi 
to  be  one  of  the  finest  in  the  In 
needs  much  more  room  than  it  has  at  p 
the  electrical  and  physical  labor 
being  both  in  the  same  room,  whi( 
formerly  occupied  by  the  physical  latx 
alone.  More  room  could  be  given 
lower  class,  especially  in  the  drawing  i 
ment,  and  various  new  instruments  1 
different  laboratories  procured,  makinj 
more  complete.  These  are  only  a  few 
many  advantages  that  would  result 
changing  of  the  name  of  our  Institute 
New  Jersey  Institute  of  Technology. 


BLEHENTARY  BLOW-PIPE  ANAl 

III. 

The  apparatus  required  for  the  reaci 
group  III.  are  :  the  blow-pipe  lamp,  th 
pipe,  an  alcohol  lamp,  the  platinum 
forceps,  the  platinum  wire  and  a  smal 
tity  of  hydrochloric  and  sulphuric  acid 

As  this  is  the  first  use  made  of  th< 
pipe  and  blow-pipe  lamp  in  these  art 
will  be  well  to  consider  the  nature 
flames  that  can  be  produced  by  a  pro 
of  these  instruments.  There  are  two  p 
flames,  called  the  oxidizing  flame  and 
ducing  flame,  which,  in  their  chemical 
are  identical  witli  the  flames  obtained 
bunsen  burner  when  the  lower  air  p< 
open  and  closed  respectively,  thus  pr< 
a  non-luminous  pale  blue  oxidizing  at 
minous  yellow  reducing  flame.  The  bli 
flame  differs  from  the  bunsen  flame  i 
smaller,  and  in  being  either  horizo 
somewhat  depressed. 

The  oxidhiiig  flame  contains  more 
than  is  required  to  combine  with  its  c 
it,  therefore,  is  able  to  impart  oxygei 
test  piece  or  to  oxidize  it.  The  heati 
increases  the  affinity  of  the  test  piece 
oxygen  of  the  surrounding  air,  which 
stantly  renewed  by  the  draught  prodi 
the  flame  and,  therefore,  aids  oxidatic 
stderably. 

This  flame  is  produced  by  holding  th 
the  blow-pipe  in  the  flame,  from  the  righ 
left,  so  that  the  opening  of  the  jet  is  a 
one-third  of  the  breadtli  of  the  wick,  ai 
blowing/c/-f('*/v  through  the  blow-pipe 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


The  reducing  flame  contains  more  carbon 
than  oxygen  and,  therefore,  can  take  away 
oxygen  from  the  test  piece  or  reduce  it.  This 
reducing  action,  however,  is  partly  neutralized 
by  the  same  action  which  has  been  shown  to 
aid  the  oxidizing  fiame.  Therefore,  in  reduc- 
tion, the  test  piece  must  always  be  well 
covered  by  the  flame  and  carefully  guarded 
against  contact  with  the  external  air. 

The  reducing  flame  is  produced  by  holding 
the  opening  of  the  jet  a  little  above  the  right 
hand  edge  of  the  wick  and  blowing  gently 
through  the  blow-pipe,  so  as  to  elongate  the 
flame  a  little  and  lay  it  over  in  the  required 
horizontal  position. 

The  blowing  should  not  be  done  with  the 
lungs,  as  that  produces  a  variable  blast,  be- 
sides being  very  tiresome,  but  rather  by  in- 
flating the  cheeks,  so   as   to   form  a  sort  of 
regulator,  while  inhaling  through  the  nose  and 
exhausting  between  the  lips.     This  operation 
is  generally  a  little  discouraging  at  first,  but 
some  practice  will  soon  overcome  the  diffi- 
culties. 

To  ignite  the  blow-pipe  lamp,  light  the  alco- 
hol lamp  first ;  then,  with  the  blow-pipe,  lay 
the  alcohol  flame  over  horizontally  so  that  it 
will  touch  the  wick  of  the  blow-pipe  lamp  and 
ignite  it. 

Certain  metals,  whether  free  or  combined 
with  other  elements,  and  also  certain  acids, 
have  the  property  of  imparting  a  peculiar  and 
characteristic  color  to  the  colorless  bunsen  or 
the  blow-pipe  flame.  In  order  that  the  color 
shall  be  produced,  the  metal  or  acid  must  be 
made  to  assume  a  state  of  vapor  by  the  ap- 
plication of  heat,  it  is  evident  that  the  most 
volatile  compounds  such  as  chlorides  and 
fluorides  will  be  best  adapted  to  show  these 
reactions,  as  the  heat  required  will  be  less, 
^hile  the  amount  of  matter  volatilized  will  be 
greater  than  if  compounds  are  used  which 
cannot  be  changed  into  vapor  so  readily. 

When  the  test  substance  is  a  salt,  moisten 
the  loop  of  the  platinum  wire,  attach  the  sub- 
stance to  it  and  then  hold  it  into  the  oxidizing 
flame  a  little  in  front  of  the  apex  of  the  inte- 
rior blue  cone.  This  flame  is  used  because  it 
IS  nearly  colorless  and  not  on  account  of  any 
chemical  effect  it  may  have.  These  reactions 
h«ng  entirely  physical  as  the  substance  is 
simply  vaporized  and  the  vapor  imparts  a 
color  to  the  flame. 

When  the  test-piece  is  a  hard,  brittle  sub- 
stance take  a  sharp-edged  piece  in  the  platinum 
pointed  forceps,  hold  it  so  that  the  flame  shall 
Dot  strike  squarely  against  the  piece,  but  pass 


along  one  comer  or  edge  of  it.  The  wire  and 
forceps  should  be  carefully  cleaned  previous 
to  each  test. 

The  most  important  colors  observed  are 
yellow,  violet,  red,  green  and  blue. 

The  yellow  color  is  produced  by  all  sodium 
salts,  it  is  so  strong  that  if  the  clean  wire  be 
simply  rubbed  between  sweaty  fingers  a  dis- 
tinct sodium  reaction  is  obtained,  owing  to 
the  small  amount  of  sodium -chloride  in  the 
perspiration.  If  other  colors  are  present  in  a 
sodium  flame  they  are  entirely  concealed  by 
the  latter. 

The  violet  color  is  produced  by  all  potassium 
salts  excepting  the  phosphate  and  borate.  A 
minute  portion  of  sodium  conceals  the  violet 
entirely.  To  neutralize  the  effects  of  the  sodium, 
introduce  a  piece  of  dark-blue  glass  between 
the  flame  and  the  eye,  the  sodium  flame  will  be 
invisible  while  the  potassium  flame  appears  as 
a  reddish  violet. 

When  many  tests  of  this  kind  are  to  be 
made  with  the  blow-pipe,  it  is  best  to  use  a 
pair  of  spectacles  having  the  left  eye-glass 
transparent  while  the  right  one  is  dark  blue, 
and  closing  the  left  eye  when  the  flame  is  pro- 
duced. This  method  leaves  the  hands  at 
liberty  and  prevents  uncertainty  in  operating 
the  instruments  behind  a  piece  of  blue  glass. 

The  red  flame  is  produced  by  lithion,  stron- 
tian  and  calcium. 

The  lithion  flame  is  a  beautiful  carmine  red. 

Strontian  produces  a  purple  red  flame, 
while  the  calcium  flame  is  a  yellowish  red  or 
dark  orange. 

To  obtain  these  reactions  most  distinct,  the 
chlorides  should  be  used,  or,  if  the  substance 
is  non-volatile,  it  should  be  made  volatile  by 
the  application  of  some  sulphuric  or  hydro- 
fluoric acid. 

The  green  flame  is  produced  by  copper 
oxide,  boracic  acid,  barium  and  phosphoric 
acid.  Copper  oxide  alone  or  combined  with 
some  acid,  excepting  hydrochloric,  produces 
an  emerald  green  flame  ;  o.i  per  cent,  of  cop- 
per in  the  test-piece  shows  this  reaction  very 
distinctly. 

Boracic  acid  produces  a  green  flame,  but 
some  substances  containing  it  must  first  be 
moistened  with  sulphuric  acid  before  showing 
the  reaction. 

Barium  shows  an  intense  yellowish-green 
flame,  which  is  best  seen  with  the  chloride. 
Phosphoric  acid  and  substances  containing  it 
will  show  a  bluish-green  flame  ;  if  the  latter  is 
not  distinct,  moisten  the  substance  with  sul- 
phuric acid.    This  reaction  can  be  shown  very 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


nicely  with  a  common  match,  which  is  lit  and 
extinguished  before  all  the  sulphur  is  con- 
sumed ;  then,  on  introducing  the  end  of  the 
match  into  the  flame,  the  color  appears. 

The  blue  flame  is  produced  by  arsenic,  lead, 
copper-chloride  and  antimony. 

Metallic  arsenic,  arsenides  and  arsenious 
acid,  free  or  combined,  produce  a  light  blue 
flame. 

Metallic  lead,  its  oxide,most  qf  the  lead  salts, 
and  minerals  containing  lead,  give  a  beautiful 
blue  color  to  the  flame. 

Copper  chloride  imparts  an  intense  azure- 
blue  color  to  the  flame,  which,  after  some 
time,  changes  to  green  from  the  copper  oxide 
which  has  been  formed.  Copper  oxide  or 
substances  containing  copper  will  show  this 
reaction  when  moistened  with  hydrochloric 
acid. 

Metallic  antimony  and  antimony  oxide  will 
produce  a  very  pale  greenish  blue  flame. 

The  very  rare  elements  indium  and  thallium 
produce  respectively  beautiful  violet  and 
emerald  green  flames. 

A  number  of  other  elements  produce  unim- 
portant flame  colorations,  whicn  need  not  be 
considered,  as  there  are  better  blow-pipe  re- 
actions for  the  same  elemen  ts.  O.  Pf. 

{Tobt  continued). 


*^»» 


THE  COMMON  MEETING  GROUND. 


In  the  Indicator  of  November  there  ap- 
peared an  article  telling  us  how  to  make  a 
college  paper  successful.  The.writer  of  that 
article  has  pointed  out  several  of  the  promi- 
nent deficiencies,  but  has  not  told  us  what  the 
object  of  a  college  paper  really  is,  and  what 
long  felt  want  it  is  intended  to  supply.  He 
has  supposed  it  to  be  self-evident  that  every 
student  is  impressed  with  the  necessity,  im- 
portance and  usefulness  of  a  college  paper; 
but  the  lukewarmness  or,  rather,  coldness  of 
the  students  toward  the  Indicator,  has  shown 
the  sad  fact  that  this  want  has  been  neither 
very  long  nor  very  deeply  felt  among  the  stu- 
dents of  Stevens  Institute. 

In  this  article  I  shall  endeavor  to  show  that 
the  college  paper  is  the  meeting  ground  of  the 
students,  the  alumni,  and  the  professors  of 
a  college,  concerning  subjects  of  common  in- 
terest. Only  when  the  students  and  the  alumni 
are  mutually  interested  in  each  other,  and  in 
their  alma  mater;  and  not  till  the  professors 
feel  a  personal  interest  in  those  whom  they 
have,  and  have  had  under  their  instruction, 


will  the  college  paper  be  a  success,  and  by  its 
success  indicate  that  strong  spirit  of  unioii 
which  alone  makes  the  college  a  spiritual 
power  in  the  land. 

These  conditions  exist  in  other  colleges; 
why  shall  they  not  exist  in  our  own  ?  If  yon 
should  ever  happen  to  glance  into  the  senior 
class  room  you  will  see  on  the  wall,  directljr 
opposite  the  door,  three  chairs  drawn  in  very 
beautiful  colors  and  connected  by  a  board 
screwed  across  the  legs,  and  above  them  the 
good  old  motto:  "In  union  there  is  strength." 
What  a  striking  picture  this  is  of  the  g^oal 
spirit  among  the  students !  Two  or  three  o( 
them  will  become  attached  to  each  other, 
while  the  rest  of  the  "boys"  practically  do 
not  exist  for  them;  and  yet,  what  a  streogdi 
there  would  be,  if  students  would  feel  some 
attachment  toward  each  other  as  they  should, 
while  receiving  a  common  course  of  instruc- 
tion !  When  tliis  is  the  case,  and  only  then, 
can  we  expect  the  alumni  to  feel  interested  in 
each  other  and  in  us. 

The  students  of  the  various  classes  have 
only  their  class  meetings,  and  discuss  only 
their  class  interests;  we  have  no  college  meet- 
ings in  which  to  consider  our  common  inter- 
ests.   The  college  paper  supplies  this  defi- 
ciency, and  it  gives  you  an  opportunity  of  ex- 
pressing your  opinion  more  freely  and  fully 
than  you  could  do  at  a  meeting.     It  further 
provides  a  means  of  giving  information  to 
your  fellow  students  concerning  some  techni- 
cal process  you  may  have  witnessed;  or  if  you 
should  have  a  turn  to  the  poetical  or  witty, 
we  can  always  appreciate  a  recreation  from 
Wood's  Mechanics  or  Rankine's  Thermody- 
namics.    Besides,  what  an  excellent  opportu- 
nity the  college  paper  affords  for  a  student  to 
learn  the  correct  use  of  his  mother  tongue  in 
expressing  his  thoughts — or  do  you  never  ex- 
pect to  produce  anything  that  will  be  worth 
putting  in  type  ? 

The  alumni  can  also  do  very  much  to  ele- 
vate or  depress  the  spirit  of  the  student.  To 
judge  from  appearances,  the  very  fact  of  the 
existence  of  the  Stevens  Institute  seems  to 
have  passed  from  the  memories  of  many, 
although  the  alma  mater  most  tenderly  re- 
members all  her  sons  by  publishing  their 
names  in  the  catalogues  year  after  year.  Some 
of  the  alumni  have  proved  bright  exceptions, 
as  for  the  rest,  if  they  do  not  want  to  help  us 
because  we  have  had  the  same  course  of  in- 
struction as  they,  and  if  they  are  aware  that 
we  do  not  know  much,  at  any  rate  let  them 
not  discourage  us. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


;  not  your  heart  beat  with  joy  when  you 
hat  a  Stevens  graduate  has  actually 
lought  worthy  to  receive  the  wages  of  a 
n  day  laborer  by  one  of  its  alumni  1 
i  not  bless  your  good  stars  when  you 
d  by  another  that  he  could  have  any 
r  of  graduates  at   $6.00  a  week,  per 

not  our  professors  impressed  with  the 
ur  of  their  work,  when  these  are  among 
ults  of  all  their  sifting,  eliminating  and 
tating?  Some  may  not  be  as  brilliant 
rs,  but  when  a  man  remains  until  he 
s  diploma,  it  shows  that  he  has  at  least 
jrance;  and  we  all  know  what  perse ver- 
Des. 

sad  to  be  treated  indifferently  by  those 
m  we  naturally  look  for  help  and  advice 
ve  enter  business.  Therefore  let  us 
liat  when  we  leave  these  classic  halls 
ill  go  with  us  a  warmer  spirit  of  friend- 
toward  those  who  will  come  after  us; 
hope  to  show  this,  not  alone  by  letting 
lear  from  us  occasionally,  but  also  by 
ng  practical  aid,  as  circumstances  may 

feeling  of  union  would  also  be  very 
increased  and  much  interest  would  be 
to  the  paper,  if  all  the  graduates  and 

would  at  least  notify  the  Indicator 
r  position  or  any  change  in  it.  Don't 
itil  you  can  make  it  read:  "Thomas  J. 
,  Ph.  D.,  B.  S.,  '78,  has  been  appointed 
>or  of  Chemistry,  at  Franklyn  College, 
n,  Ga.;"  or  "John  F.  Smith,  M.  E., 
'81,  is  superintendent  of  the  X,  Y  and 
ich  of  the  New  York,  Lake  Erie  and 
Ti  R.R." 

reads  very  well ;  but  if  you  do  wait 
ng,  the  column  of  personals,  interesting 
s,  will  always  be  very  thin.  You  will 
lear  much  about  your  classmates,  and 
s,  will,  in  the  meantime  forget  that  you 
id  any.  Be  assured  that  our  editor  is  im- 
enough  to  put  in  "  James  West,  M.  E., 
lughtsman,  with  the  Murray  Boiler  Co., 
ork,"  if  you  want  him  to.  Although  this 
>ok  humiliating  when  it  is  surrounded 
tof  superintendents  and  professors,  it 
>o  bad  when  a  number  of  other  grad- 
ire  also  bold  enough  to  acknowledge 
ey  are  beginning  at  the  foot  of  the  lad- 

we  all  must. 

munications  from  our  esteemed  profes- 
Lve  been  few  and  far  between;  and  yet, 
all  our  meetings  in  the  Indicator  be 
t  without  an  occasional  word  from  them? 


What  an  additional  interest  these  pages  would 
have,  and  what  a  strong  bond  of  union  it 
would  be  to  the  student  and  alumni,  to  hear 
from  those  whom  we  all  know  and  to  whom 
we  all  are  indebted  for  a  great  portion  of  our 
learning  and  training.  They,  perhaps,  are 
better  able  to  judge  us  than  any  one  else,  and 
knowing  that  any  communication  from  them 
would  be  interesting,  they  will  surely  honor 
the  Indicator  with  their  occasional  presence, 
and  thereby  help  to  make  the  paper  what  it 
should  be — the  common  meeting  ground  of 
all  united  in  the  name  of  Stevens  Institute. 

Jerseyite. 


•4.^  »» 


OIL  CANS  AND  CANTS. 


Through  the  kindness  of  an  interested  alum- 
nus, we  are  enabled  to  publish  the  following, 
from  Mechanics : 

A  clever  correspondent,  who  has  evidently 
read  with  more  amusement  than  profit  a  great 
deal  of  what  in  current  literature  passes  for 
practical  information  of  value  to  practical 
men,  sends  us  the  following  treatise  on  the  use 
and  construction  of  oil  cans,  based  upon 
alleged  practical  experience  therewith  : 

I  now  wish  to  give  to  mechanics  generally 
the  results  of  many  years'  practical  experience 
in  workshop  oil  cans. 

A  dirty  workman  always  has  a  dirty  oil  can, 
or,  in  other  words,  a  dirty  oil  can  always  has 
a  dirty  workman. 

The  proper  shape  foi  a  machinist's  oil  can 
is  a  matter  requiring  the  serious  consideration 
of  the  practical  engineer. 

Fig.  I  shows  the  form  of  can  I  have  arrived 
at  after  a  great  deal  of  experiment.  A  is  the 
spout  shown  in  section  and  having  a  conical 
taper  hole,  B.  As  to  the  proper  shape  of  the 
bead  at  the  end  of  this  spout,  many  of  our 
most  eminent  engineers  entirely  disagree  in 
their  practice.  I  have  always  adopted  the 
plan,  according  to  the  true  principles  of  conic 
sections,  of  making  the  taper  of  the  bore  3.76- 
328  inches  to  the  foot,  or  7.52656  inches  for  2 
feet.  Some  workmen  do  not  like  this  taper, 
but  I  have  found  it  the  most  desirable  on 
large  work,  because  if  the  bottom  C  of  the  can 
H  is  pressed  hard  enough,  the  oil — assuming 
the  given  condition  that  the  can  is  full— will 
be  ejected  with  sufficient  force  to  travel  in  a 
straight  line  ;  hence  there  will  be  no  danger  of 
the  oil  missing  the  hole  to  be  oiled  when  the 
spout  of  the  can  cannot  reach  the  hole  to  be 


8 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


oiled.  This  is  shown  in  Fig.  a,  in  which  A  is 
a  casting  of  cast  iron  of  any  suitable  mixture 
of  metal,  molded  in  sand  or  loam,  but  must 
not  be  chilled.  A,  Fig,  a,  is  provided  with  a 
bore,  B,  whose  end  faces  are  C  and  D.  E  is 
the  oil  hole,  with  a  countersink  at  F,  the  re- 
cess at  G  being  too  small  to  get  the  can  in. 

The  method  I  have  found  best  in  practice 
is  the  following  :  The  body  of  the  can  H  is 
filled  with  oil  from  some  other  can  or 
vessel. 

On  the  P.  D.  Q.  R.R.,  they  have  a  modern 
improvement  embracing  a  compound  system 
of  hollow  cones  soldered  at  A  in  Fig.  3. 
These  are  made  of  imported  IX  sheet  tin, 
which  comes  in  sheets  8x14  inches,  packed 
in  wooden  boxes  which  are  nailed  up  with 
wire  nails,  so  that  the  tin  cannot  come  out. 
The  gauge  used  by  the  P.  D.  Q.  R.R.  Co.  is 
teme  plate  under  the  Birmingham  wire  gauge 
or  charcoal  tin  in  the  American  standard,  the 
thickness  being  entirely  independent  of  the 
gauge  and  the  gauge  independent  of  the  thick- 
ness, and  both  independent  of  the  size  of  the 
can. 

Having  selected  these  elements,  the  lower 
cone  X  is  first  rolled  into  shape  and  then 
tinned  at  the  seam  with  a  soldering  iron  made 
of  copper,  Fig.  4,  in  which  H  is  the  handle, 
usually  of  hickory  wood,  receiving  the  iron 
stem  K  in  a  taper  hole  which  ts  surrounded 
by  the  iron  ferrule  J.  L  is  a  piece  of  copper 
which  I  have  found  it  best  in  my  practice  to 
call  the  iron.  The  iron  L  and  end  of  stem  K 
are  drilled  with  a  twist  drill  of 
No.  10  caliber,  and  a  pin  or  rivet 
M  is  first  passed  through  K  and 
then  through  L  ;  it  is  then  laid 
on  an  iron  block  and  riveted 
with  the  hammer  shown  in  Fig. 
5,  in  which  Z  is  the  head  and  Y 
the  handle.  Now  L  being  riv- 
eted to  K,  the  two  cannot  fall 
apart  ;  hence  the  workman  is 
not  liable  to  burn  his  fingers 
with  the  iron.  With  this  tool 
the  lower  section  of  the  com- 
pound cones  of  Fig.  3  is  sol- 
dered along  the  seam,  as  I  said 

The  upper  compound  cone 
W  is  soldered  in  a  similar  man- 
ner, and  is  provided  with  a  ring, 
V,  by  means  of  which  it  c.in  lie 
hung  up  in  any  Kuitalilc  place 
near  the  oil  tank,  or  it  may  be 
attached  by  a  string  to  the  oil 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


Jt Mil? > 


Fig.  3. 


he  best  string  for  this  is  No.  14  (music 
ige)  copper  wire. 

ise  of  this  instrument  \?  as  follows  : 
>ut  B  of  can,  in  Fig.  i,  has,  at  the  bot- 
icrew  thread  by  means  of  which  it  is 
I  to  the  bottom  part  H.  In  my  prac- 
ave  made  this  a  right  hand  screw.  By 
ing  the  spout  B,  it  comes  off,  and  the 
ilf  of  the  compound  cone  of  Fig.  3  is 


-5  M X 


Fig.  4. 


in  H.  The  upper  half  of  this  cone  is 
justed  vertically  beneath  the  faucet  on 
)arrel.  The  faucet  is  turned  so  that 
J  in  the  plug  falls  in  line  with  the  bar- 
j  oil  passes  through  and  falls  into  the 
iection  of  the  compound  cone,  and 
through   the   lower  section  into  the 

of  the  can. 


JL »4.<»3 


le.isi — 


u 


-V. 


Fig.  5. 


This  saves  a  great  deal  of  time  in  filling  oil 
cans  and  is  a  valuable  "shop  wink,"  especially 
where  there  is  only  one  oil  can  for  each  de- 
partment. In  my  practice  I  have  found  it 
much  easier  to  place  the  oil  can  under  the 
barrel  than  to  hold  the  barrel  over  the  oil 
can. 


A   JOKE  (?). 


They  are   making  a  great  fuss   about   an 

engineer  on  a  railroad  in  Germany  who  has 

run  on  the  road  49  years  and  never  had  an 

accident.     We  don't   see  anything  wonderful 

about  it.     The  engineer  on  a  German  railroad, 

we  believe,  always  walks  ahead  of  his  train 

and  shoves  everything  off  the  track,  while  his 

wife  shoos  the  train  along  after  him.  Still,  we 
can  see  how  an  accident  might  happen.  The 
engineer  might  grow  weary  and  climb  on  the 
train  and  go  to  sleep,  and  so  get  into  the  sta- 
tion ahead  of  time,  and  run  the  risk  of  catch- 
ing a  severe  cold  while  waiting  for  the  esteam- 
agewagonhausbundeirassmeister  (German  for 
station  agent)  to  open  the  zweitrackagesteam 
wagonausgerornudhausmitswanzigdoors  (round 
house). — Bob,  Burdette^  in  Mcch,  Engineer, 


lO 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


rUBLlSHBO  ON  THE 

16th  OF  EACH  MONTH,  DURINO  THE  COLLEOE  YEAR, 


BY  THE 


INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVen^  Institute  of  Tec jnologg. 

TERMS :— $1.60  per  Year,  in  Advance.     Single  Conr>  20  Centt. 


KiAfftd  td  lAMhm  Ptat  (\§k»  mm  fkmmd  CfOM  JtaW«r. 


Extra  copies  can  be  obtained  at  LuthiiCs  book  store^ 
Hoboken^  N,  J. 

Subscribers  will  please  immediately  notify  us  of  any 
change  in  their  addresses  or  failure  to  receive  the  papet 
regularly. 

The  -writer  s  full  name^  as  well  as  his  NOM  DE  PLUME, 
must  accompany  the  article^  as  assurance  of  good  faith 
and  reliability ;  but  it  will  not  be  published,  unless  desired. 

Exchanges,  contributions,  subscriptions,  atlvertisements 
and  all  other  communications  by  mail,  should  be  addressed 
to  TiiK  Stevens  Indicatok,  Stevens  Institute,  Hoboken, 
N.J. 


TT70  apologize  for  the  late  appearance  of  the 
1  January  Indicator  would  be  futile,  inas- 
much as  our  only  excuse,  if  it  may  be  called 
by  that  name,  is — the  excessive  length  of  our 
winter  vacation.  Instead  of  making  good  use 
of  our  spare  hours,  by  preparing  our  manu- 
scripts for  January,  procrastination,  as  usual, 
stole  away  our  time.  Other  delays  were  not 
lacking,  so  that  the  Board  can  congratulate 
itself  that  the  paper  is  published  at  all.  We 
might  also  mention,  en  passant^  that  the  sup- 
port of  the  students,  in  the  shape  of  contribu- 
tions, was  again  equal  to  almost  nothing.  We 
hope  to  do  better  next  month,  and  expect  that 
the  literary  men  of  the  Institute  will  do  the 
same. 

TT7HE  contribution,  entitled  "The  Common 
A*  Meeting  Ground,"  certainly  deserves 
perusal,  and  contains  many  points  meriting 
the  attention  of  all  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  Indicator  and  of  the  students.  The 
appeal  made  to  the  Alumni  of  our  Institute  is, 
undoubtedly,  a  timely  one,  and  should  be 
taken  to  heart  by  all.  We  have  been  receiving 
many  excellent  suggestions  from  graduates, 
but  as  yet  we  have  not  been  able  to  act  upon 


them,  for  lack  of  active  support  from  the 
Alumni  at  large.  Then  the  paper  would  he- 
come  one  of  more  practical  value,  not  only  to 
the  students,  but  also  to  the  graduates,  thus 
making  the  Indicator  a  medium  of  communi- 
catioQ  between  the  sons  of  our  alma  mater. 
If  the  Alumni  Association  would  take  some 
action  upon  these  suggestions,  the  desired 
feeling  of  union  and  interest  between  the 
students  and  graduates  of  the  Institute  would 
be  greatly  advanced. 


•JyPE  have  begun  the  practice  of.  placing 
Vic  upon  the  library  table  our  exchanges. 
in  order  that  the  students  may  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  learn  what  is  taking  place  at  other 
colleges  and  to  compare  the  Indicator  with 
other  journals.  Whether  this  venture  is  to 
succeed,  has  not  as  yet  been  proved.  At 
present  if  a  student  sees  a  neat  looking  paper, 
he  puts  it  in  his  pocket  to  "read  during 
math,"  or  whenever  it  is  most  convenient  for 
him.  As  a  consequence,  one  runs  across,  in 
most  out-of-the-way  places,  recent  exchanges 
bearing  the  Indicator  stamp.  Some  of  these 
have  been  known  to  travel  as  far  as  the  bakery 
on  Washington  Street.  This  is  without  ques- 
tion taking  unfair  advantage  of  a  privilege. 
The  papers  are  put  in  the  library  for  general 
use,  not  for  two  or  three  students.  It  may 
reasonably  be  asked  why — if  students  are  to 
assume  exchanges,  as  soon  as  they  fall  into 
their  hands,  to  be  private  pfoperty  — 
should  not  the  stockholders  of  the  I.  P.  Co. 
divide  the  copies  among  themselves  ?  Having 
said  this  much,  we  will  continue  the  experi- 
ment a  little  further,  and  we  may  as  well  state 
here,  that  if  the  scheme  works  well,  our 
choicest  exchanges  will  find  their  way  to  the 
library  table. 


*^  »> 


WE  feel  constrained  to  say  that  Professor 
Wall  has  taken  a  most  progressive  step 
in  the  conducting  of  the  Literature  course. 
Such  a  step  is  in  full  keeping  with  the  strides 
made  in  the  past  year  by  real  education  versus 
"machine  education."     We  are  sure  that  the 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


lias  paid  most  kind  attention  to  the 
.nd  suggestions  which  have  been 
•  the  students  since  the  question 
agitated.  Those  who,  two  years 
:d  the  subject  under  the  old  regime, 
now  recognize  what  they  then  con- 
jir  worst  enemy.  It  is  evident,  on 
)f  it,  that  Prof.  Wall  believes  that 
ave  brains  and  judgment,  and  that 
students  in  general  complain  of  a 
.•re  must  be  sound  reasons  for  such 
tration.      This    In    itself,    however, 

have  justified  any  action  on  the 
jrofessor  to  change  such  a  course  ; 
ts  have  shown  that  they  are  worthy 
laid  attention  to,  in  that  they  have 

what  they  did  want,  while  crying 
t  what  they  did  not  want.  Without 
ag  any  more,  we  hereby  express  our 
Professor  Wall, 


ssflifliUFjrcpsiiieR. 

'ilori  of  the  Indicator  : 
je  to  call  attention  to  the  condition 
ichines,  etc,  in  Prof.  Wood's  room. 
:nts  of  the  room  are  practically  left 
re  of  themselves  judging  from  their 

aises  over  the  cases  of  test  pieces 
reat  many  cases,  broken  and  the  test 
emselves  considerably  disarranged, 
ler  governor,  especially,  is  in  such  a 

as  betokens  gross  carelessness  on 
of  some  and  negligence  of  others. 
;  ought  certainly  to  be  responsible 
mdition  of  this  machine,  otherwise 

will  sooner  or  later  be  lost, 
he  class  of  '87  first  began  machine 
they  were  instructed  to  leave  the 
question  in  the  condition  in  which 
d  it,  (.  e.,  in  good  order  and  to  lake 
■om  the  room.  During  the  last  term, 
■  the  Junior  class  were  engaged  in 
ketches  of  the  Gardner  governor  ; 
them  went  down  to  complete  his 
ne  day,  and  he  found  the  governor 
:alcen  to  pieces  and  the  valve  missing, 
I  it  be  found  at  all  that  day.  It 
ut  that  some  blooming  idiot  had 
ip  into  the  drawing  room,  locked  it 
desk,  and  had  left  the  building. 


When  the  machine  was  seen  last,  Dec.  i6th, 
the  valve  was  not  where  it  belongs  but  on  the 
shelf  alongside  of  the  governor  together  with 
several  other  small  pieces.  It  is  hoped  that 
something  will  be  done  to  put  a  stop  to  such 
carelessness. 

"Junior," 


The  faculty  of  the  Stevens  Institute,  in 
their  endeavor  to  further  the  interests  of  the 
physical  as  well  as  the  mental  capabilities 
of  the  students,  intrusted  to  their  charge, 
have,  with  commendable  foresight,  divided 
the  college  year  into  three  parts,  com- 
monly known  as  the  first,  second  and  third 
terms.  Naturally,  one  would  suppose  each 
term  to  represent  one-third  of  the  collegiate 
year,  but  not  so,  for  when  it  came  to  dividing 
the  year  into  three  equal  parts,  a  serious  diffi- 
culty arose,  various  opinions  were  offered  and 
as  promptly  objected  to.  One  member  stated 
that  "  limits  "  was  an  absurd  term  and  could 
not  be  used  by  any  respecter  of  truth  and 
right ;  another  would  have  substituted  infinity, 
and,  as  the  discussion  progressed,  matters 
grew  worse,  and  as  a  compromise,  the  question 
was  left  to  the  caprice  of. the  "inconstant 
moon."  Hence  it  is  that  the  second  term 
this  year  is  longer  than  it  will  be  for  some  50 
odd  years. 

Another  important  reason  for  taking  the 
moon  as  a  standard  was  to  divide  the  athletic 
year  into  such  intervals  as  to  best  promote  the 
interests  of  the  students  in  the  sporting  world. 
For  instance,  the  first  term  is  set  aside  for  foot- 
ball and  referee  (this  is  a  new  departure  and  is 
recognized  at  Stevens  as  an  established  sport  ; 
was  played  with  great  success  last  fall),  and  all 
the  exciting  circumstances  connected  with 
the  two  games.  The  second  term,  was  origi- 
nally intended  (and  the  idea  is  faithfully  carried 
out)  as  a  period  of  rest  for  our  athletes ;  a 
lime  for  binding  up  wounds,  mending  frac- 
tured skulls,  sprained  ankles,  broken  ribs,  etc., 
all  the  natural  outcome  of  foot-ball  as  played 
in  the  twenty-seventh  story  (back  room)  of 
the  modem  ««i/j(?)- paper  shop.  Then  this 
term  is  well    occupied  with   the   healing  of 


12 


THE    STEVBNS  tNDlCAtOk. 


wounds  occasioned  by  the  game  "Referee." 
The  fellow  who  blighted  our  hopes  in  the  Fall, 
is  now  cussed  more  satisfactonly  and  effect- 
ively, than  during  the  excitment  of  the  game. 
Not  a  stone  is  left  unturned  to  make  his  life 
miserable,  and  if  both  stones  and  vocabulary 
cease  to  furnish  missiles  for  his  destruction — 
castings  (ten  cents  per  pound),  free  of  sand 
holes,  from  Hawkridge's,  continue  the  good 
work. 

This  term  was  originally  set  apart  for  indoor 
physical  culture,  but  since  the  apparatus  of 
our  ex-gymnasium  was  removed  temporarily 
to  the  garret  of  the  Institute,  the  association 
has  recommended  that  members  stand  on  the 
bureau  in  their  6x8  ft,  rooms  (the  regular 
gauge  for  Hoboken  quarters),  and  swing  a 
pair  of  blacking  brushes  for  a  half  hour  each 
day. 

The  association  has  a  species  of  promissory 
note  for  a  new  gymnasium,  but  the  note 
declines  to  mature. 

Skating  is  encouraged  by  the  association 
and  as  there  are  several  good  stretches  of  ice 
about  Hoboken,  the  "  boys "  spend  alarge  part 
of  their  leisure  moments  sliding.  Hoboken 
supports  a  rink,  whose  advantage  over  the 
meadows  consists  in  the  possession  of  two 
{gasoline  lamps.  A  double  supply  of  lights,  is 
mdicative  of  a  Carnival! 

The  third  term  represents  the  second 
active  period  of  the  year,  and  those  who  were 
not  stuck  by  the  faculty,  buy  "  sticks  "  of  their 
own  and  work  hard  for  a  position  on  the 
lacrosse  team.  The  battery  for  the  baseball  nine, 
after  a  winter's  practice  (?)  at  Hexamer's,  comes 
forth  and  surprises  everybody.  The  chronic 
growler  turns  anew  his  strings  of  discord  and 
croaks  with  the  ambition  to  drown  the  voice 
of  his  weaker  brother,  the  meadow  frog.  The 
season  closes  and  then  comes  a  void,  when 
again  the  cycle  of  victories  and  "  Referee  " 
absorb  the  attention  of  our  little  world. 


How  did   you  get  through  with  your  ex- 


Have  you  learned  to  write  it  i8S6  « 
itme  ? 

How  many  silk  handkerchiefs  and  pai 
slippers  did  you  get  at  Christmas  ? 

The  Soph,  who  talks  about  "  choleric  h 
is  sure  to  get  mad  if  the  boys  laugh. 

Ditto,  in  Physics — "  Why,  of  course,  i 
a  vftcuum  in  the  globe  by  blaming  it  in," 

"Three  beakers — lo,  12  and  15c; 
50c."  is  the  way  it  reads  on  the  labor 
price  list. 

The  Soph,  who,  while  fooling,  rushed 
the  stairs  and  into  Prof.  Wall's  arms  is 
resigned  to  his  fate. 

"  I  had  a  box  of  colored   chalk  heit 
somebody  has  gone  and  totlared  it." 
tell  anybody  where  you  saw  this. 

Soph,  in  Chemistrj- — "  I'mnot  sure.p 
sor  but  I  think  that,  er,  silice  has  a 
peculiar  odor — something  like  rotten  egg 

It  seems  to  be  now  generally  concedet 
the  Preparatory  department  is  the  moE 
portant  part  of  the  Institute.  Well,  1 
so. 

The  Sophomore  class,  in  their  coui 
literature,  nave  taken  up  the  study  of  S 
speare.  Three  of  his  best  works  are 
studied. 

Prof.  Geyer  is  amusing  the  Senior  cli 
exhibiting  a  little  glass  man,  lying  on  to 
wire,  and  swimming  with  all  his  might  a 
a  strong  current  of  electricity. 

He  mumbled  something  of  this  sort 
"  I  wish  that  Prof,  was  in  perdition 

He  sadly  gazed  on  his  report, 
I  judged  he  must  have  a  condition. 

After  all,  there  is  not  much  differeni 

tween  the  wily  Sophomore  and  the  inn 

Prep.     The  one  gambles  while  the  other 

hols  about  the  halls  of  the  Institute. 

Prof  :  "  Good  morning.     Are  you  all 

Class  :  "Yes,  sir  ;  all  here." 

Alas,  sighed  one,  as  he  thought  of  thos 

were  dropped.     How  soon  we  are  forgoi 

Will  the  student,  who  borrowed  a  li 
curves  from  Wynkoop,  '88,  last  term,  1 
return  the  same,  and  oblige  the  owner, 
curve  has  a  W  scratched  on  it,  and  the 
is  on  the  inside  of  the  box. 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


13 


"  Don't  you  see  if  I  should  go  off  to 
nd  give  this  body  a  twist  by  means 
ich,  it  would  act  so  and  so." 
It  :    **  Yes,  sir,  I  see  ;    but  no  right 
nan  would  go  off  to  infinity  to  twist 


the  Sophs,  got  a  Waterbuty  watch 
iristmas  present.  He  goes  into  the 
shop  twice  a  day  and  winds  his  "  stem 
by  gripping  it  in  a  chuck  in  one  of 

lathes  and  throwing  the  belt  on  the 
peed. 


uld  advise  the  Freshmen  to  stop  fool- 
"  Donald."     To  be  sure,  Stevens  is  a 

institution;  but,  if  a  half  dozen  of 
Id  get  bitten,  the  college  could  not 

give  you  all  a  free  passage  to  France, 
he  interest  of  science. 

freshman  who  left  a  letter  addressed 
ing  Ellie,"  on  a  seat  in  mathematics 
ill  call  at  our  sanctum  within  five 
may  save  his  letter  and  his  reputation 
If  not  called  for  within  five  days, 
r  will   be    posted    on    the   bulletin 

udents  that  send  us  communications 
ibing,"  examinations,  etc.,  will  find 
)jects  treated  at  length  in  a  little  book, 
1  by  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  It 
the  views  of  professors  from  most  of 
ges  of  this  country,  and  is  really  a 
book. 

iber  of  small  black  objects  were  seen 
:  floating  in  the  river  off  the  "  Elysian 

They  were   supposed  to  be  diaries 

discarded  by  the  disgusted  inhabi- 

:he  cities  and  towns  up  the  river,  who 

set  out  with  the  determination  of 
a  strict  account  of  their  doings  during 

the  Sophs,  were  sitting  for  their  pic- 
the  Institute  steps  the  other  day,  a 
agara,  mixed  with  sawdust,  descended 
em  from  the  floor  above,  coursing 
J  backs  of  their  necks  and  coming  out 
:uffs.  It  was  a  cold  day,  and  before 
them  could  remove  themselves  they 
izen  fast  in  their  positions.  Their 
tunate  classmates  succeeded,  however, 
ng  a  fire  around  them,  and  in  time 
them  from  the  gaze  of  this  cold,  un- 
orld. 


An  upper  class  man  and  a  Freshman  have 
put  their  heads  together,  and  the  result  is  an 
invention  that  will,  no  doubt,  be  universally 
adopted  by  the  students.  It  consists  of  a  wire 
which  is  attached  to  the  register  and  stretched 
across  the  floor  close  to  the  bed  side.  The 
first  one  to  awake  in  the  morning  seizes  the 
wire  and  opens  the  register  ;  then  he  jumps 
out  and  shuts  down  the  window.  By  the 
time  they  have  finished  their  breakfast,  the 
room  begins  to  get  warm,  and  is  quite  com- 
fortable when  they  return  for  lunch.  It  is 
said  to  work  like  a  charm.  As  the  patent  is 
applied  for,  a  full  description  of  the  invention, 
accompanied*  by  numerous  wood  cuts,  will, 
probably,  soon  appear  in  the  Scientific  Ameri- 
can, 


« ^  » » 


FBRE6^fiIlS. 


•76. 

Prof.  A.  W.  Stahl,  at  Purdue  University, 
has  recently,  in  conjunction  with  Prof.  A.  F. 
Woods,  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  brought 
out  a  treatise  on  ElemefUary  Mechanism,  Van 
Nostrand  being  the  publisher. 

'81. 

Albert  Spiess  has  returned  to  the  staff  of 
the  Iron  AgCy  and  will  take  charge  of  the 
mechanical  department,  and  all  engineering 
matters  connected  with  it.  Meclianics  with 
which  he  was  formerly  connected  having  been 
sold. 

'83 

Morgan  Brooks,  in  the  American  Engi- 
neer ^  for  Oct.  2  2d,  gives  a  critical  review  of 
a  recently  published  book  on  "  The  Gas  En- 
gine," by  Wm.  Macgregor,  in  which  he  tersely 
proves  beyond  a  doubt  that  this  author  plag- 
iarized to  an  astonishing  extent  from  German 
and  French  works  on  the  same  subject. 

'84. 

George  F.  Sandt  is  with  the  Edison 
Electric  Light  Company,  in  New  York  City. 

Wm.  H.  Pierce,  Jr.,  has  in  hand  the  making 
of  the  general  outline  drawings  for  the  various 
classes  of  locomotives  on  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  and  Baltimore  R.R, 

E.  B.  Renwick  has  W.  H.  Bristol's  former 
position  as  Instructor  in  Mechanics  and  Draw- 
ing, Workingmen's  Institute,  New  York  City. 


■4 


THE    STEVENS   tNbrCATOR. 


WiLLARD  S.  TuTTLE  hxs  left  Bridgcton, 
N.  Y.,  and  entered  his  father's  finn,  Tuttle  & 
Bailey,  New  York.  He  is  now  stationed  at 
their  factory  in  Brooklyn. 

■8s- 

W.  J.  BaoADUEADow  is  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  canning  business  at  Red  Bank, 
N.J. 

Wk.  S.  Corwin  has  entered  business  on  his 
Dwn  account,  in  the  line  of  Electric  Bells^  Gas 
Lighting  Apparatus,  etc.,  at  Newark,  N.  J. 

E.  Drevspking  is  with  the  New  York 
Plough  Co.,  at  Voakers. 

Wti.  N.  Stevens  has  accepted  a  position 
with  the  Worthington  Pump  Works,  Brooklyn. 

Thos.  G.  Suith  is  in  the  shops  of  the  P. 
C.  &  St.  L.  Ry.,  at  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


K<')^if</ 


The  Mfchanical  Engineer,  for  November  a8, 
Contains  a  full  account,  with  drawings,  of  the 
United  States  twin-screw  cruiser  "Chicago." 
This  number  has  been  advertised  for  some 
time  past,  and  is  well  worth  preserving  for 
reference. 

We  have  before  us  the  Swarthmore  Phanix. 
It  seems  like  an  old  friend,  although  we  can 
find  no  record  of  its  appearance  before  upon 
our  study  table.  The  literary  matter  is  well 
selected,  and  the  typography  of  the  whole  is 
good.  We  are  glad  that  hereafter  we  may 
count  the  Phanix  among  our  exchanges. 

We  have  before  us  the  first  number  of  the 
Peiuisyh'anian,  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 'Y\\eUitiversily  Magazine  has  disap- 
peared, and  this  new  weAly  has  taken  its 
place.  While  such  a  change  from  a  monthly 
to  a  weekly  necessarily  cuts  down  the  amount 
of  literary  matter,  we  hope  that  our  friend, 
the  Pennsylvanian,  will  not  abandon  this  de- 
partment entirely. 

The  exchange  editor  of  the  Sibyl  has  been 
reading  Thackeray.  She  writes;  and  the  sar- 
casm flows  gently  from  her  pen,  like  the  ideas 
from  the  mind  of  the  verdant  freshman.  We 
are  amazed  at  our  own  ignorance.  We  admit 
that  by  &  mistake  we  made  Professor  Thurston 


go  to  Dtica;  yet  we  do 

upon  the  printer.     At  any  rate,  the 

take  our  word  for  it,  that  we 

geography  hereafter,  and  thus    avoid  suck 

mistake — a  mistake  which,  if  we  had  "couaia 

of  the  opposite  sex   at  Ithaca,  would 

have  been  made. 

Just  as  wc  go  to  press  we  have 
Fan  JVcf/raxifsioi  Jinaary.  ThisnumbtfrCt 
tains  a  paper  taken  from  the  Philosophit^  Mi 
attne  and  entitled  "  The  Luminiferous  Etbu 
In  this  article  Professor  De  Volson  Woo 
after  quoting  various  authorities,  says ; 
propose  to  treat  the  sether  as  if  it  confonn 
to  the  Kinetic  theory  of  gases,  and  detetmi 
its  several  properties  on  the  conditions  that 
shall  transmit  a  wave  with  the  velocity 
i86,joo  miles  per  second,  and  also 
133  foot-pounds  of  energy  per  second  p 
square  foot.  This  is  equivalent  to  considcrv 
it  as  gaseous  in  its  nature,  and  at  once  CO 
pels  us  to  consider  it  as  molicular  ;  and.  i 
deed,  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  a  mcdti 
transmitting  ti^t  and  energy  without  bet 
molicular." 


CROSS  PURPOSES. 


We  have  paused  to  wmtdi  the  quiver 
Of  faint  moonbcaiai  on  Ibe  river 

By  the  gate. ' 
We  can  hear  waethlnir  calling, 
\»A  a  heavy  dew  ii  falling, 


Yeiw 


ll  is,  no  doubt,  very  atllj 
To  stay  out  in  all  thii  dully 

Evening  mist : 
Still  I  linger,  hciitating, 
For  her  lips  are  plainly  waiting 

To  be  kissed. 
So  1  xtuop  10  take  pi 
Of  the  coveted  ci 

On  the  ipot ; 
But  she  draws  )>ack  with  diicreettMM, 
Saying,  with  tormenting  sweetneat. 

Her  whole  manner  is  provoking  ; 
"  Oh,  well.  T  was  only  joking. 

She  looks  penitently  pretty. 

As  she  answera  :  "  What  a  pity  : 

So  was  11 " 


#  ui^  ¥ 


>m}M4 


^--fcpuary,  1886.  m 


tf  nc^taat'st ,  ,  ,  ,  - 

^om-iaCnn  of  jRi. ' 


::. 


a  »=• 


fjfti  'i 


5TEVENS  HIGH  SCHOOl 


THE    ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 


STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY 


I 


RIVER  STREET,  bet.  5th  cmd  StK  HOBQKEK.  X  J- 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER  16.  d885 

EjjanitfttttWM  JM  Admiaijlon  an  tha  I-lth  aufi  iBUi  of  Sapleiri'..Tr, 
OIL  COURSES  OF  STl'DY,  PKF.PARATORY  TO  SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE  Atib  COLLEnl 

JUNIOR    DEPARTMENT,       ■  -         -       S7B.OO   PER    ANNUM. 


SENIOR   DEPARTMENT, 


SISO.OO   PER   ANNUM. 


TiiflaA  -urmM>  InnluilB  idl  tb*  •tu.u*»- 


?sr  cacalegue*  fl^ply  xi  ths  Llbeartan  of  SMrnDB  laedtute- 


THE 


jStleve^s  jHdiQalsF. 


Vol.  3. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  FEBRUARY,  1886. 


No.  2. 
*-■■ 


THE    BARK   OF    MEMORY. 


I  stood  by  the  shores  uf  the  beautiful  sea. 
And  mused  o*er  the  wonderful  deep; 

A  feeling  of  awe  and  of  mystery 
My  heart  in  suspense  did  keep. 

In  the  west  I  saw  the  orb  of  light 

Depart  in  a  cloudless  sky  ; 
In  the  east  appeared  the  shroud  of  night, 

As  the  lovely  day  must  die. 

And  all  was  calm  as  in  slumber  bound; 

While  on  the  lonely  strand 
The  waves  were  beating  with  gentle  sound, 

Like  songs  from  a  better  land. 

In  the  distance  I  saw  a  gallant  bark 

Come  bearing  down  to  me ; 
Her  full  sails  were  a  silvery  white. 

As  she  dashed  o*er  the  rolling  sea. 

Her  hull  was  wreathed  with  garlands  gay, 
Her  masts  were  bright  as  gold; 

The  sailors  sang  a  mirthful  lay, 
Whose  tune  was  quaint  and  old. 

She  neared,  and  I  looked  in  an  eager  way, 
And  they  beheld  me  on  the  shore  ; 

I  saw  all  the  friends  of  my  boyhood's  day, 
While  they  greeted  me  as  of  yore. 

Her  course  she  changed  again  to  the  sea, 
Her  bell  was  tolling  a  mystic  chime  ; 

I  knew  then — the  bark  of  memory, 
Was  sailing  by  o*er  the  ocean  of  time. 


— ^Jerskyite. 


-•-♦' 


THE  INDICATOR. 


A  short  history  of  our  periodical,  the  Indi- 
cator, together  with  an  account  of  its  man- 
it  past  and  present,  would  not  be  out  of 
here  at  the  present  time,  when  it  is  just 
^nning  its  third  volume. 
[ore  especially  for  the  benefit  of  those 
faembers  of  '89,  who  are  not  familiar  with  its 
past  record,  do  we  present  this  account,  in 
order  that,  being  aware  of  the  difficulties  which 
had  to  be  overcome  in  starting  and  main- 
taining the  paper,  they  may  perhaps  feel  a 
Htdc  more  interest  in  its  further  maintenance. 


About  two  years  ago,  /.  ^.,  just  before  the 
Christmas  holidays  of  1883,  a  number  of  the 
students  thought  it  would  be  an  excellent 
scheme  to  start  a  college  paper.  Accordingly, 
a  meeting  of  the  whole  college  was  called,  and 
the  plan  talked  over.  The  idea  was  con- 
sidered to  be  a  good  one,  and  so  volume  one 
of  the  Indicator  began  with  January,  1884. 
The  management  of  the  paper  was  intrusted 
to  a  board  of  editors  elected  by  the  respective 
classes  ;  two  from  each  of  the  Senior,  Junior, 
and  Sophomore  classes,  the  Freshmen  having 
only  one  representative.  All  the  students 
were  invited  to  contribute  to  its  columns.  But 
the  principal  difficulty  was  in  obtaining  ar- 
ticles for  publication,  for  students  in  a  college 
course  like  ours  have  very  little  time  to  de- 
vote to  literary  pursuits.  This  fact  was  soon 
proved,  and  consequently  the  hard  work  rested 
rather  heavily  upon  the  editors. 

We  quote  the  following  from  an  editorial 
which  appeared  in  the  first  number  of  the 
Indicator:  "  We  know  that  a  paper  like  this 
requires  an  expenditure  of  time  and  labor 
which  we  can  ill  afford  to  give.  Our  legit- 
imate college  duties,  already  arduous,  are  con- 
stantly growing  from  year  to  year,  and  leave 
but  little  time  for  outside  issues  of  this  kind; 
yet  we  are  willing  to  devote  to  it  much  time, 
which  would  otherwise  be  devoted  to  recrea- 
tion, trusting  that  all  who  can  will  bear  with 
us  in  the  work."  We  see  from  this  that  the 
editors  seemed  to  half  expect  that  most  of  the 
work  would  fall  upon  them  ;  and  so  indeed  it 
turned  out,  that  not  only  most  of  the  work, 
but  all  of  it,  had  to  be  done  by  the  editors. 
The  students,  although  evincing  a  great  in- 
terest in  the  prompt  appearance  of  the  paper, 
yet,  when  asked  to  contribute  articles,  always 
thought  that  they  could  not  possibly  find 
time  to  write  one.  This  was  the  case  even 
with  the  Freshmen,  who  always  seem  to  have 
so  much  leisure.  But,  notwithstanding  all 
these  difficulties,  the  Indicator  fought  her 
way  bravely  onward,  and  kept  improving  with 
each  issue.  Frequently  during  the  year,  in 
fact,  in  almost  every  number,  appeals  were 
made   to    the    students  for  help,  but     none 


l6 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR, 


seemed  to  be  forthcoming,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  year,  after  issuing  the  last  number  of 
Vol.  I.,  the  board  of  editors  resigned  in  a 
body. 

Then  it  was  that  the  students  began  to 
realize  how  aSairs  stood,  well  knowing  that  if 
the  paper  did  not  succeed,  it  might  be  years 
before  another  attempt  would  be  made.  Ac- 
cordingly, a  meeting  of  all  the  students  was 
called,  and  they  showed  that  their  interest  was 
not  all  gone  by  deciding  that  the  paper  should 
not  be  discontinued,  and  by  finding  means 
whereby  the  work  could  still  be  carried  on. 

The  plan  adopted  was  that  of  the  forma- 
tion of  a  stock  company,  consisting  of  fifteen 
members,  and  in  the  hands  of  this  company 
the  paper  was  placed.  This  plan  has  been 
found  to  work  much  better  than  the 
former  one  ;  but  still  there  is  a  lack  of  co- 
operation on  the  part  of  the  remaining  stu- 
dents who  are  not  members  of  the  company, 
these  apparently  thinking  that  alt  responsi- 
bility has  been  removed  from  their  shoulders, 
and  that  all  they  have  to  do  is  to  read.  But 
this  is  a  very  wrong  impression,  for  every 
student  should  feel  interested  to  have  the 
paper  succeed,  and  should  therefore  do  what- 
ever he  is  able  to  do  for  its  support. 

Perhaps  a  student  may  not  have  time  to 
write  for  himself ;  but  why  not  get  an  article 
once  in  a  while  from  some  friend  of  a  literary 
turn  of  mind  outside  the  college  ?  The  same 
remark  applies  to  sketches  as  well  as  to  ar- 
ticles. 

One  of  the  chief  attractions  of  the  Indi- 
cator at  present  is  the  series  of  articles  on  the 
subject  of  "  Elementary  Blow-pipe  Analysis." 
More  matter  of  this  kind  would  be  very  ac- 
ceptable, and  would  fulfil  one  of  the  purposes 
for  which  the  paper  is  maintained,  viz.,  in- 
struction. 

"Well,"  you  may  say,  "what  conclusion 
may  be  drawn  from  what  has  just  been  said  ?" 
Why,  just  this;  if,  notwithstanding  (he  difficul- 
ties which  have  beset  its  path,  the  Indicator 
has  overcome  them,  and  arrived  at  its  pres- 
ent condition,  which  is  by  no  means  bad, 
how  very  much  more  attractive,  interesting, 
and  instructive  a  journal  it  might  become  if  it 
had  the  co-operation  and  assistance  of  even 
one  half  of  the  students,  which,  we  are  sorry 
to  say,  it  has  not  at  present,  and  we  can  only 
hope  that,  as  time  goes  on,  more  and  more  in- 
terest will  spring  up  among  the  students,  and 
that  they  will  do  iheir  share  of  ihe  work  as 
well  as  reap  their  share  of  the  benefits, 


ELEUEHTARY  BLOW-PIPE   ANALYSIS. 

IV. 

In  group  IV,  the  metals  which  produce  an 
incrustation  on  charcoal  are  considered.  Ii 
is  certainly  the  most  interesting  of  all  the 
groups,  not  only  from  the  number  of  elements 
which  it  includes,  but  also  from  the  variety  of 
chemical  combinations  that  may  be  produced 
in  it.  By  means  of  the  incrustation  on  char- 
coal, the  common  metals — arsenic,  antimony, 
lead,  bismuth,  cadmium,  zinc,  tin  and  silver- 
may  be  detected.  In  some  cases,  a  metallic 
bead  is  also  produced  from  the  test  piece, 
when  it  contains  either  antimony,  lead,  bii- 
muth,  tin  or  silver.  The  characteristics  of 
these  beads  will  be  given  in  another  group, 
and  only  the  incrustations  considered  in  ilui 
place. 

The  apparatus  needed  for  this  group  are: 
the  blow-pipe  and  alcohol  lamps,  the  blov- 
pipe  and  several  pieces  of  charcoal.  Special 
attention  should  be  given  to  the  latter,  which 
must  be  of  fine  grained  pine  wood,  about  four 
inches  long,  one  wide  and  one  thick,  and  only 
the  two  sides  which  show  the  grain  in  paralld 
lines  should  be  used,  and  kept  smooth  b; 
means  of  a  fine  file  or  emery  paper.  A  few 
samples  of  the  charcoal  may  be  seen  in  oneof 
the  mineral  cases  in  the  library. 

When  the  charcoal  is  to  be  used,  cut  a 
small  shallow  cavity,  about  ^  inch  from  one 
end,  for  receiving  the  test  piece,  and  after  the 
latter  has  been  placed  in  position,  hold  the 
charcoal  at  an  angle  of  about  twenty  degrees 
to  the  horizontal,  so  that  the  flame  will  touch 
the  test  piece,  which  is  at  the  lower  end. 

According  to  the  nature  of  the  substance, 
the  uncombined  metal,  the  oxide,  sulphate, 
carbonate  or  chloride  may  be  produced.  In 
some  special  cases,  a  reagent  of  equal  partsof 
of  potassium — iodide  and  sulphur  is  used, 
and  also  a  dilute  solution  of  cobalt  nitrate, 
which  produce  characteristic  compounds  widi 
some  metals. 

The  properties  of  the  incrusi  ations  by  which 
the  corresponding  metal  is  recognized,  con- 
sist in  odor,  color,  volatility  and  the  color  of 
the  reverberated  flame  produced  by  the  com- 
pound. The  reverberated  flame  is  obtained 
by  holding  the  deposit  in,  and  at  right  angl« 
to  the  flame,  so  that  the  latter  is  reverberated 
or  thrown  back  from  the  charcoal  and  colored 
by  the  vapors  of  the  deposit,  the  colors,  of 
course,  being  the  same  as  those  obtained  in 
group  III  by  the  same  elements. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


>7 


;olor  of  the  deposit  is  best  seen  at 
t  nearest  to  tlie  test  piece,  as  the  de- 
thickestat  that  place,  while  the  more 
part  assumes  a  bhiish  tinge  from  the 
,ng  charcoal. 

ixidizing  flame  is  invariably  used,  as 
losits  are  mainly  oxides,  though,  in 
analysis,  some  cases  occur,  with  zinc 
ores,  where  an  alternating  oxidizing 
Licing  flame  produces  the  best  results. 
ic,  as  a  metat,  or  in  combination,  will 
a  white  deposit,  which  is  very  vola- 
,  therefore,  settles  only  on  the  coolest 
of  the  charcoal,  from  which  the  slighi- 
ication  of  heat  will  remove  it. 

2As  +  30  =  As,  Oj 
the  test  piece  is  an  oxide  of  arsenic, 
>e  simply  volatilized  and  redeposited, 
nol  produce  the  peculiar  odor  of  gar- 
ned  with  other  compounds. 
loiiy   and    its    compounds    produce    a 
;posit,  less  volatile  than  that  of  arsen- 
therefore,  nearer  the  test  piece.     By 
;  the  reverberated  flame  to  the  deposit, 
green  flame  coloration  is  obtained, 
■b.  S,  +  gO  =  Sbi  O,  +  3S  O, 
lit  portion  of  antimony  sulphate  may 
produced  in  this  case, 
and  its  compounds  produce  a  deposit, 
.  near  the  test  piece,  and  which  has  a 
olor  when  hot,  but  becomes  white  on 
and  can  be  volatilized  at  a  dull  red 
The  deposit  is  generally  the  oxide,  but 
itain  traces  of  carbonate,  sulphate  or 
,  depending  on  the  nature  of  the  test 
When  sulphide  of  lead  is  used,  traces 
sulphate  are  invariably  produced. 
+  7O  =  Pb  O  -1-  Pb  S  O,  +  S  O, 
everberated  flame  shows  the  blue  color 
ead. 

ilh   and    its   compounds    produce  an 
colored    deposit,    when    hot,    which 
to  lemon  yellow  on  cooling  ;  in  other 
,  it  is  similar  to  lead. 
a  mixture,  consisting  of  equal   parts 
isium — iodide  and  sulphur,  is  mixed 
equal  volume  of  the  test  substance, 
e  is   formed  which    is    lemon    yellow 
e  substance  contains  lead,  and  brick 
n  bismuth  is  present. 
sK  I  -(-  iS  +  60  =^  Bi  I,  +  K,.S  O, 
+  SO1 


Cadmium  produces  a  reddish  brown  de- 
posit, which  has  a  variegated  border,  and  can- 
not be  mistaken  for  any  other. 

Zinc  produces  a  white  involatile  deposit  of 
zinr  oxide,  very  near  the  test  substance. 
When  treated  with  the  reverberating  flame,  a 
white  glow  is  seen,  but  the  deposit  cannot  be 
driven  off  by  the  greatest  heat. 

Tin  produces  a  deposit  very  similir  to  that 
given  by  line,  but  when  it  is  treated  with  co- 
balt nitrate,  a  bluish  green  color  is  produced, 
thus  distinguishing  the  two  deposits. 

Silver,  after  long  continued  blowing,  pro- 
duces a  slight  dark  brown  incrustation  of  sil- 
ver oxide  on  the  charcoal.  The  deposit  is 
only  obtained  when  a  large  amount  of  silver  is 
contained  in  the  test  piece.  If,  however,  any 
white  deposit  of  antimony,  lead,  zinc  or  tin  is 
first  produced  and  then  overlaid  by  a  silver 
deposit,  a  very  delicate  rose  tint  will  appear, 
and  less  than  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  of 
silver  may  be  detected  in  the  test  substance. 

Some  alkali  salts  as  sodium  and  potassium 
sulphate  produce  a  white  volatile  deposit, 
which  may  be  distinguished  by  the  color  of 
the  reverberated  flame.  0,  Pf. 

(To  be  continurd.) 


The  article  about  changing  the  name  of 
our  Institute  is  one  which  ought  to  naturally 
create  some  discussion.  It  is  only  too  true 
that  we  are  crowded  for  accommodation  and 
that  a  liberal  endowment  would  be  most  ac- 
ceptable. Our  faculty  even  recognize  this  for 
they  mention  the  endowment  scholarships  in 
the  annual  catalogue,  and  by  this  means  hope 
to  awaken  outside  interest  in  the  Institute 
which  ought  to  benefit  us  financially.  It 
hardly  seems  to  me  that  because  our  name  is 
Stevens  we  do  not  receive  outside  aid.  Other 
colleges  which  bear  the  name  of  the  founders, 
or  some  one  largely  interested  in  it,  such 
as  Vale,  Harvard,  Cornell,  Johns  Hopkins, 
Vanderbill  University,  in  Tennessee,  receive 
annually  endowments  such  as  we  desire.  It 
can  hardly  be  that  our  name  is  at  fault. 
Cornell  University,  receives  or  has  received 
substantial  money  grants  from  New  York 
Slate,  while  it  is  named  aftera  private  person. 
Why  could  not  Stevens  receive  support  from 
the  State  of  New  Jersey  likewise.  The  people 
of  New  Jersey  take  great  pride  in  their  com- 
mon  school  system  and  I  think,   if  interest 


i8 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


enough  could  be  awakened  among  the  people, 
they  would  respond  with  a  cheerful  gift  or 
grant.  The  (question  then  is  to  awaken  in- 
terest. This  IS  the  rub.  We  cannot  hope 
outsiders  will  do  it,  hence  it  must  be  done  by 
our  graduates.  But  then  1  have  my  doubts  as 
to  this,  for  generally  speaking,  it  seems  the 
most  difficult  thing  to  awaken  interest  con- 
cerning matters  in  college  life.  Take  our  col- 
lege organ,  the  Indicator,  for  example  ;  if 
it  were  not  for  the  few  students  who  have 
banded  themselves  together  as  a  publishing 
company  it  would  have  died  long  smce.  But 
this  is  a  digression,  and  to  return  once  more 
to  our  subject :  I  believe  it  is  shown  that 
our  name  is  no  hindrance  to  endowments. 
What  we  want  is  genuine,  sympathetic  out- 
side interest.  Let  us  show  to  the  world  we 
are  useful  and  honorable  members  of  society  ; 
that  we  are  capable,  honest  and  efficient  workers 
and  we  will  soon  get  friends.  One  disadvan- 
tage to  us  is  that  we  are  young  yet,  hence  we 
cannot  expect  much.  We  must  grow  natu- 
rally— a  forced  growth  is  without  strength. 
Another  point,  although  it  has  not  weight,  is 
that  Stevens  aesthetically  considered  is  much 
preferable  to  New  Jersey.  In  conclusion,  I 
would  say  to  those  who  have  thoughts  of  en- 
dowment, not  to  let  our  name  stand  between 
as  a  drawback.  It  shows  a  narrow  and  selfish 
spirit  which  is  not  found  in  the  liberal  minded 
people  who  endow  colleges  with  the  honest 
purpose  of  advancing  higher  education. 


"  Stevens." 


■♦♦♦- 


SOME   FACTS  ABOUT  THE   RECENT 
CLASSES  AT  STEVENS. 


It  is  always  interesting  for  the  undergradu- 
ates of  an  institution  to  look  back  over  the 
classes  that  have  gone  before  them,  and  won- 
der how  they  got  through  examinations,  and 
whether  many  of  the  members  of  the  different 
classes  concluded  not  to  go  on  with  their  col- 
lege course,  after  having  received  their  re- 
ports with  one  word  of  eight  letters,  begin- 
ning with  d^  attached  to  it. 

Looking  over  the  old  catalogues,  we  find 
that  the  class  of  1884  entered  with  about  sixty 
members.  They  labored,  as  the  Freshmen  do 
now,  with  trigonometry  and  co-ordinate,  with 
the  French  verb  and  the  laws  of  Newton,  and, 
as  the  next  year's  roll  call  proves,  succumbed 
to  one  or  more  of  the  former.  As  Sopho- 
mores, they  numbered  47;  and  they  evidently 
were  more  successful  as  Sophs  than  they  were 
as  Freshies,  for,  as  they  entered  their  Junior 


year,  there  were  4a  on  hand  to  answer  to  their 
names.  As  Seniors,  they  were  still  42,  and 
with  that  number  they  graduated;  and  nov 
they  are  out  in  the  world  making  their  miik 
among  men  of  their  profession. 

When  '84  had  reached  its  second  year,  a 
new  dasSy  numbering  53,  came  in.  This  das 
of  '85  seems  to  have  had  some  difficulty,  as  is 
peculiar  to  Freshmen,  for  in  their  second  year 
there  were  but  43.  As  before,  the  Sophomore 
year  was  not  as  bad  as  the  Freshman,  or  rather, 
the  men  were  better  than  they  had  been,  for 
'85  had  42  Juniors.  But  the  Junior  year  was 
and  is  a  hard  one,  and  only  36  Seniors  were 
on  hand  to  graduate. 

Perhaps  ^^  will  excuse  us  if  we  presume 
that  they  have  graduated.  They  began  col- 
lege life  with  48,  and  sad  was  the  havoc  made 
upon  them,  for  there  were  37  Sophs  to  take 
up  Calculus  and  Descriptive  Geomet^.  But 
they  braced  up  and  went  into  the  Jumor  year 
with  36  men  who  were  bound  to  get  throagfa, 
and  33  of  them  stuck  to  their  resolution  and 
became  Seniors,  and  will  probably  graduate 
next  June,  if  all  goes  well. 

The  classes  of  ^87,  '88  and  '89  will  have  to 
wait,  particularly  '89,  to  wage  some  more  war- 
fare before  having  their  roll  call  made  up. 
For  the  present  they  must  be  content  >irith 
what  they  have  gained  or  lost 


•  ^  »» 


THE  FORMATION  OF  SULPHURIC  ACID. 


The  equations,  by  which  the  formation  of 
sulphuric  acid  in  the  leaden  chambers  is  gen- 
erally expressed,  are  : 

(i)  2  HNOs+SO,=H,  SO4+2  NO,  and 

(2)  SO,+H,  0+N,  Os=H,  SO4+N,0, 

Lunge,    a    German    chemist,    proposes  a 

change,  and  represents   the  reaction  by  two 

entirely  different  equations. 

{2    SO,+N,   Os+0,+  H,  0=2  SO, 
r  J      .OH.  ONO. 
^^^  1  2  SO,  OH.  ONO+H,  0=2  H,  SO4 

I     +N.O3.  .     ^ 

The  difference  lies  m  this,  that  m  tne 
first  two  equations  it  is  the  nitrogen  dioxide, 
and  in  the  third  the  nitrogen  trioxide,  which 
carries  over  the  oxygen  to  the  sulphurous  acid, 
and  thus  causes  the  formation  of  sulphuric 
acid.  In  Lunge's  formula,  the  formation  of 
SO,  .OH  .ONO  (nitrogen-tetroxide-hydrosul- 
phate),  which,  in  the  form  of  crystals,  is  called 
the  "  crystals  of  the  leaden  chamber/*  is  one  of 
the  main  actions  taking  place.      In  the  old 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


19 


owever,  the  formation  of  this  com- 
jgarded  as  secondary,  and,  it  is  be- 
lly ought  not  to  take  place.  Its 
lows  that  the  quantity  of  nitric  acid 

large. 

1  (i)  supposes  that,  after  the  first 
f  sulphuric  acid  has  been  formed, 
Lcid  results  from  the  action  of  water 
gen  tetroxide. 

0,+H,  0=2  HNO3+NO. 
,  which  is  one  of  the  products  of 
n  in  contact  with  the  oxygen  of  the 
s  again  into  NO,,  which  then,  with 
,  causes   the   formation   of  a  new 

nitric  acid. 

ion  (2)  it  is  also  the  nitrogen  diox- 
icts  as  a  carrier  of  oxygen  from  the 
sulphurous  acid,  the  nitrogen  tri- 
l  produced  by  the  oxidation  of  the 

4  N0+0,=2  N2  O3. 
ime  to  his  conclusion  through  facts 
bserved,  while  trying  10  determine 
amsay  and  Cundall  were  right  in 
nitrogen  trioxide  does  not  exist  in 
s  state.  Armstrong  thought  that 
n  which  the  latter  experimenters 
id  consisted  of  a  mixture  of  the  di- 
:he  tetroxide  of  nitrogen.  Lunge, 
lowed  that  the  nitric  acid  they  used 
trong.  He  experimented  on  the 
nion  of  NO  and  free  oxygen,  and 
e  following  results  : 
1  dry  NO  is  brought  into  contact 
O,     NO 2    is    almost     exclusively 

owever,  NO  is  in  excess,  NOg  is 
»ides  a  large  quantity  of  Ng  O3. 
le  presence  of  H,  O  and  excess  of  O, 
^  is  produced. 

md  O,  acting  upon  each  other  in 

strong  H  J  SO4,  form  neither  NOg 

,  even  when  there  is  an  excess  of  O. 

Dn  taking  place  under  these  circum- 

-t-2  N0+0=2  SOg  .OH  .0N0+ 

Hg  O. 
view  of  the  above  results  that  we 
I  to  change  the  representation  of 
place  in  the  leaden  chambers. 

V.  d.  W. 


-*-♦- 


PRIMEVAL  AMERICA. 


styled   the  New  World,  America 
zation  almost  as  old  as  Egypt  or 


Asia.  In  the  unbroken  solitudes  of  Central 
America  are  cities  rivaling  Thebes  or  Babylon. 
Overgrown  with  dense  forests  are  the  ruins  of 
once  magnificent  palaces,  gorgeous  temples 
and  gigantic  pyramids.  The  walls  are  rich 
with  carvings  and  the  ground  is  strewn  with 
broken  statuary.  Further  north,  in  the  great 
valley  of  the  Mississippi,  covered  by  forests  at 
least  800  years  old,  are  to  be  found  earthworks 
as  varied  as  they  are  numerous.  These  extend 
over  the  greater  part  of  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi valleys,  including  the  Gulf  States. 
They  are  found,  more  or  less  numerous,  from 
Minnesota  to  Louisiana,  and  from  Florida  to 
Texas.  Ohio  alone  contains  from  11,000  to 
12,000. 

Some  are  vast  embankments  of  earth  or 
stone  crowning  steep  and  inaccessible  hills. 
Others,  built  on  the  level  plains  of  the  valleys, 
are  great  enclosures  of  earth  in  the  forms  of 
geometrical  figures,  connected  by  avenues, 
and  having  in  or  near  them  mounds  of  dif- 
ferent sizes  and  shapes.  The  mounds  are  the 
most  numerous  remains,  and  are  frequently 
found  alone  on  the  hill  tops  and  in  the  valleys. 
Some  are  little  hillocks;  others  cover  acres,  and 
are  from  70  to  90  feet  high. 

Of  the  nation  that  built  these  wonderful 
works,  we  have  no  history  ;  even  its  name  is 
unknown.  On  account  of  the  number  of 
mounds  that  they  have  left,  we  call  them  the 
Mound  Builders.  Whence  or  when  they 
came  is  a  mystery.  Their  origin  as  a  race 
extends  far  back  into  antiquity.  Their 
rude  though  often  imposing  works  have  the 
impress  of  native  genius  and  development, 
and  are  their  only  witnesses.  To  them  we 
must  go,  armed  with  spade  and  mattock,  if  we 
wish  to  learn  of  their  architects. 

The  principal  classes  of  the  earthworks  are 
geographically  divided  into  three  regions, 
leading  many  to  believe  that  they  were  built 
by  separate  and  distinct  races  at  different 
times.  But  they  so  gradually  blend  into  each 
other  that  it  is  hard  to  tell  where  the  one  ends 
and  the  other  begins. 

The  State  of  Wisconsin  is  covered  with 
gigantic  bas-reliefs  of  men  and  beasts.  One 
of  this  class  in  Ohio  is  a  large  serpent,  with  a 
body  1,000  feet  long,  ending  in  a  triple  coil, 
and  having  between  its  widespread  jaws  an 
egg-shaped  figure.  The  Southern  states 
abound  in  truncated  pyramids  that  are  often 
terraced  and  have  graded  ways  leading  to 
their  summits.  One  of  these  in  Illinois  covers 
8  acres,  is  90  feet  high,  has  a  flat  top  of  5 


20 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


acres,  and  contains  20,000,000  cubic  feet  of 
earth.  The  latter  may  have  been  sites  of 
temples  or  the  elevated  places  where  the 
solemn  rites  of  their  superstitious  builders 
were  performed,  and  are  connecting  links  be- 
tween the  Mississippi  valley  and  Central 
America.  The  last  division  is  principally  in 
Ohio,  where  are  found  all  classes  in  the  great- 
est profusion.  The  Mound  Builders  seem  to 
have  chosen  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Scioto  as 
the  seat  of  their  empire  and  densest  popula- 
tion. Along  the  northern  part  of  the  State 
and  extending  into  Western  New  York, 
crowning  high  hills  overlooking  the  valleys, 
was  a  system  of  strong  fortifications  that  often 
covered  many  hundred  acres,  and  was  sur- 
rounded by  several  miles  of  embankments. 
When  not  near  springs  or  streams,  each  had 
within  it  several  large  reservoirs,  capable  of 
holding  an  almost  inexhaustible  supply  of 
water.  The  gateways  were  perfect  mazes. 
The  walls  on  the  sides  most  easy  of  access 
were  frequently  15  or  20  feet  high,  and  had 
deep  ditches  on  their  outer  sides.  Together 
with  these  were  a  series  of  look-out  or 
signal  mounds,  extending  down  the  valley. 
By  lighting  watch  fires  it  would  have  taken 
but  a  few  moments  to  have  sent  a  signal  from 
the  north  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  south. 
These  seem  to  have  been  the  outposts  of  the 
Mound  Builder's  empire,  as  they  are  not  found 
south  or  west. 

The  mounds  in  the  valleys  belong  to  two 
classes,  and  are  the  most  interesting  remains. 
One  kind  contains  human  bones,  with  various 
articles  of  pottery,  such  as  water  jugs,  cups, 
bowls  and  vases  that  are  often  filled  with  a 
black  mould,  as  if  they  had  contained  some 
kind  of  food.  These  are  burial  mounds,  and 
were  erected  only  over  the  chieftains,  priests, 
and  perhaps  over  the  ashes  of  distingushed 
families.  But  one  skeleton,  wrapped  in  bark 
or  matting,  and  often  within  a  rude  vault  of 
wood  or  stone,  is  found  in  each.  The  larger 
mounds,  like  the  great  mound  in  Western  Vir- 
ginia, contain  many  more,  and  are  likely  the 
burial  places  of  kings,  who,  like  those  in 
Scythia  of  old,  were  interred  with  their  nearest 
kin  and  earthly  riches.  The  greater  part  of 
the  people  were  buried  in  large  cemeteries,  the 
remains  of  which  are  frequently  found.  Cre- 
mation and  urn  burial  were  practised  to  a 
limited  extent. 

The  other  class  of  mounds  are  near  the  en- 
closures. In  them,  and  on  the  original  sur- 
face of  the  ground,  are  dish-shaped  altars  of 
burnt  clay.     Among  the  ashes  that  cover  them 


are  the  offerings,  such  as  implements  and  orna- 
ments, of  bone,  copper  and  mica,  pipes  and 
carvings  in  stone  and  ornamental  pottery,  all 
much  injured  by  the  heat.  Above  these 
the  mounds  are  raised  in  successive  layers  of 
sand  and  clay.  They  are  called  the  sacrificial 
mounds,  and  are  always  found  in  what  may  be 
called  the  sacred  enclosures,  or  rather  system 
of  enclosures.  These  are  sometimes  very  large, 
having  as  many  as  fifteen  miles  of  embank- 
ments, and  covering  four  square  miles ;  it  is 
impossible  to  gain  a  complete  idea  of  what 
they  were,  as  wood  must  have  been  used  a 
great  deal  in  their  construction  ;  they  are, 
then,  only  the  ruined  foundations  that  have 
survive  after  the  long  lapse  of  a^es. 

The  sacred  enclosures  were  built  in  regular 
figures,  circles,  squares  and  polygons,  and 
have  the  ditch  along  the  inner  side  of  the 
walls.  They  are  connected  together  directly, 
or  by  parallel  lines  of  earth  ;  a  small  mound  is 
on  the  inside  of  each  gateway.  Considering 
that,  to-day,  with  all  our  mechanical  aids, 
it  would  take  many  thousand  men  many 
months  to  erect  similar  works,  we  can  gain 
some  idea  of  what  a  dense  population  filled  our 
valleys  ;  but  the  modem  Indians  have  no  tra- 
ditions of  them.  They  were  a  simple,  la- 
borious people,  given  to  the  practice  of  agri- 
culture, and  acquainted  witK  many  of  the 
ennobling  arts.  Maize  was  their  principal 
food.  They  were  great  smokers.  The  use  of 
tobacco  formed  a  part  of  their  religious  duties. 
Axes  and  other  household  implements  of  hard 
stone,  finely  carved  pipes,  spears,  arrow  heads, 
hoes  of  various  flint-like  substances,  and  taste- 
ful ornaments  of  slate,  attest  their  skill  in 
working  in  stone.  They  mined  the  native 
copper  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior,  and 
beat  it  into  many  useful  and  ornamental 
forms.  The  pottery  from  the  mounds  is  of 
fine  workmanship  and  often  of  an  elegant  de- 
sign. They  wove  a  cloth  from  the  twisted 
fibres  of  bark.  Sea  shells,  mica  from  North 
Carolina  and  obsidian  from  Mexico,  found  in 
Ohio  mounds,  show  that  they  had  a  commerce. 
From  the  great  perfection  of  their  circles  and 
squares,  we  conclude  that  they  had  a  standard 
of  measurement  and  a  mode  of  determining 
angles.     They  had  a  written  language. 

The  features  depicted  on  their  pipes,  and  a 
few  authentic  crania,  show  them  to  have  been 
an  intellectual  race.  Their  features  were  more 
regular  than  those  of  the  Indian.  The  nose 
was  straight ;  the  mouth,  small;  the  lips,  thin; 
the  chin  and  upper  lip,  short ;  contrasting 
greatly  with  the  coarse  features  of  the  latter. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


21 


ir  form  of  government  was  undoubtedly 
ic,  or  a  great  centralized  power ;  the 
r  part  of  the  people  not  being  free  men. 

religion  was  the  blackest  paganism  ; 
orshipped  the  elements,  especially  fire, 
er  with  the  sun  and  moon,  which  were 
Hzed  by  the  oft  recurring  circles  and 
ts.  Nothing  was  too  costly  to  be 
1  on  their  altars ;  minerals  and  rare 
5  brought  from  a  distance,  and,  as  the 
d  bones  tell  us,  even  human  victims,  on 
occasions.  How  imposing,  could  we 
ate  the  countless  ages  and  see  the  vast 
sions  wending  their  ways  through  the 
venues  from  the  sacred  squares  to  the 
Itars  in  the  mystic  circles, 
ut  fifteen  hundred  years  ago  these 
rful  people,  after  a  long  and  valiant  de- 
were  driven  by  some  hostile  hordes  from 
>rth  to  the  Sierras  and  plains  of  Mexico 
entral  America.  There,  like  a  concen- 
fiame,  their  civilization  shone  forth  with 
)led  splendor.  "  The  history  of  their  fall, 
•  strange  monuments  could  speak,  would 
jrhaps,  of  heroic  defence  of  homes  and 

and   of  daring  achievements  in  siege 
sault."  R.  M.  A. 


*♦»» 


LISKS;    FROM  AN  ENGINEERING 
STANDPOINT. 


Paper  I. — Quarrying. 
las  been  my  privilege,  during  the  past 
nonths,  to  consult  such  authorities  as 
ison,  De  Roziere  and  Herschel,  in  con- 
n  with  a  course  of  study  on  ancient 
jcture.  It  is,  therefore,  with  a  belief 
shall  succeed  in  giving  my  readers  some 
»le  as  well  as  interesting  knowledge,  in 
2  condensed  form  than  they  can  else- 
obtain  it,  that  I  enter  upon  the  subject 
me.  In  spite  of  our  boasting,  and  in 
)f  the  machinery — which  some  one  has 
styled  "  intelligent  "  —  of  the  daring 
n  world,  we  fail  in  explanation  of  the 
ds  pursued  by  the  Egyptian  engineers, 
ave  commanded  the  admiration  of  man- 
:hroughout  all  succeeding  generations, 
io  much  in  the  way  of  preface,  I  will 
;d  to  the  special  topic  of  this  paper, 
existing  obelisks,  with  but  two  or  three 
:ions,  are  of  red  granite,  from  Syene 
lan)  ;  whence  the  name.  Syenite,  as 
i  to  a  certain  combination  of  minerals, 
quarries  are  situated  upon  the  banks  of 
le,  below  the  first  cataract ;  thus  placing 
^autiful  stone  within  easy  reach  of  the 


art  centres  of  the  Egyptian  kingdom.  The 
rock  is  hard  as  iron,  and  as  a  result,  takes  a 
brilliant  polish.  Another  quality,  which 
should  not  be  overlooked,  is  the  remarkable 
absence  of  veins  of  foreign  matter,  or  of  any 
other  defects  which  are  usually  as  common. 
But,  how  were  these  granite,  blocks  cut  from 
the  parent  rock  ?  How  could  workmen,  with- 
out steel,  as  is  generally  believed,  chisel  into 
shape  the  rock,  when  at  last  it  lay  a  rough  and 
unformed  mass  upon  the  quarry  floor  ?  Let 
us  consider  the  first  question. 

There  have  been  three  totally  different 
theories  advanced  as  to  the  method  of  separ- 
ating the  masses  of  rock.  Let  me  briefly  re- 
view each  : 

1.  Cleavage  by  a  sudden  hlaiiK — This  theory 
holds  that  the  block  to  be  detached  was 
roughly  squared  up  on  five  sides,  leaving  one 
face,  a  vertical  one,  uncut  from  the  solid  rock  ; 
that  the  line  of  this  face  was  marked  out  by  a 
chisel,  cut  about  two  inches  deep,  and  that 
upon  a  blow  from  some  great  machine,  the 
block  was  separated,  after  the  manner  of  glass 
cutting.  The  statements  of  other  explorers, 
however,  does  not  bear  Belzoni  out  in  his  ar- 
gument. Indeed,  I  should  like  to  see  plans  of 
any  machine  which  would  distribute  a  blow 
evenly  over  loo  linear  feet,  and  also  the  rock 
after  the  fracture  had  been  made.  I  know 
that  machines  have  been  sketched  by  men  of 
fertile  imagination  ;  but,  as  we  have  no  ancient 
drawings  of  such  machines,  it  is  fair  to  assume 
they  never  existed  outside  of  modern  paper 
and  ink.  Again,  it  is  hard  to  believe  that  a 
cut  two  inches  deep  would  be  sufficient  to  in- 
sure the  even  splitting  of  a  granite  mass  at 
least  thirty  feet  long  and  four  feet  thick. 

2.  Cleavage  by  fire,  —  Well  authenticated 
statements  are  not  wanting  in  support  of  this 
theory.  Long  ago,  in  describing  the  gold 
mines  of  Egypt,  Agatharcides  states  that  the 
rocks  were  split  by  burning  wood.  Unfortu- 
nately, he  has  left  no  account  of  the  methods 
employed.  Sir  J.  F.  Herschell  adduces  testi- 
mony from  the  granite  quarries  of  India.  He 
says  :  "  In  the  granite  quarries  near  Seringa- 
patam,  the  most  enormous  blocks  are  separ- 
ated from  the  solid  rock  by  the  following 
neat  and  simple  process  :  The  workmen,  hav- 
ing found  a  portion  of  the  rock  sufficiently 
extensive,  and  situated  near  the  edge  of  the 
part  already  quarried,  lay  bare  the  upper  sur- 
face and  mark  on  it  a  line  in  the  direction  of 
intended  separation,  along  which  a  groove  is 
cut  with  a  chisel  about  a  couple  of  inches  in 
depth.     Above  this  groove  a  narrow  line  of 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


fire  is  then  kindled,  and  maintained  till  the 
rock  below  is  thoroughly  heated,  immediately 
on  which,  a  line  of  men  and  wiHnen,  each  pro- 
vided with  a  pot  full  of  cold  water,  suddenly 
sweep  off  the  ashes,  and  pour  the  water  into 
the  heated  groove,  when  the  rock  at  once 
splits  with  a  clear  fracture.  Square  blocks, 
of  six  feet  in  the  side,  and  upwards  of  eighty 
feet  in  length,  are  sometimes  detached  by  this 
method,"* 

3.  Ckaoage  ly  wedges. — The  grooves  de- 
scribed by  Herschell  have  been  repeatedly 
observed  in  the  quarries  of  Egypt.  In  the 
latter  instance,  however,  there  are  cut  holes 
— obviously  for  wedges,  either  of  wood  or 
iron.  Besides  these  holes,  others  have  been 
found  in  which  the  groove  is  wanting.  Upon 
these  differences  are  based  ihe  distinctions 
between  the  use  of  wood  and  iron.  The 
wooden  wedges  were  used  in  conjunction 
with  the  grooves.  Well  dried  wood  was  in- 
serted in  these  holes,  and  water  poured 
thereon.  The  uniform  swelling  of  the  wood 
produced  a  most  satisfactory  fracture.  Wil- 
kinson is  the  only  one  of  the  writers  accepting 
this  explanation  who  thinks  it  worth  while  to 
mention  that  the  grooves  were  probably  to 
direct  the  course  of  the  water,  and  not  merely 
to  mark  the  line  of  fracture.  He  believes  this 
to  be  the  only  true  miihod,  and  asserts  that 
"  the  percussion  of  iron  wedges  could  never 
be  instantaneous  along  the  whole  length  of  the 
block,  and  the  risk  would  be  incurred  of  break- 
ing the  shaft  into  at  least  two  pieces." 

Another  method  of  employing  iron  wedges 
hardly  comes  under  Wilkinson's  criticism.  It 
is  described  by  Col.  Wilks  as  a  Hindoo  solu- 
tion of  the  problem  : 

"  The  workmui  looks  for  >  plain,  naked  surface  of 
sufficient  extent,  and  a  stratum  [Col.  Wilks  cotifessea 
that  this  tenn  ii  ungeological,  u  applied  to  granite,  but 
says  that  no  other  word  will  well  describe  the  kind  of 
I   from   which  these  large    blocks  are   taken]   of 


trimming.  The  spot  being  determined,  ■  line  is  marked 
along  Ihe  direction  of  the  intended  lepaiBlIon,  and  a 
groove,  about  two  inches  wide  and  decpi  is  cut  with  a 
chisel :  or,  if  tile  stratum   be  thin,  holes  of  Ihe  same 


e  h>lf  c 


3  feet  di 


are  cut  along  the  line.  In  either  case,  all  being  now 
Teadj,  a  workman  with  a  imail  chisel  is  placed  at  each 
hole  or  interval,  and  wilh  small  iron  mallets  the  line  of 
men  keep  beating  on  the  chisels,  bal  not  with  violence, 
from  left  to  right  or  from  right  to  left ;  this  opention, 
as  Ihey  say,  is  sometimes  continued  for  two  or  three 
days  before  the  separation  is  effected.  Those  who  have 
seen  the  mode  of  culling,  as  it  is  called,  of  plate  glass, 
will  not  be  surprised  at  this  beating  from  one  end,  and 

■Corrliiie:  Bfl/ptiio  Ubctb^ 


ibe  lisinre  also  taking  place  from  one  end  lo  the  olkn. 
This  is  Ihe  mode  by  which  the  Seringapatam  itooc  m 
sepal  aled.  ''* 

Frequently,  according  to  some,  rarely  ac- 
cording to  De  Roziere,  saws  were  used  It 
has  been  conclusively  proved  that  the  metal 
used  was  copper,  and  to  give  it  the  power 
requisite  to  attack  the  stone,  sand  was  used. 
This  instrument  was  employed  on  deep  ver- 
tical cuttings,  where  to  the  present  day  the 
marks  of  saw  teeth  and  copper  oxide  an 
found. 

f  have  tacitly  assumed  up  to  this  point  that 
the  last  cutting  was  always  a  vertical  one. 
This,  however,  is  not  the  united  opinion  of 
Egyptologists.  Cooper  says  that  the  stone  wti 
supported  from  beneath  until  nearly  saved 
through,  when  it  was  allowed  to  break  off  bf 
its  own  weight.  In  support  of  this  belief,  b£ 
cites  the  instances  of  sarcophagi,  now  in  tbe 
British  museum,  which  have  a  rough  appear- 
ance at  the  lower  edge.  Gorringe,  on  the 
other  hand,  regards  this  as  the  result  of  acci- 
dent, and  not  indicative  of  the  usual  method. 
He  states  in  evidence  that  the  unfinished  ob^ 
lisk  now  lying  in  the  quarry  (Assouan)  i) 
"  evidence  that,  at  leait  in  the  extraction  of 
blocks  intended  as  obelisks,  the  under  hori- 
zontal surface  was  the  last  to  be  separated' 
In  cutting  this  last  surface,  supports  of  native 
rocks  were  left  at  regular  intervals,  until  it 
was  possible  to  jack  the  mass  up  with  beanuf 
then  the  rock  supports  were  cut  away,  and  the 
block  was  free. 

Now,  if  Gorringe  {and  Wilkinson)  is  right  ia 
such  an  opinion,  it  is  only  when  the  third 
method  of  cleavage  was  employed.  And,  eYtn 
in  that  case,  we  have  his  own  words,  when  he 
says  :  "  Both  Gau  and  Ebers  remark  upon  the 
great  care  shown  by  the  Egyptian  workmen 
that  the  valuable  syenite  should  nowhere  be 
cut  to  waste."  Would  not  it  be  a  great  waste 
of  syenite,  and  time  as  well,  to  cut  the  block 
free  in  the  manner  just  stated  ? 

1  have  said  that  only  in  the  third  case  can 
such  a  method,  as  that  of  leaving  the  under 
face  till  the  last,  apply.  Take  away  from  the 
first  method  the  assistance  of  gravity,  and  a 
powerful  machine  might  batter  for  ages  against 
the  marked-out  block,  with  no  prospect  of 
ever  getting  the  latter  free  entire.  In  the 
second  case,  it  would  be  unnatural  that  titt 
should  be  built  against  the  rock  and  waiei 
afterwards  dashed  against  the  rock,  when  the 
fire  might  be  built  above  and  the  water  merely 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


23 


ition  this  point  in  regard  to  the  facts, 

,  if  it  can  be  definitely  settled  whether 

face  was  a   horizontal   or  a  vertical 

will  be  able  to  determine  the  method 

jd  in  separating  the  masses  of  rock. 

Chic. 

JULIUS  CiESAR  OF  SHAKES- 
PEARE. 


I  we  find  the  character  of  one  of  the 
men  that  have  ever  lived,  portrayed 
greatest  dramatist  that  the  world  has 
;n,  we  would  naturally  expect  to  find 
er  of  his  intellect  and  the  wonderful 
>f  his  nature  delineated  and  emphasized 
a  Shakespeare  could.  However,  the 
St  does  not  seem  to  recognize  the 
»s  of  Caesar  ;  since,  in  the  acts  in  which 
ide  to  figure,  he  does  nothing,  except 
few  pompous  words.  He  is  entirely  at 
\  with  that  Caesar  whose  character,  as 
»y  history,  was  as  compact  and  firm  as 

jspeare  drew  from  Plutarch  the  histori- 
ines  and  most  of  the  characters  of  his 
**  Julius  Caesar."  Plutarch's  biog- 
►f  Caesar  is  very  imperfect ;  but  this 
dly  afford  sufficient  explanation  of  the 
t  inadequacy  of  Shakespeare's  repre- 
n,  for  the  latter  does  still  less  justice 
r  than  Plutarch  had  done. 
;ms  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the 
St,  making  the  attempt  of  the  republi- 
main  theme,  could  not  venture  to 
00  great  an  interest  in  Ciesar.  It  was 
ry  to  keep  him  in  the  background,  and 
that  view  of  him  which  gave  a  reason 
conspiracy.  If  the  true  character  of 
ad  been  fully  represented,  it  is  evi- 
at  such  men  as  Brutus  and  Cassius 
ever  have  been  brought  into  the  prom- 
in  which  they  are  presented  to  us. 
er  there  is  noble  in  Brutus  or  Cassius, 
ir  showing  at  the  expense  of  the  char- 
Caesar. 

*  is  evidence  that  the  dramatist  really 

erstand  the  mightiness  of  Caesar  ;  for, 

in  the  play,  he  delivers   himself   so 

It  of  his  true  character,  yet  both  his 

and  foes  represent  him  much  nearer 

he  really  was.      This   is   especially 

)le  in  the  speech  of  Mark  Antony  over 

body.    In  the  latter  part  of  the  drama, 

tness  and  right  of  mastership  over  the 

•e  vindicated.     Caesar's  blood  cements 

ire  which  the  conspirators  wished  to 


destroy  in  its  infancy.  He  proves  as  power- 
ful in  death  as  in  life,  so  that  Brutus  exclaims  : 
"  Oh,  Julius  Caesar,  thou  art  mighty  yet !  Thy 
spirit  walks  abroad,  and  turns  our  swords 
into  our  own  proper  entrails." 

Whilst  other  men  have  been  reputed  great 
in  one  department  of  human  genius,  it  was 
declared  by  the  voice  of  antiquity  that  Caesar 
was  great  in  all.  As  a  statesman,  a  general,  a 
legislator  and  as  a  historian,  he  has  never  been 
surpassed.  Although  a  short  period  of  time 
intervened  between  his  accession  to  power  as 
the  head  of  the  Roman  Empire  and  his  death, 
yet  it  sufficed  for  him  to  undertake  measures 
that  have  been  a  lasting  benefit  to  mankind. 
He  it  was  who  instituted  the  "  Julian  calen- 
dar," the  inaccuracy  of  which  was  so  slight  that 
it  did  not  require  correction  for  sixteen  cen- 
turies. A  more  extensive  project  that  he 
began  was  the  geographical  survey  of  the 
Roman  Empire.  This  work  was  not  com- 
pleted until  some  time  after  his  death.  He 
also  commenced  the  herculean  task  of  collect- 
ing and  remodelling  all  the  fragments  of  Ro- 
man law  into  one  compact  code  of  laws,  but 
his  untimely  death  prevented  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  undertaking  until  about  six  cen- 
turies later,  when  Justinian  finished  it. 

These  and  other  such  projects  were  en- 
gaging the  attention  of  Caesar  at  a  time  when 
Shakespeare  represents  him  as  lording  it  over 
Rome,  and  strutting  around  Rome  with  the 
boastfulness  of  one  who  would  say  :  "  Hush  ! 
for  I,  Caesar,  a  demigod,  speak." 

If  Brutus  erred  more  than  Cassius  in  the 
means  that  he  employed  in  the  assassination 
of  Caesar,  they  both  erred  equally  in  their 
final  aim.  The  restoration  of  the  Republic 
was  a  plan  no  longer  feasible,  as  the  people 
had  become  unfit  for  political  freedom.  Noth- 
ing did  so  much  to  set  them  in  love  with 
royalty  as  the  reflection  that  their  beloved 
Caesar,  the  consummation  of  Roman  genius, 
was  foully  murdered  for  aspiring  to  it.  The 
characters  of  Brutus  and  Cassius  are  best  de- 
scribed by  the  saying  that  the  former  "  hated 
tyranny,"  the  later  "hated  tyrants." 

Shakespeare  shows  Caesar's  contempt  of 
danger  as  well  as  his  unbelief  in  prophecy, 
when  the  soothsayer  cries  out :  "  Beware 
the  Ides  of  March  ! "  and  Caesar  answers  : 
**  He  is  a  dreamer,  let  us  leave  him."  This 
feature  of  Caesar's  character  agrees  with  his- 
tory. However,  taken  as  a  whole,  the  drama 
of  Julius  Caesar  does  not  do  justice  to  one 
who  "bestrided  this  narrow  world  like  a 
colossus."  TiTAX. 


24 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


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N,f 


U  rnOLLfor  the  brave,  the  brave  who  are 
1  no  more."  With  this  number  the 
old  board  of  editors  goes  out  of  existence.  It 
would  not  be  very  becoming  if  we  were  to  end 
our  career  amid  wails  and  lamentations)  hurl- 
ing accusations  against  all  that  have  neglected 
to  acknowledge  the  grandeur  of  our  work,  or 
have  failed  to  assist  us  in  our  task.  No,  in- 
deed ;  it  would  ill  become  us  to  leave  this 
editorial  vale  of  tears  without  being  at  peace 
with  all  the  world.  So  let  us,  instead,  strike 
the  lyre  of  praise;  let  us  thank  all  for  their 
warm  support;  let  us  rejoice  at  the  numerous 
reforms  that  were  wrought  through  our 
humble  means;  and,  throwing  off  the  bondage 
of  editorial  slavery,  let  us  pass  through  the 
golden  gates  to  the  land  of  freedom  and  of 


criticism. 


-♦-♦-♦" 


WE  noticed  in  the  New  York  Times  of 
January  28  a  letter  from  a  graduate  of 
Yale.  He  touches  mainly  on  the  widely- 
spread  evil  of  the  marking  system.  Accord- 
ing to  him,  the  instructors  at  most  American 
colleges  do  not  attempt  to  teach,  but  sit 
merely  as  judges  of   a  student's   knowledge 


of  a  lesson*  and  ^*panip"  him  in  recitalioB. 
We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  oitr  Iiud- 
tnte  is  far  in  advance  of  other  colleges  in  dut 
respect,  goings  as  it  does,  in  some  depaitmentSi 
almost  to  the  other  extreme.  Scudents  eone 
here  to  be  /m^i/,  and,  as  a  mle,  tfaqr  » 
taught.  As  far  as  Uarmng  is  concened, 
there  is  no  reason  why  a  man  should  attend 
any  school,  no  matter  how  great  its  reputation, 
merely  to  show  that  he  has  Uanud  a  lesam. 
Notwithstanding  the  reasonableness  of  the 
above,  we  have  often  heard  students  complsm 
of  some  imaginary  injustice  dcme  to  them  in 
the  marks  on  recitations.  How  is  it,  then, 
that  men  coming  to  an  institution  to  get 
knowledge  end  by  requiring  marks,  and  appear 
satisfied  if  the  latter  are  satisfactory,  no  matter 
how  poor  their  knowledge  of  a  subject  0117 
be  ?  We  believe  that  the  chief  cause  of  this 
may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  outsiders,  parents 
of  pupils,  and  other  interested  persons  judge 
of  a  student's  knowledge  from  his  **  marks* — 
making  them  an  absolute  yard-measure  of  a 
person's  learning!  Convince  the  world  at 
large  of  the  fact  that '"  marks"  are  no  criterion, 
that  "  marks  "  are  not  synonyms  of  knowledge, 
that  "  marks  "  are  not  always  righteously  and 
fairly  earned,  and  the  uselessness  and  absurd- 
ity of  this  idolon  scolae  will  induce  even  con- 
servative  college  professors   to  use  it  more 

sparingly. 

*  4  » » 

To  the  Editors  of  the  fndicator  : 

It  is  not  my  object  to  pose  as  a  critic,  nor 
to  find  any  fault  whatever  with  either  the 
Indicator  or  its  management;  but  one  article 
in  the  January  number,  an  able  one  in  many 
respects,  seems  to  merit  criticism  from  the 
fact  that  it  contains  words  highly  objectional 
to  a  race  that  certainly  deserves  better  treat- 
ment by  Americans.  I  refer  to  Chir's,and 
quote  the  passage:  "  Soon  the  man  who 
manipulates  the  street  sweeper  will  sign  his 
name  (if,  indeed,  he  is  able  to  write)  Patrick 
O'Hoolihan,  M.  E.  It  looks  well  in  print, 
doesn't  it?"  Every  one  knows  that  that 
name  means  an  Irishman,  and  this,  in  the  eyes 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


25 


ic,"  is  a  synonym  for  an  ignorant  man, 
rant  that  it  is  doubtful  if  he  is  able  to 
But  "  what's  in  a  name  ? "  Michael 
^  sounds  about  as  Irish  as  Patrick 
ihan,  and  he  must  have  had  considerable 
ood  in  him,  or  he  never  would  have 
t  name.  Does  **  Chic  '*  think  it  looks 
print  ?  Does  the  fact  that  Prof.  Tyn- 
i  Sir  Wm.  Thomson  are  Irish  render 
Dntributions  to  science  any  the  less 
e? 

on  earth  can  astronomers  expect  to 
progress  if  they  persist  in  looking 
I  a  telescope  made  by  that  Irishman, 
loss  ?  Prof.  McCullogh,  of  Trinity 
,  Dublin,  it  has  often  been  said,  is  one 

ablest  mathematicians  of  our    time  ; 
>  must  be  a  mistake,  for  he  is  Irish, 
for  the  sake  of  an   argument,  I   will 
hat  they  are  an   ignorant  race  ;  then 
sk  the  question  :  Why  do  you  blame 

There  was  a  time  when  Ireland  was 
It  of  learning ;  her  scholars  were 
I  to  with  the  greatest  reverence  at  the 
>f  Charlemagne  and  in  the  Roman 
s,  and  learned  men  from  the  various 
es  eagerly  visited  them  at  their  homes; 
nasteries  were  famous  for  their  learn- 
i  their  libraries  ;  there  the  arts  were 
;d — music,  architecture,  and  the  work- 
metals. 

ere  the  languages  of  Greece  and  Rome 
udied  with  the  passionate  zeal  which 
ids  distinguished  the  Humanistic 
5  of  the  revival  of  learning,"*  *  *  and, 
ly  enough,  one  of  the  oldest  manu- 
3f  Horace,  that  in  the  library  of  Berne, 
en  in  Celtic  characters  with  notes  and 
ataries  in  the  Irish  language, 
talembert  says  that  **  of  all  nations  the 
Saxons  derived  most  profit  from  teach- 

the  Irish  schools,  and  that  "Alfred 
and  received  his  education  in  an  Irish 
sity."  About  the  end  of  the  eighth 
'  the  Danes  made  their  first  descent 
Ireland,  and  for  nearly  a  hundred 
[le  "  sea  kings "  held  sway  until  they 
nally  driven  from  the  island.  Then 
Ingland,  as  has  ever  been  her  policy, 
le  Irish  nation  was  weak  and  bleeding 
er  century  of  combat,  and  once  more 
mtry  was  under  foreign  rule.  For 
long  centuries  has  she  struggled  for 
hich  all  Americans,  and  all  beings 
of  the  name  of  men,  prize  dearer  than 
Derty!     For  seven  centuries  have  her 


people  suffered  oppression  and  murder  un- 
paralleled in  history,  inflicted  by  a  govern- 
ment that  to  the  cruelty  of  Nero  added  the 
hypocrisy  of  law  to  justify  its  deeds. 

I  call  it  murder,  and  history  will  uphold 
the  term.  Here  is  how  an  English  author, 
A.D.  1647,  preached  the  extermination  of 
Irishmen: 

"  I  begge  upon  my  hands  and  knees  that  the 
expedition  against  them  may  be  undertaken 
while  the  hearts  and  hands  of  our  souldiery 
are  hot,  to  whom  I  will  be  bold  to  say  briefly: 
Happy  is  he  that  shall  reward  them  as  they 
have  served  us;  and  cursed  be  he  that  shall 
do  the  work  of  the  Lord  negligently:  Cursed 
be  he  that  holdeth  back  his  sword  from  blood!  !  / 
Yea,  cursed  be  he  that  maketh  not  his  sword 
stark  drunk  with  Irish  blood ;  that  doth  not 
recompense  them  double  for  their  hellish 
treachery  (all  enemies  of  England  are  *  treach- 
erous '  and  'rebels' — Washington  included); 
that  maketh  not  heaps  upon  heaps! !  and  their 
country  a  dwelling-place  for  Dragons y  an  aston- 
ishment to  Nations  !  Let  not  that  eye  look  for 
pity  nor  the  hand  be  spared  that  spares  them, 
and  let  him  be  accursed  that  curses  them  not  bit- 
terly !  !'* 

In  less  than  two  years  after  the  above  was 
written,  Cromwell  went  into  Ireland  with  ten 
thousand  men,  and  no  one  can  truthfully  say 
that  he  did  not  carry  out  its  precepts  to  the 
best  of  his  ability.  After  the  Drogheda  garri- 
son had  surrendered,  he  put  to  the  sword 
"  every  man  related  to  the  garrison,  and  all 
citizens  who  were  Irish,  man,  woman  and 
child."  So  says  Clarendon,  and  he  was  an 
Englishman.  Cromwell,  himself,  impiously 
laying  the  "  glory  "  of  it  to  God,  boasted  that 
not  thirty  escaped  with  their  lives;  "those 
that  did  are  in  safe  custody  for  the  Barba- 
does" — for  he  sent  the  Irish  by  thousands,  as 
SLAVES,  to  the  West  Indies  and  other  Ameri- 
can colonies. 

I  pass  over  the  famine  of  i74i,when  thou- 
sands died  by  the  roadside,  and  also  the  upris- 
ing of  '98,  when  the  noblest  of  patriots,  Rob- 
ert Emmet,  was  "  hanged,  drawn  and  quar- 
tered," and,  according  to  an  eye  witness,  *the 
dogs  of  Dublin  lapped  his  blood  from  the  gal- 
lows-foot, in  Thomas  Street  " — down  to  with- 
in the  memory  of  thousands  of  men  living  to- 
day. I  refer  to  the  famine  of  1848,  when 
thousands  died  the  horrible  death  of  starva- 
tion, and  thousands  more  fled  to  America  and 
other  countries,  while  their  (?)  government  sat 
calmly  looking  on,  scarcely  thirty-five*  miles 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


away,  never  offering  to  help  them,  but  rather 
to  add  to  their  misery,  by  legislating  for  a 
system  that  robbed  the  poor  wri-tches  of  their 
all,  in  order  that  the  princes  and  lards  of  the 
nation  might  roll  in  wealth.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  charity  of  America,  thousands  more 
must  have  met  the  same  fate;  as  it  was,  after 
all  was  over,  it  was  found  that  the  country 
had  lost  TWO  millions  of  its  people.  Truly, 
has  their  beloved  Goldsmith  said: 

''  111  Tares  the  land  to  hulening  IIU  ■  prey. 
Where  wealth  accumulates  and  men  decay." 

(I  think  it  is  admitted  that  he  was  able  to 
write.) 

Still  the  battle  goes  on,  and  the  Irish  in 
Parliament,  to-day,  are  struggling;  as  their 
forefathers  did  centuries  ago;  it  is  only  the 
indomitable  courage  of  the  race  that  renders 
their  conquest  impossible. 

That  they  are  courageous,  can  be  seen  by 
the  history  of  almost  any  country.  America 
has  certainly  no  reason  to  complain,  for  they 
shed  their  blood  in  her  defence  as  freely  as  for 
their  own  dear  Erin;  therefore,  I  say  they  de- 
serve better  treatment  from  American  hands. 
You  may  wonder  why  one  bom  in  .\merica 
should  be  so  intensely  Irish,  but  I  am  sure, 
were  you  in  his  place,  you  too  would  feel  the 
blush  come  to  your  cheek  when  insults  were 
thrown  at  the  race  from  whence  you  sprung; 
you,  too,  would  feel  the  blood  quicken  in  your 
veins  when  you  thought  of  the  miseries  and 
oppression  heaped  upon  the  land  of  your  fore- 
fathers; for 

''  The  blood  of  a  race  thai  is  wronged  beats  longest 
of  all : 
For  long  as  the  wrong  lasts  each  drop  of  it  quiv- 
ers with  wralh  ; 
Ami  sure  ai  the  race  Uvea — no  mailer  what  fate 
ma  J  befall, 
There's  a  Voice  wilh  a  Song  that   forever  is 
haunting  its  path, 
"  Aye,  thJ!  very  hand  that  trembles  through  this  very 

Lay  hid,  ages  gone,  in  the  hand  of  some  fore- 
father Celt, 
With  a  5word  in  its  grasp — if  stronger,  not  truer 


Irish  American. 


We  look  a  card  last  week  in  one  of  the 
Sophomore  recitations.  It  lacked  distinctness 
and  was  very  erratic  in  form.     The  explana- 


tion is  simple.  In  our  experience  we  hare 
found  that  the  quality  of  distinrt  fromtviatim 
is  nit  popular  with  the  students.  It  is  veiy 
annoying,  during  a  recitation,  to  have  a  mu 
in  the  front  row  rise  to  answer  the  profenor, 
and  then  speak  in  a  mumbling  tone,  scarcdf  - 
audible  even  to  the  professor.  The  rest  of  the 
class  gain  no  benefit  from  such  a  recitatioo; 
and  even  the  professor,  in  his  knowledge  of 
what  is  correct,  often  imagines  the  correct 
answer  to  have  been  given,  while  the  student, 
conceals  his  ignorance  in  a  convenient  mutter- 
ing  tone. 

In  order  to  obtain  as  characteristic  a  onl 
as  possible,  we  went  to  Prof.  Wall's  room. 
Here  we  found  the  professor  frequently  sayii^ 
"  Will  you  repeat  your  statement,  Mr.  Blank; 
I  missed  a  word  or  two."  The  curve  wb 
broken  at  these  points,  and  changed  fonD,W 
that  one  might  almost  have  said  that  eadi 
branch  was  a  separate  card.  We  have  oiled 
up  the  troublesome  part,  and  replaced  tbe 
half  inch  by  an  inch  steam  pipe.  By  tbeK 
means,  we  expect  to  overcome  the  resistann 


"  Turn  to  the  x$if^'i,  page." 

What's  that,  I  hear  ?  The  Hoboken  rinl 
for  a  gymnasium  ? 

The  Sophs,  have  a  new  class  room.  Whist! 
don't  say  anything. 

The  glee  club  and  their  latest  attraction, 
"  the  whistling  boy,"  scored  a  great  success  in 
Brooklyn. 

"Oh,  for  a  thousand  tongues,"  sighed  the 
Freshman,  as  he  tried  to  get  a  word  in  edge- 
wise at  class  meeting. 

The  mangled  heap  thrown  away  by  one  of 
the  High  School  Profs,  is  said  to  be  all  that 
was  left  of  a  poor  Prep. 

The  "  Black  Hole  of  Calcutta,"  as  the  Sophs, 
designate  their  class  room,  is  lighted  by  a 
beautiful  chandelier  with  one  burner. 

The  Sophs,  are  rather  backward  about  dis- 
carding their  milk  bottles.  Do  they  think  the 
Freshmen  have  been  living  on  air  all  Ibis 
time  ? 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR, 


27 


photographer  was  around  again  to  get 
r  picture  of  '87.  He  knows  where  to 
vhen  he  wants  a  fine  one.  "  They  are 
)ut  will  be  better." 

essor,  lecturing  on  the  microscope  : 
►  you  see  that  sheet  of  paper?     You 
it's  smooth,  don't  you  ?    Well,  it  isn't, 
covered  with  fuzz,  like  a  Freshman's 

Freshman  class  presented  Mr.  Idell, 

Christmas,    with   a   handsome   water 

',  as  a  slight  token  of  their  appreciation 

^reat  kindness  to  them  during  his  brief 

as  instructor  of  mathematics. 

!ier  Goose,  applied  to  the  Freshman  : 

Multiplication  is  vexation  ; 

Division  is  as  bad  ; 
The  rule  of  three  perplexes  me, 

And  fractions  drives  me  mad. 

Seniors  now  begin  to  dream  nightly  of 

It  is  becoming  a  nightmare.     They 

the   subject  about  every  other  day, 

er  two  or  three  weeks  more  of  rambling 

cpect  to  find  a  pasture  suitable  to  their 

We  wish  them  all  success. 

class  meeting,  held  by  the  Freshmen, 
llowing  officers  were  elected  :  Hoxie. 
tnt ;  Peck,  Vice-president ;  Mack,  Secre- 
Finch,  Treasurer;  Harrison,  Historian  ; 
t,  Chaplain,  After  a  spirited  discussion 
de  issues,"  the  meeting  adjourned. 

has  any  one  seen  Donald  ?  Donald, 
loved  "  yaller  dog."  We  miss  his  gentle 
rom  our  midst.  It  cannot  be  that  he 
ne  from  among  us  forever.  How  could 
air  the  thought,  much  less  the  reality. 
100  !  Booh  hoo  !     Send  us  a  towel  ! 

following  arithmetical  problem  pre- 
lome  difficulty  and  is  rather  interesting 
t  account. 

cat  and  a  half  kills  a  rat  and  a  half  in 
ute  and  a  half,  how  many  cats  will  it 
)  kill  one  hundred  rats  in  fifty  minutes  ? 

enior  approached  the  janitor  the  other 
nd  was  heard  asking  "  Who  is  that 
e  gentleman  in  the  library  looking  dis- 
ate  and  evidently  perplexed  to  find 
V  out  ?  " 

W.  J.:  "Hoh!  that  is  Mr.-er-a-er 
n  is  his  name." 

'. :  "Mr.  S.,  what  word  is  derived  from 
ise  of  taste  ?  " 

S.— "Smell."  (Class  laugh  up  and 
their  backs  and  around  their  paper  col- 


lars. Prof,  tries  to  turn  inside  out,  but  can't. 
Mr.  S.  tries  to  evaporate,  but  he  also  gets 
stuck.     Red  lights  and  grand  crawl.) 

The  committee  on  "  class  day  "  for  the  com- 
mencement week  of  the  Senior  class  has  been 
discharged,  which  virtually  amounts  to  saying 
that  there  will  be  no  "  class  day  "  for  '86. 
The  members  of  the  class  do  not  appear  to  be 
enthusiastic  over,  it,  and  the  dismissal  of  the 
committee  will  probably  end  the  matter. 

The  '* missing  link'*  and  Freshman  2 

Were  walking  out  on  Sunday ; 
Said  '*  missing  link/'  to  Freshman  2, 

**  To-morrow  will  be  Monday." 

**  By  gracious  me  !  "  said  Freshman  2, 

*'  How  came  you  by  that  knowledge  ?  '* 
Said  "  missing  link/'  to  Freshman  2, 
"I  got  it  at  the  college." 

Adding  insult  to  injury. 

Prof,    (to  student   busily   drawing),   "  Mr. 

M — ,  that  is  a  very  peculiar  way  to  draw." 
Mr.  M —  :     "  Hang  you,  I  can't  help  it." 
Prof. :     "  But  you  must  help  it." 
Mr.  M— ,  (looking  up)  :     '^Oh  !  ! ! !  I  beg 

your  pardon,  professor,  I  thought  you  were 

one  of  the  boys." 

'89  has  produced  a  very  peculiar  specimen. 
It  wears  kid  gloves  in  the  shop  and  is  very 
loth  to  get  a  spot  on  its  immaculate  over- 
alls. It  wears  glasses  and  a  nice,  little  blonde 
bang,  and  it  sits  carefully  perched  on  a  clean 
pine  board,  while  its  partner  works  the  lathe. 
How  nice  it  must  be  to  have  one  of  those,  '89. 
Are  they  expensive  ? 

A  Freshman,  who  hails  from  one  of  the 
Southern  States,  was  discoursing  at  length  on 
the  advantages  of  his  section  of  the  country 
for  the  smelting  of  ores.  The  strongest  point 
in  his  argument  was  that  "  the  climate  was  so 
much  warmer,  it  required  much  less  fuel  to 
melt  the  ore ;  and,  consequently,  they  could 
sell  much  cheaper  than  in  the  North." 

In  selecting  "  Bloxam's  Work  on  Metals," 
Prof.  Leeds  has,  in  our  opinion,  furnished  the 
Juniors  with  a  text -book  exactly  suited  to 
their  needs.  It  treats  the  subject  in  a  clear 
and  concise  form,  which,  with  the  valuable 
additions  made  by  the  professor  in  explaining 
certain  parts  at  greater  length,  ought  to  give 
the  class  as  complete  a  knowledge  as  could  be 
obtained  in  the  limited  time  at  their  command. 

Prof.  Lackland  polished  the  Sophs,  in  fine 
style  a  short  time  since.  After  the  shop  had 
started,  the  whole  class  went  up  to  a  class 


28 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


meeting  without  consulting  his  Royal  High- 
ness, whereupon  his  R.  H.  immediately  be- 
came "  tiled  "  to  a  considerable  extent.  So 
much  so,  that  he  procured  his  class  list  and 
marked  the  whole  class  absent,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  they  were  absent  less  than 
fifteen  minutes  out  of  the  three  hours.  Hur- 
rah for  liberty  and  justice! 

Feb.  I,  1886,  was  remarkable  for  the  num- 
ber of  phenomena  occuring  at  the  Institute. 
About  eleven  o'clock  a  certain  Mr.  Denton 
was  discovered  lecturing  to  section  No.  2  of 
the  senior  class.  On  the  same  day,  the  dis- 
tilled water  and  C.  P.  (?)  H.  CI.  supply  failed 
in  the  Chemical  Laboratory.  Complaint  was 
made  that  the  standards  in  the  Physical 
Laboratory  had  shortened  one  ten  thousandth 
of  an  inch.  Galvanometers  spun  about  like 
pin-wheels,  and  the  meter  shrunk  itself  out  of 
adjustment. 

There  is  talk  of  turning  the  Hoboken  Roller 
Rink  into  a  gymnasium  for  the  Institute.  An 
item  was  published  recently  in  one  of  the 
New  York  papers  to  that  effect.  We  have 
heard  nothing  from  the  faculty  in  repaid  to  it 
as  yet.  If  the  report  is  a  true  one,  it  will  be 
most  heartily  welcomed  by  all  the  students, 
for  if  we  ever  were  in  need  of  a  thing,  it  is  a 
gymnasium,  and  it  has  always  been  the  aim  of 
the  Indicator  to  push  on  any  movement  in 
that  direction,  and  if  there  is  any  hope  of  one 
now,  the  Indicator  will  not  let  the  matter 
rest  here. 

'88  has  done  what  no  other  Sophomore  class 
has  done  before.  She  has  managed  by  dint 
of  talking  and  scheming  to  get  a  hat  room  for 
her  own  exclusive  use.  It  is  the  room  pre- 
viously used  by  Prof.  Thurston.  The  ven- 
tilation is  somewhat  faulty,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  its  defect  in  this  respect,  it  has  re- 
ceived the  appropriate  name  of  "  The  Black 
Hole  of  Calcutta."  Fifteen  or  twenty  stu- 
dents staying  in  the  room  for  a  short  time  will 
make  the  atmosphere  anything  but  a  desirable 
one  to  live  in,  and  while  *88  thanks  the  Insti- 
tute for  what  it  has  already  done  to  the  room, 
the  class  would  be  doubly  thankful  if  the 
Institute  would  continue  the  good  work  and 
take  measures  to  make  the  air  wholesome, 
thus  giving  the  members  of  the  class  a  place 
where  they  can  eat  luncheon  or  study,  as  they 
desire. 

There  seems  to  be  an  everlasting  and  natu- 
ral feud  existing  between  the  "  Preps."  and 
the  young  rei)resentatives  of  the  population  of 


Hoboken.  For  some  time  past,  there  has 
occurred,  every  noon,  a  spirited  contest  be- 
tween these  opposing  factions.  A  miniature 
Waterloo,  as  it  were — rocks,  bricks,  bottles 
and  coal  being  the  favorite  articles  of  warfare, 
intermixed  with  some  very  choice  expressions 
and  names.  It  is  rather  hard  to  say  which 
party  is  victorious  ;  but  it's  very  easily  sea 
that  it  is  becoming  somewhat  dangerous  to 
pedestrians  and  uninterested  persons.  A  three 
pound  chunk  of  coal  or  a  glass  bottle  is  not 
extraordinarily  interesting  when  unceremon- 
iously introduced  ;  so  if  the  Freshmen  wish  to 
distinguish  themselves,  they  have  the  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  so  by  exterminating  the 
'*  Preps." 

'88  has  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the 
decided  improvements  which  have  been  made 
in  the  Department  of  Chemistry.  Formerly 
the  Sophomore  class  experienced  great  diffi- 
culty in  mastering  their  chemistry  with  any 
degree  of  satisfaction,  either  to  the  professor  or 
to  themselves,  even  some  of  the  best  students 
being  conditioned.  This  was  owing  to  the 
many  different  topics  to  be  studied  and  the 
great  difficulty  in  selecting  the  important 
ones.  But  Prof.  Leeds  has  greatly  simplified 
the  subject  by  dictating  questions  before  the 
recitations  and  making  the  recitations  on  the 
questions  dictated,  also  by  taking  the  exami- 
nation questions  from  those  dictated  during 
the  term.  This  gives  the  students  a  specific 
amount  of  work  to  do,  and  with  a  reasonable 
amount  of  study  any  student  ought  to  be  able 
to  pass  a  good  examination  if  not  an  excellent 
one.  The  improvement  is  certainly  a  long 
needed  one,  and  Prof.  Leeds  is  deser>'ing  of 
much  credit  for  the  change  which  he  has 
made. 

Glee  Club. — In  answer  to  an  invitation 
from  the  Young  Peoples*  Association  of  the 
Washington  Avenue  Baptist  Church  of  Brook- 
lyn, a  double  quartette  from  the  Glee  Club 
sang  in  the  parlors  of  the  church,  on  the 
evening  of  January  25.  The  invitation  was 
given  through  Mr.  P'ield,  who  is  Business 
Manager  of  the  club,  and  also  an  officer  of 
the  Young  Peoples'  Association.  The  even- 
ing was  an  inclement  one,  but  notwith- 
standing this  fact  the  rooms  were  filled  to 
overflowing.  The  entertainment  consisted  of 
reading,  instrumental  and  vocal  music;  the 
club  appearing  three  times  with  as  many  en- 
cores. They  were  very  favorably  received  and 
were  loudly  applauded.     After  the  entertain- 


THE     STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


29 


v^as  over  a  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered 
club  for  their  contribution  to  the  pro- 
te  and   for  their  kindness   in   coming 

a  foreign  country.'* 

Brainard  kindly  assisted  as  "  warbler  " 
Ithough  the  club  showed  the  need  of 
:e  considerably  they  did  very  well  con- 
ig  that  they  have  had  none  since  last  year, 
en  selected  for  the  double  quartette  being 
t  year's  men.     However,  the  club  has 

practising  again  and  under  the  able 
ship  of  Mr.  Cotiart  they  hope  to  do 
good  work  in  the  future.  After  the 
;es  were  finished  Mr.  Field  gathered  in 
boys,"   and  conducted  them   upstairs 

he  satisfied  the  "  inner  man  "  with  ice 
and  cake,  the  occasion  being  one  of  the 
ly  socials  given  by  the  association.  A 
time  followed,  and  after  another  song 
e  club,  by  most  urgent  request,  the 
ing  broke  up  and  everyone  went  home 
d  humor. 


<  #  » * 


PORSSF^fillS. 

'79. 

.  W.  Dashiell  is  now  on  another  sec- 
f  the  new  aqueduct,  being  with  Brown  & 
rd,  contractors. 

'82. 

LNON  H.  Rood  has  the  position  of  assist- 
iperintendent  of  the  Jeanesville  Iron 
»,  at  Jeanesville,  Penn. 

'84. 
[ES  S.  Alden  has  been  very  ill  with  ner- 
)rostration,  but  is  now  recovered  and  is 
well.  .gj 

jiRY  Abbey  is  with  the  Cowles  Electric 
ng  Co.,  at  Lockport,  N.  Y. 

¥iN  BuRHORN  may  be  addressed,  in  care 
;chell  &  Warden,  boiler  manufacturers, 
lelphia. 

N  RusBY  is  another  of  the  Stevens  grad- 
who  are  giving  the  united  force  of  their 
to  improve  the  method  of  manufacture, 
y  the  United  Gas  Improvement  Co.,  at 
lelphia. 

t£RT  SiLBER  is  with  the  Otis  Elevator 
Jew  York  City. 

•87. 

1..  Brownell,  formerly  of  '87,  is  taking 
se  at  Harvard. 


E.  G.  CoLDEWAY  has  been  very  sick  with 
pneumonia  at  his  home  in  Louisville,  Ky.  He 
expects  to  enter  the  Sheffield  Scientiftc  School 
as  soon  as  his  health  will  permit. 


A  TABLE  OF  COMMON  UNITS. 


« 


« 


a 


« 


a 


«< 


It 


u 
it 


u 


Horse  power      =  33000  foot  pounds  per  min. 

=      550  foot  pounds  per  sec. 

=      746  X  10'  ergs  per  sec. 

=    7.460  megergs  per  sec. 

=      75.9  kilograms  per  sec. 

=  1.01385  force  de  cheval. 

=     746  Watts. 
Force  de  cheval  =  75  kilograms  per  sec. 

=  542.48  foot  pounds. 

=   0.9863  horse  power. 

=       736  Watts. 
Watt  =  0013405  horse  power. 

=  10'  ergs. 

=  10  megergs. 

=  •-^  kilograms  per  sec. 

=  0.1029  kilograms  per  sec. 

B.  of  T.  unit      =  1000  Watts  per  hour. 

C.  G.  S.  unit       =  erg  per  second. 
Megerg  =  lo'  ergs  per  sec. 
Watt                    =  lo**  ergs  per  sec. 

The  deep  boring  being  sunk  by  the  German 
government  near  Schladebach,  with  the  ob- 
ject, especially,  of  obtaining  trustworthy  data 
concerning  the  rate  of  increase  of  the  earth's 
temperature  toward  the  interior,  has  at  present 
given  information  corroborative  of  what  has 
been  obtained  elsewhere.  At  the  beginning  of 
this  year  the  bore  had  reached  the  depth  of 
1,392  meters,  which  is  believed  to  be  the 
lowest  yet  reached.  The  temperature  at  suc- 
cessive stages  is  ascertained  by  a  special  ther- 
mometer, the  principle  of  construction  being 
that  as  the  heat  increases  the  mercury  will 
expand  so  as  to  flow  over  the  lip  of  an  open 
tube.  The  difference  of  the  overflows  will 
give  the  rate  of  increase  of  the  temperature. 
It  has  been  ascertained  that  the  temperature 
at  the  depth  of  1,392  meters  was  49  deg.  cent., 
or  120  deg.  Fah.  If  the  temperature  increases 
regularly  at  this  rate,  the  boiling  point  of  water 
ought  to  be  reached  at  a  depth  of  3,000  meters, 
or  nearly  two  miles,  and  at  45  miles  we 
should  And  the  heat  at  which  platinum  melts. 
This  would  go  to  show  that  the  rigid  earth's 
crust  cannot  be  more  than  about  one-ninetieth 
of  its  radius  ;  but  the  rate  of  increase  is  very 
different  in  different  districts. 


THR    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


The  Hespenati  comes  to  us  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Nebraska.  We  have  placed  it  with 
great  pleasure  upon  our  exchange  list.  Neat 
in  apiicarance,  replete  with  college  notes,  it 
will  ever  be  a  welcome  visitor.  But  how 
al)oiit  literary  or  scienlific  reading,  friend 
Hesperian  ? 

The  Troy  Palytfchnk  ha.s  set  us  a  good 
examjile  hy  offering  to  "advertise  all  tmoks, 
insiruments  or  furnitvire  that  students  may 
wish  to  dispose  of,  free  of  (karge.  Adver- 
tisers must  state  description  of  goods  briefly, 
and  may  stale  prices  or  not,  as  they  please. 
If  they  du  not  wish  their  names  published,  we 
will  give  their  addresses,  on  application,  to 
purchasers,"  Can't  Stevens  work  this  scheme 
too? 

In  regard  lo  the  <iuestion,  "  Is  the  higher 
education  of  woman  injurious  to  her  health  ?" 
the  Mistellany  says,  "One  of  our  strongest 
desires  has  been  gratified,  since  it  now  seems 
that  we  can  say  with  confidence  a  higher 
ediKatiun  for  women  is  in  harmony  with  thai 
vast  taw  of  thr  surx-ival  of  the  fittest,  which 
guiiks  Ihr  aclivilii-s  of  the  dim  future."  We 
firmly  helit-ve  in  collfgiate  education  for  girls. 
In  striving  good-n-iturfdiy  for  the  mastery, 
ihe  maidfii  lifts  the  youth  far  beyond  his  own 
standard  i>f  study  and  fones  him  to  exert  his 
jiiTwer  to  the  utmost.  As  Uin^  as  a  girl  keeps 
from  airing  any  fancied  superiority  of  educa- 
tion, she  cannot  be  hurt  by  any  course  of 
study,  however  extended. 

In  a  summary  of  the  past  foot  ball  season, 
the  iNniCATiiR,  in  speaking  at  length  of  the 
game  with  Pennsylvania,  .says; 

"The  referee,  unfortunately,  wa-  not  ac- 
(piainted  wilh  the  rules  of  the  game,  and  a 
great  deal  of  dissatisfaction  was  caused  by  his 
decisions."  We  heartily  echo  the  last  sluie- 
meut.  though  we  are  somewhat  surprised  that 
it  should  come  from  Stevens,  since  the  su- 
]ireme  ignorance  of  the  referee  was  .always 
turned  tci  the  advantage  nf  the  hiune  team. 
This  was  cspec;ially  the  case  in  the  second 
half,  for  while  the  li.'uie  learn  more  than  di>ub- 
ledlheir  More,  the  visitors  only  succeeded  in 
adding  four  points  lo  theirs,  though  the  latter 


had  four  times  the  points  of  their  oppoiMnI 
in  the  first  half.  Throughout  the  article  tl 
Indicator  attributes  the  defeats  of  the  Imt 
tute  team  to  incompetency  in  the  referee,  m 
yet  on  more  than  one  occasion  the  referee  wi 
an  Institute  man.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  hoi 
ever,  it  is  the  most  disheartening  sort  of  a  d 
feat,  that  which  is  brought  about  through  tt 
ignorance,  either  willful  or  unintentiona],  of  d 
referee,  which,  in  the  latter  case,  is  often  cause 
by  an  excessive  desire  to  be  impartial  to  the  eg 
lege  which  he  represents, — Pennsylvaimm, 


REBUKED. 

Onc«  on  n  summer  daj', 
Far  from  Ihe  beaten  wvf, 
Som«  fairy  bade  me  strajr — 

Cupid,  mayhap. 
Under  ■  leafy  tree. 
Whom  ihould  I  chance  to  tee. 
Whom,  but  my  Rowlie, 

Taking  ■  nap  ! 
There,  in  a  lovely  nook. 
Screened  from  inlrader't  look. 
Near  her  neglecied  book, 

.Slumli'rinf;  she  lay. 
What  could  a  fellow  do  7 
I'ull  me.  sir.  wouldn't  you 
Kneel  nnd  lake  one  or  two 

.\h,  bul  I  broke  llie  spell ! 

<.)pcneil  her  eyes,  and — well, 

Could  I  do  else  than  lell 

//<,'!,•  it  was  broke  ? 

Humbly  forgraee  I  plead; 

Sternly  she  sliook  her  head  : 

"Couldn'l  you  wail,"  she  said, 

"Till  I  awoke?" 

— Martitrd  Athvaite. 
Rev.  Josci)h  Cook  is  superintending  h 
farm  near  'riconderoga.  The  other  day 
lonely  tram]),  jiassing  near  the  Cook  "  mowing 
lot,  heard  a  deep,  sonorous  voice  cry  out,  lu 
the  call  of  a  prophet  :  "Abandon  the  direi 
progression  to  the  straight  thitherward,  an 
deviate  by  inclinatory  and  aberrant  dexti 
gyration  into  a  dextral  incidence."  It  w; 
intimate  .\mi-rica  saying  "  Gee  "  to  his  oxei 
The  tramp  fled  for  his  life.  The  oxen  crej 
under  the  hay  cart  and  criec.  — yi'M/ow  Um 
rersitv  Jfea.nn. 


»  /^l«0^,  1886.  3K 
C0R5EA(5g. 

|ff   of 'PRa  Itflof  (9*r*a*) ;, . 

ufR   of  rfAdoa  RvoCon.  .. 
hcjiamat^r  at  a  ^i^atotrMttr 
[f*. ........ 


j-'^T^'jrrrjp, 


srsyffNs  ijfjircATon. 


I 


'STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOJ 


THE   ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 
— -jF  Tur — 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY 

EIVE8  STREET,  bet.  Sth  ajid  61!-..  H?FCK!nr.  ! 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER 

CxUDjOA^bii*  tor  ^taldatos  oc  the  l-4iTi  e,.  ^  .... 


Pill  COURSES  OF  STUDY,  PREPARATORY  TO  SCHnOLS  OF ;: 


JUNIOR  OrPARTMENT, 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT, 


I  t«rov«  iciDtui 


a{76.O0    PER   ANNUM. 
51BO.OO    PER    4NNUM. 


Cot  OftCBloeuQi  ajiply  to  eUa  Ltbrftrlfto  ol  6t«v«na  ji^,i.^i.^^< 


rr- 


THE 


jQfSeTe^s  jRdi(iili8P. 


Vol  3. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  MARCH,  1886. 


No.  3. 


THE    FALL   OF   THE    LEAF. 


oold !  cold !  cold ! 

the  now,  with  its  soft,  white  fold, 
Asipieul  on  the  frozen  ground. 
-And  the  trees  that  stand  around 

to  thirer  and  shake  their  hoary  heads, 
_  vUsper  together  as  the  old  man  treads 
The  now  in  the  sad  old  grove. 


!  dark  1  dark  ! 
Ae  Bansion  that  stands  in  that  park. 
And  the  ivr  encircles  its  walls. 
And  the  ecnoes  resound  through  its  halls 
the  old  man  treads  on  its  half-worn  flags, 

the  chairs  are  all  broken  and  the  curtains  in 
ngf, 
And  the  ceiling  b  blackened  above. 

nd!  sad!  lad! 

the  walls  in  their  drapery  clad ; 
The  old  man  sits  in  his  low  armchair, 
Bit  skin  is  yellow  and  white  is  his  hair. 

Cfcs  are  closed  and  his  heart  is  at  rest ; 

Med  b  sank  on  his  shrunken  breast, 
'And  Ifae  last  leaf  falls  from  the  tree. 

DiER  BURNROTH. 


*  #» « 


LEONORA. 


George  Eastwood  was  my  especial  chum 
bomi  companion  at  college.     We  had  fin- 
the  first  two  years  of  study,  and  had 
entered  our  junior  year.    Never,  it  seemed 
mc^  hmd  two  men  been  born  to  so  exactly 
each  other  as  George  and  myself.    Meet- 
as    casual    acquaintances,   during    en- 
examinations  for  the  Freshman  class, 
at  fint  kept  together  merely  for  that  social 
ly  for  which  every  man  placed  among 
yearns.      Habit,    however,   forced 
If  upon  MS,  and  we  at  length  grew  so  ac- 
ned  to  being  with  each  other,  that  any 
able  chance  of  our  being  separated  would 
been  looked  upon  by  us  as  a  calamity. 
led  that  excellent  plan  of  studying 
thus  mutually  improving  ourselves, 
*tfae  same  time  strengthening  the  band  of 
ip  which  bound   us,   as    we  learned 
about  our  common  interests,  and  agreed 
our  opinions  of  the  problems  of  our  life 
of  life  in  general.     Such  were  the  rela- 
between    us,  and  such,  we  hoped  and 
dy  believedi  would  be  our  relations  through 


life.  Our  last  summer  vacation  had  been 
very  pleasantly  spent  at  my  home,  in  a  village 
on  the  Hudson.  George,  at  my  urgent  re- 
quest, had  stayed  with  us  throughout  the  sum- 
mer, and  made  himself  so  pleasant  a  com- 
panion that  the  family,  and  especially  my  sis- 
ter Grace,  as  I  was  afterward  led  to  believe, 
regarded  him  with  as  much  favor  as  even  I 
did.  We  had  returned  to  our  college  duties 
in  the  Junior  year,  as  I  have  said,  but  before 
leaving  home  George  had  exacted  a  promise 
that  1  should  spend  the  Christmas  holidays 
with  him  at  his  home.  "You  won't  find  us 
such  a  lively  set  as  your  own  family,  Fred," 
he  said  to  me,  "but  you  may  be  sure  that 
father  and  mother  will  unite  with  me  in  con- 
tributing everything  to  make  your  visit  as 
pleasant  as  your  family  made  mine,"  he 
added.  George  was  a  great  artist,  and  made 
himself  quite  popular  by  drawing  for  the  col- 
lege papers  and  doing  little  works  of  art  for 
the  fellows.  "You  ought  to  see  my  picture 
of  *  Leonora,* "  he  used  to  say,  "  and  you 
shall,  too,  when  you  come  out  to  my  house." 

Well,  the  holidays  came  at  last,  but  as  I  had 
a  little  business  to  attend  to  in  New  York, 
George  went  on  home  first,  leaving  with  me 
many  entreaties  to  hurry  through  and  follow 
him  as  soon  as  possible,  in  order  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  fine  hunting  which  was  offered 
just  at  that  time  of  the  year.  Within  a  few 
days  I  had  completed  my  business,  and  was 
soon  on  my  way  to  Montebrook,  a  wild  little 
place  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  George 
was  overjoyed  to  see  me,  and  almost  carried 
me  to  his  home,  where  I  was  made  so  comfort- 
able that  1  quite  fell  in  love  with  the  old 
folks.  After  supper,  we  sat  down  to  have  a 
little  chat  before  retiring.  "  But,"  said 
George,  "  we  must  not  be  late,  for  I  want  you 
to  come  out  before  breakfast  to-morrow  and 
fish  for  pickerel  through  the  ice.  It 's  fun,  I 
assure  you."  Before  long  we  said  good  night, 
and  George  led  me  to  my  room.  **  I  have 
hung  up  my  picture  of  *  Leonora  *  in  your 
room,  Fred,"  he  explained,  as  he  lit  the  lamp, 
"but  you  must  understand  that  you  are  to  look 
upon  it  with  some  respect,  for  it  is  my  ideal," 
and  with  a  laugh  he  went  to  his  own  room. 


32 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


Although  naturally  curious^  I  did  not  at 
first  look  at  George's  picture,  but  sitting  down 
on  a  chair  beside  the  crackling  wood  fire,  I 
fell  into  a  thinking  mood ;  the  kindness  of 
these  good  people  carried  my  thoughts  far  off 
to  my  own  home.  I  must  have  been  sitting 
so  for  an  hour,  I  think,  when  I  awoke  from  my 
reverie,  and  looked  about  the  room.  The  first 
thing  that  struck  my  eye  was  a  painting  which 
hung  over  the  chimney-piece,  the  life-size  rep- 
resentation of  a  girl's  head.  Never  in  my  life 
had  I  seen  so  beautiful  a  face ;  and  as  the 
flickering  red  light  from  the  burning  wood  fell 
upon  the  canvas  the  image  seemed  to  be 
imbued  with  life  ;  nay,  she  even  smiled  at  me 
once  when  a  piece  of  fresh  pine  caught  fire  and 
threw  its  lurid  light  over  the  room.  To  say  I 
was  enchanted  would  do  but  scant  justice  to 
my  feelings  ;  I  became  convinced  that  when  I 
should  meet  the  person  from  whom  that  por- 
trait was  taken,  it  would  be  my  lot  to  fall  in 
love  with  her.  To  state  the  truth,  I  loved  her 
already.  When  I  went  to  sleep  that  night  my 
mind  was  fully  made  up  that  George  would 
give  me  an  introduction  to  this  lovely  girl, 
whom  it  seemed  I  already  knew  so  well. 

The  next  day,  in  spite  of  the  glorious  fun 
we  had  fishing  in  the  morning,  and  the  excite- 
ment of  preparing  rabbit  traps  in  the  snow- 
bound woods,  it  was  with  difficulty  that  I 
could  refrain  from  speaking  about  the  sub- 
ject that  most  filled  my  mind.  However,  that 
evening  we  had  a  talk,  and  such  a  talk  it  was, 
too  !  How  George  did  laugh  at  me,  and  how 
foolish  I  felt  when  after  pouring  out  my  con- 
fessions to  him  and  entreating  him  to  let  me 
meet  my  charming  young  lady  as  soon  as 
possible,  I  found  that  no  such  person  existed. 
**  Did  not  I  tell  you  that  Leonora  was  my 
ideal  ? "  said  he,  "  the  girl  never  lived,  she  is 
the  mere  creation  of  my  fancy,  which  I  have 
so  represented  on  the  canvas."  I  must  say 
that  I  was  somewhat  disappointed  as  1  went 
to  my  room  that  night,  and  yet,  as  I  looked  at 
that  lovely  face,  the  lines  softened  by  the 
mellow  light  thrown  upon  it,  it  seemed  to  me 
that  never  had  artists*  brush  so  advantage- 
ously disputed  nature's  superiority  in  the 
delineation  of  beauty  in  the  human  face. 
The  merits  of  the  painting  forced  themselves 
upon  me  more  and  more,  until — shall  I  own 
it — I  became  iufatuated  with  the  picture 
itself.  As  a  work  of  art  it  did  not  impress 
me  so  strongly  ;  but  there  seemed  to  be  some- 
thing so  living,  so  real  there  that  I  could  not 
but  admire  and  covet  it.  The  next  evening, 
on  telling  George  that  I  was  in  love  with  his 


picture,  he  seemed  to  regard  me  with  surprise 
and  pitv,  "  I  tell  you  my  dear  boy,"  he  in- 
sisted, there  is  nothing  in  the  painting  itself; 
that  is  not  what  caught  your  eye,  and  as  you 
express  it,  your  heart.  The  ideal ty,  whidi  I 
created  myself  and  so  happily  transferred  to 
the  canvas,  is  what  lives  for  me.  To  all  true 
ardsts  their  works  are  alive ;  whether,  when 
created,  they  exist  only  in  the  artist's  mind, 
or  do  truly  live,  is  not  for  me  to  say ;  but 
this  much  I  know,  that  my  Leonora  was  eri- 
dent  to  me,  and  was  visible  to  my  eyes  long 
before  I  painted  that  picture.  In  common  with 
other  artists,  I  wish  that  people  would  look 
upon  and  criticize  art,  not  for  its  workman- 
ship, but  for  the  idealty  which  it  represents." 
These  thoughts,  new  to  me,  filled  my  brain 
that  evening.  Far  into  the  night  I  sat  in 
my  room,  and  meditated  until  I  grew  almost 
wild  with  the  richness,  the  perfection  of  the 
fancy.  The  most  fascinating  imaginations  ran 
through  my  mind,  and  the  longer  I  pondered, 
the  more  plausible,  the  more  possible,  the 
truer  it  seemed.  My  light  burned  low,  and 
things  in  the  room  assumed  a  shadowy  aspect 
I  glanced  up  at  Leonora  ;  how  real  she  looked: 
how  her  eyes  were  fixed  upon  me  ;  how  grace- 
fully her  head  inclined.  "Of  course,  she 
lives, "  I  thought,  aloud.  "  Certainly  I  do," 
answered  the  sweetest  voice  that  ever  had 
saluted  my  ears,  and  there  she  stood  smiling, 
nodding  before  me.  "  How  strange  you 
mortals  are,"  she  added,  looking  at  me  in  a 
grave,  sweet  way,  "  why  would  you  not  be- 
lieve in  me  before?  Your  friend,  when  he 
created  me,  referred  often,  in  his  thoughts,  to 
you,  and  consequently  I  became  associated 
somehow  with  you.  I  knew,  I  felt  that  I  was 
made  for  you,  and  my  love  for  your  love.  On 
that  first  night  when  you  looked  at  me,  I  tried 
hard  to  make  you  understand  me,  but  your 
thoughts  seemed  turned  in  another  direction, 
and  hope  almost  died  within  me."  My  heart 
leaped  with  a  strange  intensity.  "0,  my 
love,"  I  ejaculated,  looking  into  her  eyes  with 
a  feeling  almost  of  worship,  "  I  knew  you 
lived,  but  could  not  understand  ;  our  spheres 
are  so  different,  and  yet  the  world  without 
you  would  seem  to  me  void."  "  But  I  live  in 
the  world,  too,"  she  pleaded.  "  O,  do  bring 
me  into  your  sphere  ;  reach  'your  hand  across 
that  invisible  something  which  separates  us.' 
I  hesitated  ;  a  confused  consciousness  of  my 
inability  to  do  as  she  implored,  made  itself 
manifest.  "What  can  I  do,  Leonora?"  I 
moaned.  "  Do  ?  just  reach  out  your  hand 
and  draw  me  over.     Here,  take  my  hand," 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


33 


eetly  said  in  an  encouraging  tone,  yet 
shadow  of  fearful  earnestness  in  her 
She  held  out  her  hand  to  me ;  it  was 
ban  mortal  man  could  stand,  I  jumped 
i  seized  her  hand.  I  felt  its  warmth  ; 
ily  there  was  a  crash,  and  a  fall.  The 
Lzed  up  with  a  bright  light,  and  there  I 
iorge's  picture  devoured  by  the  flames, 
s  over  ;  I  sank  back  into  a  chair,  and 
D  realize  what  had  happened.  1  knew 
re  until  morning,  when  George  came 
y  room  to  see  why  I  had  not  made  my 
ance.  A  look  of  dismay  and  anger  over- 
his  features  as  he  regarded  the  wreck 
had  made.  In  vain  I  tried  to  explain 
,  but  he  would  not  listen.*  "  To  think, 
that  you  should  have  so  abused  my 
;hip  as  to  throw  into  the  fire  and  destroy 
celess  picture,  just  because  you  coveted 
envied  me  the  possession  of  it."  So  he 
have  it,  and  the  outcome  of  it  was  that 
ed  up  and  went  home  that  very  day. 
t  was  the  end  of  our  friendship,  and, 
,  we  are  more  estranged  than  if  we  had 
net.  A  feeling  of  remorse  often  comes 
le,  when  I  think  over  the  good  times 
jd  to  have  together  ;  and  yet,  in  my 
and  more  thoughtful  moods,  I  become 
3us  of  a  sweet  presence  that  implores 
ling  from  me  that  I  yearn  to  answer, 
nds  are  bound,  however,  and  I  know 
this  world,  at  least,  Leonora  and  1  can 
meet.  Albitan. 


LISKS;   FROM  AN   ENGINEERING 
STAND-POINT. 


Paper  II. — Transportation. 


e  attempt  to  decipher  the  hieroglyphics 
^ptian  monuments  we  pbserve  this 
ar  fact  :  The  authors  of  these  records 
of  kings  warlike  and  pious  ;  of  the 
Qg  of  temples ;  of  wars  and  funeral 
onies  ;  of  science  and  the  arts  ;  but  we 
earch  in  vain  to  find  any  record  of  the 
ds  used  to  transport  the  immense 
5  of  rock  from  spot  to  spot.  Our  only 
itic  clue  to  a  partial  solution  of  the 
Ity  is  a  painting  discovered  in  a  tomb 
i^l  Bersheh.  To  this  painting — "  Colos- 
[1  a  Sledge," — much  interest  attaches 
:ount  of  its  importance, 
lay  state,  then,  that  our  positive  knowl- 
is  as  follows  :  "  The  shaft,  placed  upon 
Ige,  was  drawn  only  so  far  as  the  inun- 


dation level,  where  it  was  left  until  the  rising 
of  the  Nile  should  allow  it  to  be  drawn  on 
board  the  raft."  Beyond  this,  all  is  con- 
jecture ;  very  probable,  it  is  true,  but  none 
the  less  conjecture.  And  it  is  here  that 
Egyptologists  have  exercised  all  their  ingenu- 

The  inscriptions  carved  upon  the  blocks 
make  frequent  mention  of  galleys,  rafts  and 
sledges.  As  I  noted  in  a  former  paper  the 
Nile  was  the  most  convenient  highway  of 
transportation.  Hence  rafts  were,  in  the 
great  majority  of  cases,  an  absolute  necessity. 
This,  however,  involved  the  use  of  sledges  in 
transporting  the  block  from  the  quarries  to 
the  water  ;  so  that,  although  sledges  might  be 
used  without  rafts,  the  use  of  the  latter  always 
involved  the  former.  Having  shown  that  the 
sledges  were  the  more  important,  I  will  dis- 
cuss briefly  their  construction  and  the  method 
of  operating  with  them. 

The  sledges  upon  which  these  crushing 
masses  rested,  were  drawn  usually  by  men. 
Occasionally  oxen  were  brought  into  service, 
but  it  was  only  in  cases  where  the  burden  was 
comparatively  light.  It  may  be  asked  how 
could  these  blocks  be  moved  by  means  of  a 
sledge  1  I  answer,  by  sheer  man-power.  In 
one  instance,  the  account  reads, "  two  thousand 
men  to  draw  the  stones  on  sledges."  Does  it 
not  seem  strange  that  the  beasts  of  burden 
should  draw  the  chariots  and  carry  provisions, 
while  convicts  and  slaves  were  dropping  in 
their  tracks  from  over-work. 

Thus  these  resistless  Cars  of  Juggernaut 
moved  on;  leaving  a  blood-red  pathway  on 
the  desert  sand.  In  horror  some  one  asks, 
"  Were  there  no  mechanical  appliances  ?"  As 
to  this  point  there  is  a  difference  of  opinion. 
Rawlinson  seems  positive  that  no  levers  or 
rollers  were  used  ;  but  Herodotus  states  par- 
ticularly that  there  were  levers.  Add  to  this 
the  testimony  of  Brugsch  to  the  effect  that 
rollers  were  used,  and  we  have  established  an 
opinion  contrary  to  that  of  Rawlinson. 
Among  the  various  forms  of  sledges,  I  may 
mention  a  wagon-like  structure,  described  by 
Gorringe  : 

**  The  Seringapatam  obelisk  was  placed  upon  a  low 
frame  of  timber,  which  rested  upon  eight  low  wheels. 
To  this  ropes  were  attached,  drawn  by  about  six  hun- 
dred men  at  a  time.  The  distance  from  the  quarry  to 
the  site  of  the  obelisk's  erection  was  about  two  miles. 
Timbers  were  laid  along  the  road,  to  prevent  the  sink- 
ing of  the  low  wheels  in  the  earth.'* 

Turning  our  attention  to  rafts,  we  find  that 
large  boats  were  not  uncommon  among  the 
Egyptians,  According  to  Wilkinson,  Diodorus 


34 


THE    STEVElfS  INDICATOR. 


mentions  a  sacred  boat  of  cedar,  two  hundred 
and  eighty  cubits,  or  four  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  in  length.  This  instance  is  cited  to  show 
that  large  boats  were  in  use,  although  there  is 
no  reason  for  believing  that  obelisks  were 
transported  by  water  by  any  means  other  than 
that  of  rafts.  The  Assyrian  method  of  trans- 
portation is  worthy  of  attention,  since  it  is  au- 
thentic, Layard  ha»'ing  discovered  sculptured 
slabs  at  Nineveh,  representing  the  removal  of 
huge  stone  bulls.  I  quote :  *'A  huge  block  of 
stone  is  seen  placed  on  a  low,  flat  bottomed 
boat,  which  is  towed  on  the  river  by  cables 
drawn  by  about  three  hundred  men.  Again, 
the  stone,  now  carved  into  a  colossal  bull,  is 
seen  placed  on  a  sledge  drawn  by  men  attached 
to  four  cables.  Rollers  are  laid  beneath  the 
sledge,  and  its  hinder  part  is  lifted  and  eased 
by  the  use  of  huge  levers." 

It  seems  hardly  possible  that,  with  all  the 
wealth  of  inscriptions,  there  should  be  no 
records  of  engineering  performances.  We  feel 
impelled  to  the  belief  that  at  some  future  time 
sculptures  or  paintings  may  be  found  in  an  as 
yet  unexplored  ruin,  which  may  solve  this 
enigma.  And  yet,  when  we  consider  thai,  as 
a  rule,  only  the  nation's  history,  arts  and  fam- 
ily life  are  depicted  on  these  works  of  stone, 
and  that  the  king,  who  ordered  both  the  erec- 
tion and  the  engraving,  had  scant  interest  in 
the  method  of  attaining  the  desired  result,  we 
have  every  reason  for  believing  that  the  private 
records  of  an  engineer  or  architect  were  never 
put  in  eternal  form  upon  these  works  of  per- 
ind  engineering  skill.  Chec, 


SONG  OF  FIREWATER. 

Sbould  you  ask  me  M' hence  Ihi)  hcidache, 
Whence  Ihis  vague,  uncertain  feeling, 
I  should  nnawer  with  emoliun, 
'T  19  because  of  Firewater  ; 
Of  the  Pow-wow,  the  Convenlion, 
And  the  jamboree,  the  Banquet. 
Tbtougb  the  land  from  manji  quarters, 
Many  ancient  halli  of  Wisdom. 
Traveled  day  and  night  Ihc  student! — 
Traveled  to  ihe  great  Convenlion. 
Came  the  grive  and  reverend  Senior, 
Followed  him  the  stately  Junior, 
Then  the  unimportant  Sophomore 
And  the  miserable  Freshman. 
First  they  had  n  mighty  meeting — 
Chose  new  Chiefs  to  reign  among  them. 
Talked  of  all  the  past  and  present 
And  made  bets  upon  the  future. 
Thus  ihey  whiled  away  the  hours 
Of  the  Pow-wow — the  Convenlion; 
Passing  ihence  in  long  procession 
To  the  /amboree,  the  Banquet. 


Brouebt  from  all  points  of  the  compais, 

Total  strangers  to  each  other. 

Stood  around  the  board  If^elher, 

laughed  and  joked  amongst  each  other. 

(Tones  inaudible  to  mortals 

Serve  ihem  for  commanication). 

1'hen  the  slDdcDls  from  all  qaarlers 

Took  their  seats  about  the  table. 

Here  were  viands  in  profusion; 

Dainties  in  and  out  of  season. 

And  when  most  of  these  had  vanished. 

Then  the  master  of  the  pledges, 

SlTflijjhtway  from  his  seat  uprising, 

Gave  ihe  toasts  in  mighty  numbers. 

And  the  students  from  all  quarters 

Loyally  responded  to  them 

For  the  glory  of  this  Collie. 

And  as  still  the  toasts  went  flying 

They  became  more  happy  o'er  them: 

Stood  on  chairs  and  on  the  table. 

That  they  might  be  heard  the  belter; 

Tumbled  oS.  but  rose  screntiy. 

Thought  to  make  another  trial; 

But  fotgelful  of  their  purpose 

Lay  down  underneath  the  table — 

Sing  weird  songs  and  asked  connndrums. 

Then  Ihey  rose  with  some  assistance. 

Sallied  forth  into  Ihe  darkness; 

Made  il  vocal  and  quite  lurid. 

Till  they  reached  iheir  resting  places. 

Then  the  festive  little  Freshman 

Put  to  bed  the  reverend  Senior, 

With  his  head  beneath  the  covers 

And  his  feet  upon  the  pillow. 

'then  unto  his  own  conch  went  he, 

Gently  put  his  cane  within  it; 

Stood  himielf  up  in  the  comer 

And  his  spirit  fled  to  dreamland. 


ELEMENTARY    BLOW-PIPE   ANALYSIS. 


By  an  accidental  otuission,  a  portion  o£  tbt 
last  article  referring  to  the  treatment  of  ific 
zinc  incrustation  with  cobalt  nitrate  solution 
was  not  printed  and  will  therefore  be  con- 
sidered before  proceeding  to  the  next  grouji. 

The  zinc  incrustation  is  first  produced 
either  by  an' oxidizing  or  by  an  alternately  ox- 
idizing and  reducing  flame,  then  the  incrusU- 
tion  is  moistened  with  a  dilute  solution  of  co- 
balt nitrate,  care  being  taken  net  to  moislen 
the  test  substance  ;  then  cover  this  moistened 
layer  of  incrustation  with  another  layer  pio- 
duced  in  the  usual  manner.  After  cooling, 
the  coating  will  be  of  a  yellowish  green  color. 
Far  better  results  will  thus  be  obtained  than 
by  heating  the  coating  direct  after  moisienjog 
with  the  cobalt  nitrate.  Tin  oxide  is  tieaTsd 
in  precisely  the  same  way,  the  only  difference 
being  in  the  resulting  color  which  is  a  bluisii 
green  as  has  been  stated  in  the  last  paper. 

By  means  of  group  V,  we  are  able  to  deiecl 


THE     STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


35 


iy  metals  having  intensely  colored  oxides^ 
\  oxides  have  the  property  of  impart- 
laracteristic  color  to  a  bead  of  borax 
phorous  salt.  A  chemical  combina- 
:ween  the  reagent  and  the  test  sub- 
loes  not  occur  when  the  latter  is  an 
ined  oxide,  which  is  almost  always  the 
The  colored  borax  bead  will,  therefore, 
considered  as  a  very  pure  slag,  hold- 
metallic  oxides  in  solution.  In  oxi- 
►r  reducing,  the  different  colors  of  the 

2  due  to  the  different  degrees  of  oxi- 
9f  the  test  substance;  the  oxidizing 
•oducing  the  higher  oxide. 

test  piece  is  in  the  state  of  a  sulphide, 
;  antimonide,  etc.,  it  must  first  be  con- 
nto  an  oxide  by  roasting, 
Iphide   being    the    most    common,  is 
by  converting  the  substance  into  a  fine 

placing  it  in  a  shallow  cavity,  made  in 
rcoal  and  treating  with  an  oxidizing 
itil  a  smell  of  sulphurous  acid  is  no 
perceived;  turn  the  substance  over  to 
T  side  and  treat  in  the  same  way,  then 
it  from  the  charcoal,  powder  it  and  re- 
;  process.  When  sulphurous  acid  is  no 
produced,  the  substance  has  been  con- 
ito  an  oxide.  Arsenides,  etc.,  are  roast- 
I  same  manner.  The  additional  appara- 
led  for  this  group  are  several  platinum 
out  .01  of  an  inch  in  diameter  and  2-2.5 

The  reagents  are  Borax,  Naj  B4  O7  -|- 

3  and  Phosphorus  salt  Am  Na  Ha  P 
H2  O,  the  latter  being  merely  second- 
ves  to  distinguish  substances  which 
ntical  reactions  with  the  borax.  The 
n  wire  is  provided  with  a  loop  at  one 
ich  is  held  into  the  oxidizing  flame 
in  dipped  into  the  borax,  the  latter 
d  so  as  to  drive  off  the  water ;  some 
►rax  is  attached  and  heated  again  until 
)f  sufficient  size  has  been  obtained.  If 
ty  of  the  borax  is  suspected,  allow  the 
cool  before  adding  the  test  substance  ; 
d  be  perfectly  transparent.  A  phos- 
>alt  bead  is  made  in  the  same  way. 
laking  a  test,  dip  the  heated  bead  into 
small  portion  of  the  powdered  sub- 
nd  reheat  in  a  strong  oxidizing  flame, 
ing  a  color  will  appear,  which  depends 
est  substance.  The  color  is,  in  general, 
vhile  hot  and  becomes  lighter  on  cool> 
it  may  even  disappear  entirely  when 
t  of  the  test  substance  has  been  used, 
contrary,  if  too  much  has  been  used,  it 
tiain  opaque  after  cooling  and  should 

reheated  and  squeezed  flat  with  a  pair 


of  forceps  or  a  knife-blade,  if  this  does  not 
show  the  color,  part  should  be  knocked  off 
and  the  remainder  diluted  with  more  borax. 

When  the  reducing  flame  is  applied  to  the 
bead  a  characteristic  color  is  often  obtained, 
which  differs  from  that  obtained  by  the  oxidiz- 
ing flame.  Care  should  be  taken  never  to  treat 
substances  containing  nickel  or  copper  in  the 
reducing  flame  while  on  the  platinum  wire,  as 
these  metals  reduce  and  form  fusible  alloys 
with  the  wire  ;  borax  beads  containing  them 
may  be  placed  on  charcoal  and  thus  reduced. 
The  common  metals  which  can  be  detected 
by  means  of  the  borax  bead  are  copper,  iron, 
chromium,  nickel,  cobalt  and  manganese.  Be- 
sides these,  there  are  a  number  of  rarer  ele- 
ments which  give  reactions  with  the  beads, 
but  the  latter  will  not  be  considered  in  this 
place. 

The  oxidizing  flame  is  understood  when  no 
other  is  mentioned. 

Copper  oxide  produces  a  green  color  while 
hot,  which  changes  to  a  greenish  blue  on  cool- 
ing ;  in  the  reducing  flame  the  oxide  is  reduced 
to  the  metal.  In  the  phosphorus  salt,  copper 
oxide  produces  a  greenish  blue  color,  but  when 
reduced  on  charcoal  in  contact  with  a  small 
piece  of  metallic  tin  a  reddish-brown  color  is 
produced,  the  bead  becoming  opaque.  Very 
minute  quantities  of  copper  may  be  detected 
in  this  way. 

Iron  oxide,  treated  with  a  good  oxidizing 
flame  in  the  borax  bead,  imparts  a  yellow  color 
to  it,  which  may  only  be  seen  when  hot,  if 
very  little  iron  is  present.  In  the  reducing 
flame  the  color  becomes  a  bottle-green. 

In  the  phosphorus  salt  the  color  is  yellow, 
and  in  the  reducing  flame  becomes  brownish- 
black,  like  smoked  glass  or  the  mineral  smoky- 
quartz. 

Chromic  oxide  produces  a  yellowish-green 
color  with  the  oxidizing  flame,  and  an  emerald- 
green  when  reduced.  As  this  substance  does 
not  dissolve  very  readily  it  requires  long  con- 
tinued blowing.  In  the  phosphorus  salt  it 
produces  a  beautiful  emerald  green  with  both 
flames. 

If  chromic  oxide  is  mixed  with  some  soda 
and  saltpetre  and  heated  on  platinum  foil  a 
yellow  chromate  is  produced. 

Nickel  oxide  produces  a  brownish  -violet 
color  when  hot,  which  changes  to  brown  on 
cooling  ;  in  the  reducing  flame  the  oxide  is  re- 
duced to  the  metal,  and  should,  therefore,  never 
be  treated  on  the  platinum  wire  with  this  flame. 
In  the  phosphorus  salt  the  substance  produces 
a  dark-red  color  while  hot,  which  changes  to  a 


36 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


gold-yellow  on  cooling ;  in  the  reducing  flame 
the  color  is  neither  changed  nor  the  metal  re- 
duced. 

Cobalt  oxide  produces  with  borax  and  phos- 
phorus salt,  in  both  flames,  an  intensely  blue 
color,  almost  exactly  like  that  which  appears 
when  copper  sulphate  is  made  alcaline  with 
ammonium. 

Manganic  oxide  produces,  with  borax,  a  red- 
dish-violet color,  which  disappears  entirely  in 
the  reducing  flame,  leaving  the  bead  colorless, 
an  effect  which,  however,  can  only  be  accom- 
plished with  a  very  good  flame.  In  the  phos- 
phorus salt  it  produces  very  little  color,  but 
when  the  hot  bead  is  dipped  into  powdered 
saltpetre,  a  foamy  mass  having  an  intensely 
violet  color  is  produced,  due  to  the  formation 
of  potassium  permanganate.  This  is  a  very 
delicate  test  for  manganese.  If  manganic 
oxide  be  treated,  like  the  chromic  oxide,  with 
soda  and  saltpetre  on  platinum  foil,  a  dark 
green  color  is  produced. 

The  main  use  of  the  phosphorus  salt  bead  is 
in  the  detection  of  silica,  which  is  not  dis- 
solved by  this  salt,  but  remains  in  the  bead 
in  the  form  of  small  white  opaque  pieces, 
the  whole  of  which  are  called  the  silica  skele- 
ton. Pure  silica  or  quartz,  as  a  moderately 
flne  powder,  will  show  this  reaction  best. 

When  a  very  large  bulk  of  any  earth,  as 
alumina,  baryta,  strontia,  or  lime  is  dissolved 
in  the  borax  bead,  the  latter  assumes  a  milky 
color.  This  peculiarity,  however,  should  sel- 
dom be  used  as  a  test,  as  better  methods  have 
been  considered.  O.  Pf. 

(To  be  continued,') 


THE  YOUTH  OF  ISAAC  NEWTON. 


Isaac  Newton  was  bom  on  the  25th  of  De- 
cember, 1642.  His  father  had  died  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six,  several  months  after  his  marriage 
with  Harriet  Ayscough.  Isaac  began  his 
eventful  life  in  the  village  of  Woolsthorpe,  in 
the  parish  of  Colsterworth,  Lincolnshire,  four 
miles  south  of  the  city  of  Grantham.  It  is  an 
historical  fact  that  he  was  so  small,  as  his 
mother  used  to  say,  he  could  be  completely 
hid  in  a  quart  pitcher  ;  and  he  was  naturally 
so  feeble  that  he  was  not  expected  to  live  a 
day.  But  fortunately  for  posterity,  providence 
had  decreed  otherwise  ;  and  the  powerless 
child  developed  into  a  man  who  lived  in  al- 
most constant  good  health  more  than  eighty- 
four  years,  thus  surpassing  the  average  dura- 
tion of  human  life. 


He  was  about  ten  years  old  when  he  entered 
the  public  school  at  Grantham  ;  still,  as  he 
himself  acknowledged  in  after  days,  Master 
Newton  was  neither  diligent  nor  attentive  in 
school,  and  for  more  than  a  year  constituted 
with  several  of  his  peers  the  bottom  of  his 
class.  .One  day,  however,  a  lad  who  was 
looked  upon  as  the  best  student  of  the  school 
struck  him  such  a  blow  on  the  breast  that  the 
poor  boy  felt  it  yet  some  time  afterward. 
Newton  thereupon  sought  revenge.  Since  his 
opponent  was  by  far  his  superior  in  bodily 
power,  our  fellow  determined  to  beat  him 
mentally.  Aided  by  his  natural  ability,  he 
began  to  work  so  diligently  that  henceforth  we 
And  him  at  the  head  of  his  school.  This  inci- 
dent, unimportant  as  it  may  seem,  served  to 
inspire  the  boy,  who,  so  far,  had  been  almost 
passive,  with  inclination  to  action  and  occu- 
pation, and  to  develop  the  chief  traits  of  his 
character. 

Toward  the  end  of  his  three  years*  stay  at 
that  public  school,  he  spent  his  leisure  hours 
principally  in  practical  mechanics,  in  which  he 
soon  became  very  dexterous.  He  constructed 
a  wind- mill,  a  water-clock,  and  also  a  wagon 
that  was  put  and  kept  in  motion  by  the  pas- 
senger himself.  Seldom  do  we  find  him  tak- 
ing part  in  the  boisterous  games  of  his  young 
schoolmates,  but,  instead^  he  was  also  ready  to 
assist  them  by  making  several  very  ingenious 
toys,  kites,^and  the  like. 

He  was  also  continually  occupied  in  draw- 
ing, and  the  walls  of  his  room  were  fairly 
covered  with  sketches  and  pictures  made  by 
himself. 

Even  the  muse  of  poetry  he  affected ;  and, 
when  a  man,  he  loved  to  look  back  and  recount 
to  his  friends  that  when  as  yet  at  Grantham 
he  wrote  some  pretty  verses. 

In  the  year  1656,  when  fourteen  years  old, 
his  mother  took  him  home,  to  help  her  in  the 
affairs  of  her  farm.     But  young   Newton  was 
positively  averse  to  such  things,  and  preferred 
the  reading  of  some  old   book  or  other,  bor- 
rowed from  a  neighbor,  the  elaboration  of  a 
model,  the  construction  of   a  new  wind-mill, 
and  similar  occupations,  to  the  drowsy  task  of  • 
tilling  the  ground.     Thus   he   was  often  seen 
walking  among   the   fields   with  arms  folded 
and  mind  wandering,  while  the  flock  entrusted 
to  his  care,  being  left  to  itself,  had  a  splendid 
time  destroying  fields  and  meadows  and  going 
wherever  it  pleased.     On  such  an  occasion  he 
was  found  by  his  uncle,  William  Aynscough,a 
minister,  sitting  behind  a  hedge,  with  a  treatise 
on  geometry  in  his  hands.     This  moment  de- 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


37 


cided  his  whole  future  !  His  uncle  persuaded 
Mrs.  Newton  to  send  the  boy  to  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Cambridge,  convincing  her  that  he  was 
good  only  for  studying. 

Newton  entered  that  school  on  the  5  th 
of  June,  1660,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  The 
young  man,  who  was  destined  to  remold  all 
science,  then  touched  the  first  steps  to  her 
temple,  in  order  to  be  at  last  admitted  to  her 
awful  presence.  Without  the  advice  of 
learned  friends,  without  even  knowing  which 
were  the  best  books,  he  possessed  less  than  the 
average  knowledge  when  he  entered  the  uni- 
versity. He  had  spent  his  time  in  playing 
with  machines,  and  had  followed  only  his  love 
for  practical  experiment ;  but  it  was,  perhaps, 
better  that  he  brought  with  him  none  of  the 
prejudice  and  premature  opinions  which, 
though  generally  false,  still,  when  deeply 
engraved  on  the  youthful  mind,  are  so  difficult 
to  erase  in  order  to  make  room  for  sound  and 
correct  views. 

In  this  institution  Newton's  mind  was 
developed  more  perfectly  ;  there  already  he 
displayed  his  talent  in  discovering  those  three 
grand  truths,  which  have  immortalized  his 
name,  viz.,  about  lighty  the  infinitesimal^  and 
gravitation.  From  the  very  beginning  of  his 
studies  he  devoted  all  his  attention  to  mathe- 
matics. Euclid  was  merely  read  like  a  novel, 
and  regarded  as  too  easy  !  He  looked  upon 
the  theorems  as  so  many  axioms,  which  are 
comprehended  the  moment  they  are  heard. 
Without  further  preparation  he  turned  imme- 
diately to  Descartes'  profound  work  on 
geometry  ;  soon  after  he  took  up  Saunderson' s 
Logic y  and  then  Kepler's  writings  on  optics 
and  astronomy.  While  reading  these  by  no 
means  simple  works,  he  used  to  make  extracts 
of  them,  and  so  fast  was  his  progress  in  these 
sciences  that  his  tutor  soon  declared  he  could 
not  teach  him  any  more,  and  that  this  young 
man  was  better  fitted  to  give  than  to  receive 
advice ! 

In  the  next  year,  1661,  he  became  subsizes 
(i.  e.,  a  student  who  waited  on  the  scholars  or 
free  students),  but  not  until  1664  a  true  scholar. 
In  1665  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was 
conferred  upon  him  ;  two  years  later  he  be- 
came younger  professor,  the  next  year  elder 
professor ;  and  at  last,  in  1669,  when  twenty- 
seven  years  old,  he  was  appointed  professor  of 
mathematics  in  the  place  of  the  renowned 
Barrows,  who  had  resigned  in  favor  of  New- 
ton. Till  1695,  for  twenty-six  years,  he  kept 
that  position,  after  which  he  was  made  warden 
of  the  mint  in  London.     Four  years  later  he 


obtained  the  presidency  of  the  royal  mint, 
with  a  yearly  income  of  ^15,000,  and  kept 
this  position  till  he  was  carried  away  by 
death,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1727. 


» ♦  » * 


THE  RADIOMETER  AS  A  PHOTOMETER. 


Though  the  radiometer,  or  light-mill,  as  it 
is  sometimes  called,  seems  to  be  an  instrument 
of  but  little  practical  use,  owing  to  its  deli- 
cacy, and  the  difficulty  of  counting  the  num- 
ber of  revolutions  it  makes  in  a  given  period 
of  time,  it  has  been  advantageously  used  in 
photography.  Its  use  depends  upon  the  as- 
sumption that  the  same  amount  of  light  al- 
ways makes  it  turn  the  same  number  of  revo- 
lutions. Supposing  this  to  be  true,  we  thus 
have  a  means  for  determining  the  length  of 
time  necessary  to  expose  the  sensitive  plate  in 
order  to  get  the  same  effect  in  any  kind  of 
weather. 

Having  placed  the  radiometer  before  the 
camera,  surrounded  by  screens  in  such  a  way 
that  the  mill  receives  only  those  rays  which 
would  act  upon  the  plate,  we  count  the  num- 
ber of  revolutions  (which  in  this  case  will  be 
small)  which  the  mill  makes  during  the  time 
of  exposure,  exactly  long  enough  to  get  the  re- 
quired result.  Knowing  this,  we  let  the  light 
act  so  many  seconds  as  is  necessary  to  give 
the  radiometer  the  same  number  of  revolu- 
tions. The  weather  being  less  clear,  the  vel- 
ocity of  rotation  will  be  less.  In  this  way  the 
number  of  revolutions  remains  an  exact 
standard  for  the  quantity  of  light,  entering  the 
camera  in  more  or  less  seconds. 

V.  d.  W. 


« #  »» 


Hereafter  the  New  York  TimeSy  the  New 
York  Herald^  and  the  Stevens  Indicator 
will  be  printed  on  a  new  kind  of  profile  paper, 
3ust  out.  Only  60c.  a  dozen  sheets.  Very 
cheap,  indeed.  So  cheap  that  when  you  want 
a  single  sheet  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  buy  a 
dozen.     It  only  costs  fifty-five  cents  more. 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


jPhe  Stevei^s  Indisafesp. 

IGth   Of   EACH   IIDHTH,   DURIN6   THE  COLLEQE  rEAR, 

INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVBD^  lD0titDte  of  Tec|noIagj. 

TERMS  :-tI.U  par  YMr,  In  *<nnc>.      Slngla  Con.  20  Cnrit. 


Extra  tefiit  lan  hi  ablaitud  at  Luthin's  heoi  llffrti 
Hohohtn,  N.J. 

Subtttibtn  will  pUast  immedialefy  notify  us  of  any 
ckaHgt  in  thtir  addratis  or  failurt  to  nciivi  tht  faftt 
regulaiiy. 

Tit  wrifit'i  full  name,  as  will  ai  his  NOU  DB  FLUME, 


Exchanges,  conlrihuliens,  suiscrifliai 
and  all  other  eommunieatiens  ty  mail,  ihoulJ  be  addressed 
to  The  Stevens  Indicator,  Stevens  Institute,  Hoboken. 
N.J. 

Letters  for  fuiHeation  should  be  vmlltn  legibly  in  ink, 
upon  me  tide  of  the  paper  ;  unless  loo  long,  ikty  viill  be 
inserted  as  written. 

The  editors  do  not  hold  themselves  responsible  fvr  opin- 
ions expressed  in  literary  articles  or  communications. 


TT7HE  old  Board  of  Editors  has  just  bowed 
A  itself  off  the  stage,  and  the  thundering 
applause  has  scarcely  ceased,  when  the  new 
Board  steps  forward  to  claim  attention.  Bu* 
what  are  we  to  say  to  the  mighty  audience  j 
We  might  utter  a  eulogy  upon  the  retiring 
board.  Let  that  rest.  They  exalted  them- 
selves before  the  pen  passed  from  their  hands. 
We  might  launch  out  into  an  extravagant 
statement  of  what  will  be  accomplished  in  the 
next  four  issues  of  the  Indicator  ;  but  what 
are  vain  boastings  ?  And  yet,  it  is  desirable 
that  those  assuming  a  public  trust  should 
adopt  some  creed,  some  principle  of  action,  in 
order  that  all  may  know  what  to  expect,  and 
arrange  their  plans  accordingly. 

The  board  expects  every  man  to  do  his 
duty;  and  the  board  intends  to  see  that  each 
man  shall  do  his  duty.  We  find  the  Indi- 
cator in  a  prosperous  condition.  Our  every 
effort  shall  be  to  sustain  and  add  to  this  pros- 
perity. 


IT  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  in  an  assemblage 
of  young  men  representing  all  types  of 
manhood — or  humanity,  rather — there  should 
be  found  some  whose  actions  call  forth  merited 
criticism.  In  view  of  this  fact,  therefore,  there 
was  nothing  unexpected  in  the  appearance,  in 
leading  dailies,  on  consecutive  mornings,  of  two 
articles  upon  certain  debated  questions  which 
are  now  agitating  the  college  mind.  We  sz; 
such  things  are  not  surprising  ;  and  yet  there 
is  nothing  more  unnatural  than  the  case  of  a 
child  forsaking  its  foster-parent  and  eodeavoi- 
ing  to  spread  reports  derogatory  to  her  char- 
acter. Thus  it  is  with  the  student  who  takes 
the  little  motes  of  dissention  floating  about  in 
the  college  atmosphere  and  places  them  under 
a  microscope,  with  a  newspaper  reporter  at 
the  eye-piece,  ready  to  put  down  what  he  sees 
through  the  glass,  and  more  besides,  Ho» 
much  worse,  then,  is  it  when  the  mote  assumes 
more  significant  dimensions.  The  magnifying 
power  is  the  same  ;  what  then  shall  we  say  of 
the  second  object  when  magnified  ? 

It  is  hard.for  us  to  find  words  with  which  to 
accurately  express  our  contempt  for  the  mean 
and  unnatural  spirit  which  has  prompted  sooic 
of  our  college  mates  to  pour  their  little  griev- 
ances into  the  reportorial  ear.  It  does  not  re- 
quire much  thought  to  see  where  such  a  policy 
will  land  the  college,  unless  right  sentimenlis 
upheld  by  the  college  at  large.  We  will  wager 
that  the  guilty  ones  in  this  case  arethever)' 
students  who  would  shrink  from  circulating 
such  defamatory  reports  were  they  by  such 
deeds  rendered  liable  to  ostracism. 


TVTe  are  pleased  to  notice  the  increasedin- 
*  ■  terest  manifested  in  our  Tominunica- 
tion  column.  To  be  sure,  the  letters  are 
mostly  all  growls,  toned  down  to  suit  the  con- 
servative taste  of  the  editors  ;  still,  we  loot 
upon  this  as  a  sign  of  better  things  to  come. 
Already  discussions  are  beginning  to  creep  in, 
and  it  cannot  now  be  long  before  the  students 
will  become  accustomed  to  look  for  these  dis- 
cussions and  to  take  part.     Prof.  Wall's  reel- 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


39 


show  that  there  are  good  debaters  to  be 
n  the  Sophomore  class,  and  probably 
e  could  be  proved  of  the  other  classes, 
at  surprise  is  that  '89,  after  six  months 
5e  life,  has  found  nothing  to  criticize, 
jestions  to  offer.  They  have  shown 
merest  in  the  college  paper  ;  let  them 
the  work  of  producing  a  periodical 
mg  to  the  students. 


« ^  » » 


bout  time  that  the  bulletin  board  had 
ther  cleaning  out.  Once  more,  board- 
se  advertisements  have  accumulated, 
se,  with  several  worn-out  notices,  com- 
fill  the  space  required   for  more  im- 

matters.  As  a  result,  one  may  see 
id  jagged  strips  of  paper  fastened  on 
ide,  either  with  pins  or  match  ends, 
I  the  cracks.     It  is  a  pity  that  such  a 

affairs  should  exist,  and  there  is  no 
or  it,  as  the  pressure  has  been  relieved 
withdrawal  of  the  Indicator  and  the 

Association  from  the  struggle.     Now 

book-list  is  to  be  transferred  (in  more 
ible  form)  to  the  I.  P.  Co.*s  bulletin 
here  is  stilt  less  grounds  for  the  over- 
1  state  of  the  college  bulletin  board. 


« #  » » 


Indicator  is  at  last  becoming  a  ne- 
ssity  in  our  little  college  world.  Its 
usefulness  is  gradually  widening,  and 
1  to  see  in  the  future  journal  our  aims 
It  is  with  pleasure,  therefore,  that 
attention  to  Mr.  Pfordte's  letter,  and 
gestion  therein  contained.  The  sub- 
>  received  our  careful  consideration, 
are  now  prepared  to  state  our  willing- 
ittempt  such  a  scheme.  Of  course,  if 
)ort  of  the  students  is  not  forthcoming, 

abandon   the   project.     At  any  rate, 
ial  shall  be  given  the  system, 
some  deliberation  it  has  been  decided 

a  book  list  upon  the  bulletin  board, 
to  publish,  each  month,  in  the  columns 
paper,  such  a  list,  corrected  to  date. 
e  understood  that  the  buyer  and  seller 


are  never  brought  into  contact ;  the  seller  re- 
ceives his  money,  and  the  buyer  his  books 
without  either  knowing  the  other's  name.  We 
have  said  "  books  ;"  it  is  not  intended  to  limit 
the  articles  exchanged.  We  will  announce,  as 
early  as  possible,  the  name  of  the  editor  ap- 
pointed to  assist  the  students  in  this  project. 


<  #  »» 


WE  have  ventured  out  of  the  trodden 
path  of  college  journalism,  and  publish 
in  this  issue  two  pages  of  music  and  songs. 
A  few  words  of  explanation  as  to  our  purpose 
may  not  be  amiss. 

In  placing  in  the  hands  of  the  students 
these  songs,  the  compilers  lay  but  slight  claim  to 
authorship  of  entire  pieces,  their  great  aim  be- 
ing to  adapt  words  to  familiar  tunes,  and  to 
obtain  original  music  for  songs  which  have 
not  as  yet  appeared  in  music  form.  As  an 
example  of  adaptation  take  the  familiar  tune, 
"  Eli  Yale."  It  is  absurd  to  go  on  singing  as 
we  have  done : 

'*  As  Sophomores  we  have  our  task. 

'  Tis  best  performed  with  torch  and  mask." 

We  do  not  study  the  classics  ;  hence  are 
free  from  the  duties  of  the  funeral  pyre.  Let 
us  take  as  another  illustration  "  Balada  Amo- 
roso." These  beautiful  words  appear  in  a 
book  published  over  thirty  years  ago.  There 
was  no  music  and  the  editors  obtained 
original  music,  hoping  that  the  whole  might 
become  a  college  song. 

Recollect,  we  do  not  presume  to  publish 
these  songs  as  "  Stevens  Songs."  We  merely 
place  before  the  students  songs  which  may  or 
may  not  become  popular.  We  do  not  guaran- 
tee to  publish  songs  every  month,  but  when- 
ever we  insert  them  we  will  take  pains  to  fill 
up  an  even  number  of  pages,  so  that  they 
may  be  cut  out  and  pasted  in  the  book  of 
"  Students'  Songs." 


Students  having  books,  instruments  or  tools 
to  dispose  of  will  do  well  to  advertise  them  in 
the  "  Students*  Wants  "  column.  Insertion, 
giving  brief  particulars,  free.  Positively  no 
boarding  house  notices  admitted. 


40 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


r^9rGF^6R  GARS. 

During  the  recent  wintry  weather  the  little 
radiator  in  the  mathematics  room  has  been 
put  to  a  very  severe  test.  At  the  close  of 
each  hour  the  windows  are  opened  in  order  to 
give  the  incoming  class  a  chance  at  whatever 
fresh  air  may  be  wandering  like  a  stranger 
about  the  Institute.  When  the  thermometer 
is  at  8^  this  condition  of  affairs  does  not  last 
long,  and  the  windows  are  closed.  Now  the 
question  comes  :  How  long  is  it  going  to  take 
that  little  radiator  to  change  fresh  air  at  8^ 
into  fresh  air  at  65°  ?  Well,  just  about  forty 
minutes.  To  be  sure,  anything  that  may  be 
done  now  in  regard  to  this  matter  will  be  of 
no  use  this  spring,  yet  it  is  best  that  the  evil 
be  remedied  while  we  are  suffering  from  its 
effects. 

In  this  card  we  wish  to  mention  another 
matter  closely  related  to  the  one  which  has 
gone  before.  Some  of  the  rooms  are  "  redolent 
with  humanity  "  to  such  a  degree  as  to  be 
either  stupefying  or  nauseating.  It  matters 
not  whether  the  air  be  cold  or  warm,  the  odor 
is  the  same.  Take  a  room  where  little  atten- 
tion is  paid  to  ventilation.  At  9  a.m.  the 
Freshmen  gather  and  recite  until  10,  when 
the  Juniors  take  their  places.  At  eleven, 
when  the  Sophs  arrive  the  room  smells  like  a 
basement  beer  saloon.  How  much  work  can 
be  done  in  such  an  atmosphere  !  We  prefer 
to  shiver  rather  than  to  be  stifled,  and  if  we 
can*t  have  more  steam  give  us  cold  fresh  air 
rather  than  warm  foul  air  ! 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

Another  word  in  regard  to  the  sketching  of 
machines.  Recently  I  was  assigned  to  a  ma- 
chine in  Prof,  Wood's  room.  Upon  attempt- 
ing to  take  this  machine  apart,  I  had  recourse 
to  a  screwdriver.  Naturally,  the  place  where 
such  an  article  was  to  be  found  would  be  the 
tool  room  ;  so  I  went  thither.  The  attendant 
informed  me  that  "  there  used  to  be  three  or 
four  drivers,  but  now  there's  only  one,  and 
th.it's  lyin'  around  somewhere."  Failing  to 
find  this  remnant  of  the  glorious  past,  I 
applied  to  Mr.  Lackland.  He  admitted  that 
there  was  a  screwdriver,  but  that,  if  found,  it 
would  probably  be  required  in  the  shop. 

After  wasting  the  entire  drawing  period, 
and  after  asking  various  other  dignitaries  as 
to  the  whereabouts  of  anything  bearing  any 


resemblance  to  a  screwdriver,  I  gave  up  in 
disgust.  There  was  evidently  nothing  else  to 
do  but  to  write  to  the  Indicator.  Mean- 
while, I  am  using  my  chum's  jack  knife ;  and 
if  a  certain  machine  shows  marks  of  hard 
usage,  don't  blame  me,  but  the  missing  screw- 
driver. Sophomore. 


♦-•- 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

"Tempus  fugit."  The  baseball  season  is 
rapidly  approaching  and  on  all  sides  we  can 
hear  the  prediction  that  our  baseball  season 
this  year  will  be  as  much  of  a  failure  as  it  was 
last  year.  But  why  should  it  be  ?  We  have 
the  material  for  a  good  team,  and  we  have 
also  a  captain  who  will  not  go  home  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  season  and  let  the  team  take 
care  of  itself.  If  we  fail  to  make  a  good 
record  this  year  it  will  be  the  fault  of  the 
management.  Still  there  are  but  two  faults 
every  year ;  the  first  one  is,  not  arranging 
enough  games  to  be  played  on  our  awn  grounds, 
the  second  and  principal  reason  is,  that  at  the 
beginning  of  every  season  we  start  out  by 
playing  against  strong  clubs,  and  of  course 
lose  our  first  games.  This  demoralizes  the 
team  for  the  rest  of  the  season.  Now,  the  only 
way  in  which  we  can  expect  to  make  a  success 
this  season,  is  by  playing  our  first  games  with 
clubs  like  the  Adelphi's  and  Polytechnics,  and, 
by  winning  such  games,  give  the  members  oi 
the  team  confidence  in  themselves  so  that 
later  on  in  the  season  when  compelled  to  meet 
strong  teams,  there  will  be  some  prospect  oi 
winning.  Common  Sense. 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator : 

On  reading  the  Exchange  from  the  Tr^^S 
Polytechnic  in  the  last  number  the  idea  struck 
me  as  being  an  excellent  one  and  one  which 
would  provide  great  conveniences  for  those 
students  who  wish  to  dispose  of  the  old  text- 
books for  which  they  have  no  further  use. 

Your  remark  at  the  end  of  that  Exchange 
convinced  me  that  although  you  are  a  grind- 
ing monopoly  you  are  still  grinding  for  the  in- 
terest of  the  students.     The  suggestion  is  a 
timely  one  as  is  sufficiently  shown  by  the  fre- 
quent notices  regarding  the  purchase  of  books, 
at  the  bulletin  board.   How  some  of  our  worthy 
Professors  will  feel  if  such  a  scheme  should  be 
established  in  a  proper  working  order  I  could 
not  exactly  tell  though  if  I  step  on  their  toes 
I  hope  they  will  pardon  it. 

Every  student,  I  think,  who  has  acquired  a 
library  of  college  books,  feels  the  burden  they 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


to  him  besides  representing  so  much 
pitai  when  no  longer  used  and  many 
)e  glad  to  dispose  of  them  at  a  teason- 
ce  while  other  students  would  be  ac- 
dated,  if  they  were  able  to  obtain  the 
at  rates  lower  than  those  charged  at 
k  store.  Some  of  the  books  are  used 
;w  weeks  and  very  few  of  them  more 
le  term,  and  after  that  they  are  "  the 
ool  book  in  its  dusty  nook  "  never  to 
ed  at  except  perhaps  in  a  sentimental 
t  on  remembering  the  old  college  days 

ago. 

only  real  objection  that  exists,  namely 
ural  aversion  which  every  one  feels  to 
g  into  any  business  transactions  with 
ho  are  his  friends  and  companions,  can 
le  overcome  by  making  all  transactions 
1  a  disinterested  third  party,  as  the  In- 
R,  so  that  the  buyer  and  seller  need 
ome  in  contact  with  each  other  or  even 
heir  names. 

ot  think,  as  some  have  done,  that  you 
ng  to  use  every  one  of  your  college 
vhen  you  enter  business  for  you  will 
The  class  of  books  you  may  need  then 
:cial  works  according  to  the  business 
;er,  and  in  which  you  are  to  improve 
f  ;  the  general  college  books  will  give 
nparatively  little  practical  information 
se  matters  of  which  the  most,  in  fact, 
■e  learned  in  the  regular  business  rou- 

I  would  not  be  understood  to  mean  that 
books  will  be  useless  after  leaving  col- 
Some  of  them,  as  Rankine,  Deschanel, 
re  excellent  books  for  reference  and 
be  kept  but  this  each  student  does  best 
!;e  for  himself. 

w  figures  will  show  what  can  be  gained 
h  a  course.  Take  the  average  number 
,  in  a  class  during  the  four  years  at  forty, 
ooks  during  four  years  cost  about  $50. 
emical  apparatus  about  $10.— and  the 
lols  say  Jiz.— Total  $72.  Suppose  that 
:nt  would  sell  only  one  half  of  these 
at  75  per  cent,  of  the  original  cost  then 
75  •=■  J27.00  which  would  return  to  him 
le  whole  class  would  be  $i27.x4o^ 
00  ahead  for  which  if  they  are  careful 
e  il,  they  may  have  a  fine  time  at  com- 
ment and  an  excellent  class  dinner.  A 
esult  like  this  can  scarcely  be  hoped 
li  the  main  idea  is  practical  andadvan- 
s  to  the  students  and  should  be  acted 
by  them, 

O.  Pf 


"  Gentlemen,  I  have  the  floor  !"  All  right, 
keep  it,  but  we've  got  a  first  mortgage  on  it. 

"  Isn't  it  the  season  for  college  pin  de- 
signs ?"  Yes ;  send  us  some,  but  let  them  be 
■'  in  colors." 

Mr.  Denton's  lectures  to  the  Senior  class  are 
exceedingly  practical.  Cannot  more  time  be 
given  to  them  ? 

The  following  is  the  motto  given  to  the 
Freshmen  by  one  of  the  professors :  "  Never 
put  off  until  to-morrow  what  you  can  do  next 

It  3pp)ears,  from  a  new  catalogue  of  books, 
that  J.  Donaldson  has  written  a  book  on  the 
History  of  Education.  Wonder  if  it  is 
O.  W.  J. 

Professor. — "  In  what  form  do  these  min- 
erals crystallize.  Miss  X.  ?" 

Miss  X. — "  Rhododendrous  !  "  —  Vassar 
Miscellany. 

One  of  Hoboken's  children  (this  is  poeti- 
cal, and  refers  to  a  full-grown  man)  wants  to 
know  "  how  the  light  is  pushed  through  the 
electric  wires." 

A  famous  tenor  has  injured  his  voice  by 
having  a  toothpick  lodge  in  his  throat.  He 
probably  swallowed  the  toothpick  to  give  his 
voice  more  timbre. — Exchange. 

The  man  that  fooled  with  the  radiator  in 
the  drawing-room  got  scared  so  badfy  when 
the  thing  blew  up  that  he  hasn't  been  able  to 
leave  his  crutches  yet. 

Catalogue  says  "  Senior  year,  second  term, 
Marine  Engineering."  Senior  class  says 
"  Senior  year,  second  term,  fire-works  {in 
colors)  and    pin   wheels. 

The  gymnasium  didn't  gym — the  rink  has 
been  turned  into  a  pugilistic  arena,  where  you 
pay  fifty  cents  for  entrance  and  see  an  old  but- 
ton's worth  of  "manly  art." 

A  few  days  since  Mr.  Bristol  was  treated  to 
a  grand  mixure  of  calculus  and  terrific  explo- 
sions. The  detonations  took  place  at  regular 
intervals  behind  the  radiator,  and  the  effect 
was  charming  (to  the  class). 


42 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


■87  had  heaps  o£  fun  the  other  day.  putting 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  in  '88*s  class  room 
while  they  were  in  to  recitation.  '87  hasn't  had 
ao  much  fun  since  their  papas  took  them  up 
to  see  the  Japanese  village. 

"  Chem.  lab  imp  "  found  considerable  difR- 
culty,  the  other  day,  in  obeying  an  order  to 
hang  a  piece  o(  apparatus  up  on  the  floor,  He 
used  up  nearly  his  whole  intellect  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  then  gave  it  up  in  disj^st. 

The  Freshmen  have  instituted  the  practice 
of  beginning  shop  work  at  one  o'clock  and 
stopping  at  four.  The  idea  is  a  good  one,  as 
it  gives  out  of  town  students  an  opporltinity  of 
getting  home  in  some  sort  of  season. 

Prof.  Leeds  aggravates  the  Sophs  by  making 
liquid  compounds  in  large  beakers  that  look 
like  beer,  and  have  a  foam  precisely  simitar. 
He  had'nt  better  leave  any  of  that  lying 
around  after  lecture.  O.  W.  J.  has  a  key  to 
that  room. 

Prof.  (10  Sophomore  Class)  :  "  Now,  these 
things  are  very  simple  ;  very  simple  indeed. 
Any  boy  of  ten  could  understand  them  easily, 
say  nothing  of  a  man  of  "88"  (Three  stu- 
dents drop  dead  and  the  plaster  tumbles  off 
the  ceiling.) 

It  is  too  bad,  isn't  it,  that  the  Seniors  can't 
be  sober  long  enough  to  work  in  the  Physical 
Lab.  They  go  around  asking  each  other  for 
the  temperature  of  the  room  in  centimetres,  and 
all  such  things  as  that.  Brace  up,  '86,  and 
be  more  intellectual. 

It  is  rumored  that  the  new  chemical  impt 
seen  in  lectures  and  recitations  for  a  month  or 
so  past,  is  a  rare  species  of  peculiar  organism, 
and  it  is  thought  that  Prof.  L.  is  fatting  him 
up  as  an  experimental  subject  when  he  comes 
to  organic  substances. 

Last  week  when  one  "  Prep."  told  another 
"  Prep."  that  the  main  spring  of  a  watch  was 
like  ''  the  flowers  that  bloom  in  the  spring,"bc- 
cause  it  had  "  nothing  to  do  with  the  case,"  a 
brick  block  fell  on  both  of  them,  and  the  re- 
mains have'nt  been  recovered  yet. 

The  class  pin  adopted  by  '89  is  a  model  of 
good  taste  and  neatness.  It  was  designed  by 
U.  H.  Hiller,  of  that  class,  and  consists  of  a 
pair  of  cahpers,  monkey  wrench  and  hammer 
crossed,  these  being  interwoven  by  a  piece  of 
metal  bearing  the  letters  S.  L  T.,  "89. 

A  man  in  '88,  known  among  the  sporting 
fraternity  as  "  Slrayed-off,"  has  made  him- 
self so  proficient  in  the  intricacies  01   Ihebaik 


line  game  of  billiards,  that  he  has  sent  an  un- 
conditional challenge  to  O.  W.  J.  for  a  ten- 
point  game,  to  be  finished  in  three  evenings. 

One  of  the  newly  deduced  facts  in  thermo- 
dynamics is,  that  the  work  a  Dutchman  does 
is  proportional  to  the  beer  and  sausage  con- 
sumed. The  Dutchman  is  also  a  perfect!/ 
reversible  engine,  jw  his  work  consists  in 
making  the  very  beer  and  sausages  which  he 
consumes. 

One  of  the  "  Sophs "  has  revealed  som* 
new  facts  in  English  history.  He  tells  us  some 
very  startling  things  about  Frances  Bacon's 
father  and  Queen  Elizabeth.  We  don't  like 
to  paralyze  the  public  by  saying  them  right 
out  loud.  Ask  one  of  the  Sophs  to  whisper 
them  to  you. 

The  S.  S.  S.  has  had  a  successful  inaugural, 
and  will  prove  even  more  enjoyable  this  year 
than  formerly,  there  seeming  to  be  more  effi- 
ciency at  the  head  of  affairs.  W!iy  not  re- 
christen  these  assemblies  and  let  the  name 
convey  rather  the  idea  of  a  specific  for  the 
heart  and  not  "the  blood." 

"  Gentlemen,  these  border  lines  must  be  one- 
millionth  of  an  inch  thick  and  sixteen  ten- 
thousandths  of  a  gramme  of  ink  must  be  used 
to  the  inch.  Also,  in  lettering,  use  Gillott's 
303  pen,  as  304  sometimes  makes  one  thirty 
thousandth  of  an  inch  difference  when  the 
ink  hasn't  a  specific  gravity  of  1.0031463," 

We  understand  that  Mr,  Bidwell,  the  pho- 
tographer, has  recently  purchased  a  mansion 
on  Fifth  Avenue  with  the  money  made  from 
selling  class  pictures  about  the  Institute. 
Why,  men  are  standing  in  line  every  day  to 
buy  them.  It's  something  wonderful  the  way 
those  pictures  sell.     It  is  wonderful,  isn't  it  ? 

A  senior  has  been  going  about  with  his 
pockets  full  of  "green  cheese,"  and  some  that 
hzsgrinfn  urav.  Its  presence  was  very  audi- 
ble, and  the  freshmen  are  speculating  as  to 
the  probability  of  this  young  scientist  hav- 
ing lest  pieces  of  the  moon  for  analysis  pre- 
paratory to  a  thesis  on  the  "Why-for's  of 
Lunar." 

The  other  day,  one  of  the  professors  ex- 
cused himself  for  not  appearing  until  a  while 
after  the  class  had  assembled,  by  saying  that 
he  didn't  know  that  the  class  was  on  hand  he- 
cause  they  were  so  quiet.  (Hereafter,  gentle- 
men, make  it  a  point  to  enter  right  into  a  first- 
class  riot,  if  the  Professor  is  n't  present,  in  com- 
ing into  recitations.) 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


43 


A  new  branch  of  instruction  has  been  intro- 
duced into  one  of  the  departments.  It  is 
known  as  the  "  Grand  Monkey  Course." 
The  preliminary  exercises  consist  in  blowing 
corks  up  into  the  oak  supports  and  letting 
students  climb  up  after  them.  This  promises 
to  be  a  very  interesting  departure  and  sub- 
secjuent  advancements  will  be  reported  as*  they 
take  place. 

Prof,  (to  student  in  Description):  "  Why  did 
you  assume  a  point  on  an  element  ?  " 

Student^"  I  just  sorter  placed  it  there  ac- 
cidentally." 

Prof. — "  A  point  is  like  a  fly  speck.  When 
the  fly  lit  there  he  did  it  on  purpose,  and 
there  wasn't  anything  accid,ental  about  it." 
(Student  has  to  imitate  a  fly  and  do  the  work 
all  over  again.) 

Prof.:  "Now,  gentlemen,  you  see  when  I 
excite  this  rod,  it  has  an  attraction  for  light, 
fuzzy  substances,  even  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance "  (excites  the  rod  and  holds  it  within  a 
few  feet  of  an  infinitesimal  moustache  belong- 
ing to  one  of  the  class).  "  See  !  See  !  Look 
at  that  moustache  stand  out  ;  it  attracts  even 
that."  (Gilt  edged  snicker  by  the  class. 
Blue  lights  and  tomato  cans.) 

Student:  "Shall  we  make  the  diameters  of 
the  circles  around  the  points  -^  oz  -^  oi  an 
inch?" 

Professor :  "  Make  them  ^^  of  an  inch  in 
diameter." 

Later — professor  returning  to  the  subject  of 
diameters  :  "  1  should  like  to  have  the  circles 
made  i^  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  because  that 
ii  much  smaller  than  ^V  of  an  inch. 

When  '8g  purloined  the  furniture  from  '88's 
class  room,  they  eviden'ly  didn't  think  of  the 
consequences.  The  faculty  took  this  per- 
fonnance  as  an  excuse  for  a  "  grand  bounce  " 
in  the  Freshman  class,  and  while  the  faculty 
*ete  "bouncing "  Freshmen,  the  Sophs. 
Mlfced  around  and  got  their  property  back 
again  ;  so  '89  was  not  near  so  well  off  as  it 
Would  have  been  if  it  had  allowed  'SS's  prop- 
ftty  to  enjoy  a  sweet  repose. 

Where,  oh  where  have  gone  our  trusty  ser- 
vants, the  James  Rumsey  and  the  Weehaw- 
len?  We  miss  their  fair  and  graceful  outlines 
plying  to  and  fro.  It  cannot  be  that  they 
lave  sunk,  and  we  know  full  well  that  the 
company  would  never  discontinue  to  use 
them  until  such  an  event  took  place.  Where, 
then,  have  they  gone  ?     Some  one  whispers 


"Up  the  Hudson, 'bucking  '  ice."  Ves,  per- 
haps so.  Or,  perchance,  the  United  States 
navy  has  secured  them  for  gun  boats.  More 
probable,  perhaps,  than  the  other  idea. 

It  seems  that  the  Freshmen  have  gotten  up 
a  class  pin,  totally  disregarding  the  fact  that 
after  much  controversy  and  hard  work,  a 
college  pin  was,  last  year,  adopted.  This  ac- 
tion is  certainly  not  a  very  loyal  one  on  the 
part  of  '89.  The  college  pin  was  adapted  for 
all  the  classes  then  existing  and  for  all  sub- 
sequent classes.  The  pin  is  certainly  as  pretty 
a  one  as  we  could  wish  to  wear  and  it  seems 
no  more  than  right  that  each  succeeding  class 
should  willingly  adopt  it.  If  only  a  few  do  so, 
the  college  pin  and  the  object  of  its  existence 
is  lost. 

People  that  live  anywhere  within  ten  miles 
of  New  York  are  habitually  in  a  hurry.  Ho- 
boken  is  included  in  these  limits  ;  hence  its 
inhabitants  are  possessed  of  the  general  char- 
acteristic. The  principle  of  action  is,  accord- 
ingly, that  of  taking  the  shortest  road  to  the 
desired  destination.  Now  the  word  here  is 
practically  synonymou.s  with  the  vtorA  present, 
but  the  former  has  but  one  syllable,  while  the 
latter  has  two ;  consequently,  the  natural 
tendency  would  be  for  Hobokenites  to  use 
here  instead  of  present.  Therefore  it  is  un- 
reasonable to  ask  them  to  violate  a  natural 
bias,  and  a  refusal  to  comply  with  such  a  re- 
quest should  not  be  at  all  surprising,     Silah  ! 

During  one  of  the  warm  days,  before  the 
snow  had  entirely  disappeared,  one  of  the 
Preps.,  having  wandered  from  his  nurse,  be- 
gan to  disport  himself  by  heaving  snow  balls 
around  promiscuously;  but  he  got  a  little  bit 
too  promiscuous  after  a  while,  and  caught  the 
Mayor  in  the  ear  with  a  full  grown  one.  The 
Mayor  gave  the  mystic  call  and  brought  out 
the  fire  department  and  the  whole  police  force. 
■  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  Prep,  was 
arrested,  and  he  was  subsequently  fined  five 
dollars.  Now  is  your  chance,  boys.  Shots  at 
Mayor  Timken,  five  dollars  each  ;  old  fash- 
ioned "  .soakers,"  eight  dollars  and  a  half.  No 
extra  charge  for  wear  and  tear  on  the  Mayor. 

If  there  ever  was  a  lop-sided  combination 
of  guttural  expressions  it  is  the  German. 
This  is  the  way  one  of  the  typical  phrases 
translates:  "The  pulley  is  a,  about  its, 
through  the,  either  still  standing,  or  up  and 
down,  by  the  workman,  pull-able,  middle- 
point  going  axis  movable,  circular,  disk." 

Now    that   is  evidently  meant  to  Icl!  some- 


44 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


thing  about  a  pulley,  but  just  what  no  one  but 
a  German  can  come  anywhere  near  tellmg, 
and  it's  doubtful  whether  he  can  on  all  occa- 
sions. When  a  German  wants  to  say  that  the 
father  bought  a  hat,  he  says,  the  hat  bought 
the  father,  which  is  equivalent  in  English  to 
saying  that  the  father  got  "  sold,"  that  is,  he 
got  cheated  in  the  hat. 

*%^  is  enjoying  a  very  decided  improvement 
in  the  Literature  course.  Two  or  three  of 
Shakespeare's  finest  plays  are  being  taken  up 
and  discussed  by  the  class,  each  man  being 
required  to  give  his  own  personal  views  on 
the  general  characteristics  of  the  play  and  on 
the  character  of  the  various  persons  repre- 
sented as  well.  This  tends  to  make  each  one 
consider  the  subject  thoughtfully  and  care- 
fully, and  is  certainly  much  better  and  far 
more  instructive  than  being  confined  to  the 
opinions  and  criticisms  of  a  single  author. 
The  recitations  show  that  every  one  is  taking 
a  genuine  interest ;  and  as  the  same  plan  is  to 
be  adopted  with  the  subsequent  authors,  the 
interest  will  undoubtedlv  continue,  which  will 
not  only  make  it  much  easier  for  the  students 
themselves,  but  for  the  professor  as  well. 

The  coils  of  the  fire  hose  about  the  halls 
do  not  add  to  the  general  effect  of  the  Insti- 
tute, but  the  change  is  much  better  than  the 
old  way  of  boxing  the  hose  in  out-of-the-way 
rooms,  especially  as  the  said  hose  is  really  in- 
tended for  use.  Looking  at  some  of  the  coils, 
we  notice  that  the  hose  has  hardened  in  the 
position  it  has  been  cramped  in  for  the  last  ten 
years,  and  in  some  cases  would  probably  fail 
if  wanted  for  an  emergency.  The  nozzles  are 
poor,  but  no  matter  ;  so  that  the  insurance 
company  is  aware  of  the  presence  of  hose  it 
is  immaterial  whether  the  building  burns  to 
the  ground  or  not.  It  is  wonderful  what  ef- 
fect the  knowledge  of  there  having  been  an 
empty  fire  extinguisher  in  a  ruined  house  has 
on  the  prompt  adjustment  of  insurance. 

The  other  day  while  the  Sophs,  were  busy 
carrying  their  stolen  furniture  up  the  front 
stairs  from  the  Freshmen's  room,  and  while 
the  Freshmen  were  taking  it  back  via  the  back 
stairs,  O.  W.  J.  minus  his  black  dog,  stood  in 
a  dark  corner  watching.  The  desire  to  "see  a 
man "  outside  was  overcome  by  a  greater 
— that  of  overawing  freshmen.  As  soon  as 
he  settled  the  question  that  the  chairs  were 
going  up  the  stairs,  and  that  the  stairs  were 
stationary,  although  they  seemed  lo  have  a 
rotatory  motion,  he  looked  up,  and,  seeing  a 
string  of   freshmen,   he   proceeded   to   make 


note  of  their  names.  Next  morning  there  was 
one  name  at  the  top  of  the  list  and  the  rest 
marked  ditto,  ditto,  etc. ;  so  that  to  this  day 
he  can't  affirm  whether  there  was  really  a 
string  of  No.  i  freshmen,  or  whether  it  was 
an  optical  illusion. 

The  following  small  comedy  of  errors  took 
place  in  this  classic  town  last  week.  A  stu- 
dent rented  a  furnished  room  from  Mrs.  A. 
About  the  same  time  Mrs.  A.  had  a  new 
range  put  in  the  kitchen.  Some  days  later,  on 
visiting  a  neighbor,  Mrs.  B.,  whose  cradle  had 
stood  in  England,  the  following  conversation 
took  place. 

Mrs.  B.  "Well!  how  do  you  like  your 
new  'eater  ?  "  % 

Mrs.  A.  (thinking  this  might  be  pure 
English  for  boarder)  "  Oh  !  he  isn't  a  regular 
boarder,  he  just  has  his  room  up  stairs  and 
takes  breakfast  with  us." 

Mrs.  B.  (looking  as  if  doubting  Mrs.  A.'s 
sanity),  "  I  don't  know  what  you're  talking 
about,  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

Mrs.  A.  *'Well,  I  don't  know  what  you 
mean."  The  curtain  rises  and  plot  is  re- 
vealed. (Let  us  hope  that  Mrs.  A.  ^ill  be 
satisfied  with  both  her  'eaters. — Eds.) 


^BRlSe^AIiS. 


'78. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  February  10,  Mr. 
E.  P.  Thompson,  associate  editor  of  The  Rkc- 
trical  World,  was  married  to  Miss  Edith  L'het- 
wood  Coursen,  daughter  of  Ex-Mayor  Wm.  A. 
Coursen,  of  Elizabeh,  N.  J.  The  ceremony 
took  place  at  the  bride's  home,  and  an  elaborate 
banquet  was  served  after  the  wedding  recep- 
tion, at  which  over  200  guests  were  present. 
At  a  late  hour  the  happy  couple  departed  on 
an  extended  bridal  tour  through  the  South 

and  West. 

'82. 

The  Raihvav  Age  has  secured  the  services 
of  Mr.  Pierce  Hutler,  M.  E.,  of  Louisville,  Ky., 
to  visit  the  manufacturing  establishments  con- 
nected with  railway  construction  and  equip- 
ment, and  to  send  it  notes  of  all  matters 
of  interest  which  may  come  under  his  obser- 
vation. He  will  also  represent  this  paper  in  a 
business  way.  Mr.  Butler  is  a  graduate  of 
Stevens  Institute  of  Technology,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  four  years'  course  of  both  practical 
and  theoretical  engineering.  Subsequently  he 
was  connected  with  the   mechanical  depart- 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


45 


:he  Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  Western 
d  then  with  the  Brooks  Locomotive 
laving  charge  of  their  school  for  ap- 
».  Latterly  he  has  been  practising 
ssion  of  mechanical  engineer. — Rail- 

• 

[}iBBS  is  with  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
Lil  Ry.  Co.,  Department  of  Tests,  West 
ee.  Wis. 

'83. 

TED  is  with  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
.ul  Ry.  Co.,  Car  Dept.,  West  Milwau- 

•8s- 
I    Baldwin    is    with    Westinghouse, 
Kerr  &  Co.,  steam  engine  builders, 
rk  City. 

HussEY  is  with  the  Midland  Electric 
aha.  Neb. 

IN  NoRRis  has  a  position  with  Bart' 
^ward  &  Co.,  engineers  and  founders, 
re,  Md. 

Renwick  is  with  Renwick,  Aspinwall 
,^11,  Architects,  New  York  City. 

N  BuRHORN  is  draughtsman  and  assist- 
erintendent  of  machinery,  with  Harri- 
izier  &  Co.,  Sugar  Refiners,  Philadel- 
;nn. 

.  BiRDSALL  has  on  exhibition  a  time 
:  photographic  exposures.  The  inven- 
kes  use  of  part  of  an  old  clock  geared 
ss  exposer.  The  rate  of  speed  is  regu- 
the  governing  fan  of  the  clock  attach- 


« ^  » » 


:I^SrF^BBRrF?G   ^05FeS. 


THE    FORTH   BRIDGE. 


Forth  Bridge,  now  being  built  by  the 
3ritish,  Great  Northern,  North  Eastern 
dland  Railway  companies,  is  of  the 
^er  or  continuous  girder  system,  and 
nmenced  in  January,  1883.  The  total 
of  viaduct  included  in  the  contract 
;^i, 600,000  is  about  1 4  miles,  and 
^e  2  spans,  of  1,700  feet  each  ;  2  spans, 
feet  each  ;  15  spans,  of  168  feet  each  ; 
>,  of  25  feet  each.  Including  piers, 
s  thus  one  mile  of  main  spans  and 
nile  of  viaduct  approach.  The  clear 
ty  is  150  feet  above  high  water,  and 
ps   of  the    great   cantilevers  are  more 


than  200  feet  higher  still.  There  will  be 
about  45,000  tons  of  steel  in  the  superstruc- 
ture of  the  bridge,  and  120,000  cubic  yards  of 
masonry  in  the  piers. 

The  South  Queen's  ferry  main  pier  consists 
of  a  group  of  four  cylindrical  piers  of  masonry 
and  concrete,  founded  by  means  of  pneumatic 
caissons  on    the  strong   boulder  clay  consti- 
tuting  the   bed  of   the  Forth  at  this  point. 
Owing  to  the  slope  of  the  clay  the  caissons 
required  to  be  sunk  to  depths  varying  from 
about  70  feet  to  90  feet  below  high  water. 
The   diameter   ranges    from    70   feet  at   the 
base   to   60  feet   at   low  water  level,  above 
which  the  iron  skin  of  the  caisson  is  replaced 
by  a  facing  of  Aberdeen  granite.     At  the  base 
of  the  caissons  is  a  working  chamber  of  7  feet 
in  height,  supplied  with  compressed  air  and 
electrically  lighted,  for  the  men  excavating  the 
material.     Owing  to  the  extreme  hardness  of 
the  clay,  it  was  necessary  to  provide  a  certain 
number  of  spades  having  hydraulic  rams  in 
the  handles,  which,  abutting  against  the  roof 
of   the    working    chamber,    sliced    the    clay 
readily.      At    Inchgarvie    similar    pneumatic 
caissons  are  used  for  two  out  of  four  of  the 
cylindrical  piers.     Owing  to  the  slope  of  the 
rock  bottom,  it   is   necessary  to  cut  away  as 
much  as  18  feet   in   thickness  of   whinstone 
rock  to  form  a  level  bench  for  the  pier  at  70 
feet  below  high  water.     The  most  convenient 
way  of  doing  this   was  to  convert  the   base 
of   the   pier   practically   into   a   great  diving 
bell  70  feet  in  diameter.     Rock  drills  are  pro- 
vided, and  blasting  goes  on  in  the  compressed 
air  chamber  without  necessitating  the  with- 
drawal of  the  men. 

At  North  Queensbury  the  four  main  piers 
were  built  either  on  dry  land  or  within  timber 
and  clay  coffer-dams.  Above  low  water  the 
whole  of  the  main  piers  are  built  of  Arboath 
masonry  in  cement  faced  with  Aberdeen 
granite,  and  hooped  occasionally  with  18-inch 
wrought-iron  bands.  The  cantilever  end 
piers  and  the  viaduct  piers  are  built  of  rubble, 
concrete  and  granite  in  cement. 

It  is  considered  that  the  chief  desiderata  in 
the  biggest  railway  bridge  ever  proposed  to 
be  constructed  would  be  best  met  by  a  steel 
"cantilever**  or  "continuous-girder**  bridge. 
In  the  Forth  bridge,  each  span  of  17 10  feet 
is  made  up  of  two  cantilevers,  projecting  680 
feet,  and  a  central  girder  connecting  the  same 
350  feet  in  length.  The  cantilevers  are  343 
feet  deep  over  the  piers  and  40  feet  at  the 
ends.  The  bottom  members  consist  of  a  pair 
of  tubes  tapering  in  diameter  from  1 2  feet  to  5 


46 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


feet,  and  spaced  lao  feet  apart  centre  to  cen- 
tre at  the  piers  and  31  feet  6  inches  at  the 
ends.  The  lop  members  consist  of  box  lattice 
girders,  tapering  in  depth  from  13  feet  to  5 
feet,  and  spaced  33  feet  apart  at  the  piers  and 
33  feet  3  inches  at  the  ends.  Each  tube  has 
s  maximum  gross  sectional  area  of  830  square 
inches,  and  each  girder  a  maximum  net  sec- 
tional area  of  506  square  inches.  Upon  each 
cylindrical  masonry  pier  is  bolted  a  bed-plate 
carrying  a  "skewback,"  from  which  spring 
vertical  and  diagonal  columns  and  stmts. 
The  former  are  12  feel  in  diameter  and  from 
368  to  46S  square  sectional  area  ;  the  latter  arc 
flattened  tubes.  Horizontal  wind-bracing  of 
lattice  girders  connect  the  tubes  forming  the 
bottom  member  of  the  cantilevers,  and  similar 
vertical  wind-bracing  connects  the  vertical  and 
diagonal  tubes,  so  that  the  whole  structure  is  a 
network  of  bracing,  capable  of  resisting  stresses 
in  any  direction  and  of  any  attainable  severity. 

Under  the  combined  stresses  resulting  from 
the  test  road  in  the  worst  position  and  the 
heaviest  hurricane,  the  maximum  stress  on  the 
steel  will  not  exceed  7  %  tons  per  square  inch 
on  any  portion  of  the  structure,  and  on  mem- 
berssiibject  to  great  variation  in  the  intensity 
and  character  of  the  stress  the  maximum  will 
not  exceed  four  tons  per  square  inch.  For 
tubular  columns  and  struts,  34  to  37  tons 
steel,  with  an  elongation  of  17  per  cent,  in  8 
inches,  is  specified,  and  for  tension  members 
30  to  33  tons  steel,  wilh  30  per  cent,  of  elonga- 
tion. 

In  making  the  tubes,  the  plates  arc  heated 
in  a  gas  furnace,  and  bent  hot  between  dies  in 
a  powerful  hydraulic  press,  A  slight  distor- 
tion takes  place  in  cooling,  which  is  corrected 
by  pressing  the  plates  again  when  cold.  After 
bending,  all  four  edges  are  planed  and  the 
plates  built  up  into  a  tub?.  Traveling  annular 
drill  frames  surrounding  the  tube,  fitted  each 
with  ten  traversing  drills,  bore  the  holes  at 
once  through  plates,  covers,  and  stiffeners,  so 
that  when  again  fitted  in  place  for  erection 
every  piece  comes  into  exact  juxtaposition. 
At  the  present  time,  although  about  15,000 
tons  of  steel  work  is  on  the  ground,  only  the 
approach  viaduct  ^rders  and  some  of  the  bed- 
plates of  the  mam  spans  are  erected  and 
riveted  up. 

The  new  Croton  Aqueduct,  now  under  con- 
struction from  Croton  to  Harlem  River,  will 
have  a  maximum  of  320,000,000  gallons  per 
day,  and  will  cost,  when  completed,  about 
§15,000,000, 


The  second  term  is,  without  doubt,  ihchard- 
est  part  of  the  year  for  Stevens  men.  With  the 
exception  of  a  little  skating  on  the  meadi>Hs 
and  a  walk  now  and  then,  there  is  absolutely 
no  means  of  giving  the  body  that  exercise 
which  is  so  essential  for  the  successful  com- 
pletion of  the  term's  work,  and  upon  which  so 
much  of  our  success  in  after  life  dependi. 
Even  the  walking  is  rendered  dangerous  by 
the  accumulation  of  snow  and  ice  on  the  side- 
walks, making  the  tramp  to  Weehawken,  even 
to  see  the  snow-clad  lop  of  the  "  beer  tower," 
anything  but  pleasant,  while  at  the  ver,' 
thought  of  taking  to  the  river  walk,  one  feels 
the  wind  whistle  through  his  bones  or  sees  his 
hat  scudding  toward  New  York  with  a  speed 
that  would  make  even  the  Rumsey  blush. 
How  we  envy  those  colleges  that  arc  fortunate 
enough  to  have  some  means  of  prepating 
their  rowing  crews,  their  bas^all  and  lacrosse 
teams  for  the  season  that  is  now  drawing  nigh ; 
how  they  must  pity  us  when  they  think  of 
catching  a  ball  when  the  thermometer  stands 
at  10°  or  of  stooping  to  the  school-boy  level  of 
throwing  snowballs  just  for  the  sake  of  exer- 
cise. Well,  we  live  in  hopes  ;  we  are  sure  that 
the  Trustees  and  Alumni  Association  are  at 
work  on  a  gymnasium  that  will,  some  day,  sur- 
prise us  and  be  worthy  of  the  college  and  her 
students.  In  the  meantime  we  will  go  on  with 
our  athletic  meetings,  electing  officers  and 
captains  ^  usual. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  association 
held  last  month,  the  following  positions  wers 
filled: 

President,  Morrison,  '86  ;  Vice  -  Pmiiixl- 
Chrisfield,  '87;  Corresponding  Seirelary,  An- 
derson, '88 ;  Recording  Seeretary,  Page,  '87; 
Capt.  of  Lacrosse,  Post,  '86;  Capt.  of  Foolklh 
Hart,  '87. 

Mi;  Flack  "87  was  elected  last  year  as  cap- 
tain of  the  lacrosse  team,  but  the  severe  wo'''' 
of  the  Junior  year  compelled  him  to  resipi' 
He  will,  however,  play  on  the  team,  probably 
in  the  position  which  he  has  so  ably  fW'" 
heretofore.  In  selecting  Mr.  Post  as  his  suc- 
cessor, the  association  has  given  evidence  O' 
their  appreciation  of  that  gentleman's  *"" 
last  year,  as  well  as  their  faith  in  his  ability'" 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


47 


team  lo  success  ;  we  would  suggest 
5et  his  men  together  as  soon  as  pos- 
d  have  them  practice  regularly.     In 

only  can  they  hope  to  succeed. 
)llowing  gives  the  main  features  of  the 
meeting  of  Inter-Collegiate  Lacrosse 
ion,  held  on  Saturday,  Feb.  20th,  in 
rk:— 

fificers  elect  are  :  A.  Gardner,  Har- 
resident ;  R.  Mathews,  N.  Y.  Univer- 
e- Preside  fit ;  C.  G.  Riggs,  Princeton, 
^  and  Treasurer ;  executive  com- 
L.  McK.  Garrison,  Harvard  ;  J.  D. 
tevens ;  A.  D.  McKelvey,  N.  Y.  Uni- 

C.  G.  Riggs,  Princeton, 
nost   important    business    transacted 
regular  admission  of  Stevens  into  the 
on. 

ame  is  to  be  played  with  Harvard  at 
n  ;  Princeton,  at  Princeton  ;  N.  Y.  U., 
I. 

to  be  arranged  later  to  suit  the  con- 
\  of  the  teams. 

allowing  amendment  to  the  rules  of 
:iation  was  adopted  : 
'  home "  team  shall  select  the  referee 
umpire,  and  the  visiting   team   the 
ach    subject  to   the  consent  of   both 

• 

delegates  present  were  :  F.  Hood,  A. 
,  Harvard  ;  H.  Hodge,  Princeton ; 
oberts,  R.  Mathews,  N.  Y.  U.  ;  W.  C. 
evens.  . 

hus  seen  that  the  lacrosse  at  Stevens 
o  be  a  thing  of  the  past,  but  has  a 
Litlook  ahead.  It  is  with  a  great  deal 
that  the  lacrosse  team  thus,  after  only 
:  of  existence,  enters  on  a  level  with 
uch  older  than  itself,  and  in  thus  al- 
t,  the  directors  do  hope  that  it  will  re- 
e  proper  enthusiastic  support.  Don't 
le  tough  time  the  Druids  had  in  barely 
g  Stevens  !     Get  out  your  sticks  and 

rather  early  to  speak  of  football,  but 
obliged  to  express  our  approval  of  the 
on  of  Mr.  Hart.  He  will  lose  with 
e  fine  men,  but  he  has  the  material  in 
er  classes  for  putting  in  the  field  a 
at  the  Institute  will  be  proud  of.  The 
:  of  time  at  his  disposal  for  next  year 
ble  him  to  pay  more  attention  to  the 
an  heretofore,  and  bring  them  up  to 
ndard  of  excellence  which  is  so  much 
esired. 

ig  given  the  association  the  credit  it 
5  for  the  faithful  performance  of  its 


duty,  it  becomes  necessary  for  the  Indicator, 
as  the  representative  of  the  students,  to  de- 
mand an  explanation  from  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors for  the  wilful  neglect  of  theirs.  For  two 
weeks  prior  to  the  convention  of  the  Inter- 
collegiate Athletic  Association,  a  notice  was 
on  the  bulletin  board,  informing  the  students 
when  and  where  it  would  take  place.  On 
Feb.  27,  representatives  from  the  principal 
colleges  of  the  country  met  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Hotel  and  elected  officers  for  the  en- 
suing year,  while  Stevens,  although  only  across 
the  river,  allowed  this  opportunity  of  securing 
recognition  to  pass  by  unnoticed,  seeming  to 
deem  it  not  worth  while  to  send  a  representa- 
tive. Who  is  responsible  for  this  ?  Where  is 
the  zeal  that  so  exercised  the  Board  last  Fall, 
when  they  took  the  football  team  in  hand  ? 
Had  they  expended  a  little  of  it  this  time  in 
the  right  direction,  we,  too,  might  be  repre- 
sented among  the  offices,  as  Lehigh  and  La- 
fayette are  now.  If  our  Board  .do  not  think 
it  worth  while  to  squander  six  cents  for  ferri- 
age, then  the  quicker  we  withdraw  from  the 
association  the  better. 


The  average  salary  of  a  college  professor  is 

$1,530. 

Harvard  will   put  a   football   team  in   the 
field  next  year. 

The  Yale  crew  will  be  composed  of  almost 
entirely  new  men. 

There  are  31  colored  students  in  the 
Freshman  class  at  Yale. 

Harvard  College  paid  the  City  of  Boston, 
last  year,  $18,000  as  taxes. 

The  Freshman  class  at  Oxford  is  said  to 
number  610  ;  that  at  Cambridge  865. 

An  interesting  chess  tournament  is  going  on 
between  Yale,  Princeton  and  Columbia. 

Manager  Mutrie,  of  the  New  Yorks,  has 
been  selected  as  the  coach  of  the  Columbia 
College  baseball  team. 

At  a  Harvard  faculty  meeting,  held  Feb. 
25,  the  penalty  for  cuffing  was  changed  from 
suspension  to  expulsion. 


48 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


The  students  of  Lehigh,  Boston  School  of 
Technology,  and  Stevens  Institute  are  advo- 
cating the  building  of  dormitories. — Ex. 

Dartmouth  has  received  a  ^ooo  scholar- 
ship, on  condition  that  no  student  who  uses 
tobacco  shall  receive  any  benefit  from  it. 

The  Yale  Literary  Magazine,  the  oldest 
and  best  known  of  college  periodicals,  will 
celebrate  its  semi-centennial  in  its  next  num- 
ber. 

The  Harvard  College  catalogue  states  the 
expenses  of  a  student  there  to  be,  at  least 
$484;  economical,  $593;  moderate,  $812,  and 
very  liberal,  $1,360. 

Probably  the  largest  literary  prize  ever 
ofifered  is  that  of  jfi, 000,000,  to  be  given  in 
1925  by  the  Russian  Academy  for  the  best 
work  on  the  life  and  reign  of  Alexander  I. 

The  faculty  of  Cornell  has  issued  the  fol- 
lowing proclamation :  "  That,  for  the  present, 
attendance  at  recitations  and  lectures  shall  be 
made  voluntary  for  students  of  all  colleges. 

Among  the  excellent  articles  which  appear 
in  the  Troy  Poiytechnic,  for  February,  the  two 
on  "American  Railroads,"  and  "Early  Loco- 
motives in  America,  are  especially  noticeable. 

During  President  Porter's  term  of  office  as 
President  of  Yale,  the  number  of  instructors 
has  increased  from  71  to  114;  the  students, 
from  755  to  1,076.  The  number  of  books  in 
libraries,  from  90,000  to  173,000.  Over  $2,- 
500,000  have  been  given  in  15  years. 

The  indoor  winter  meeting  of  the  Athletic 
Association  of  the  Boston  School  of  Tech- 
nology was  held  on  Feb.  27.  The  chief  in- 
terest of  the  meeting  centered  in  the  sparring, 
in  which  very  little  science  was  shown,  it  being 
more  of  an  exhibition  of  brute  force  than 
sparring. 

If  the  several  college  papers,  who  seem  to 
take  delight  in  dwelling  on  the  queer  things 
that  are  done  and  said  by  the  students  of  Vas- 
sar,  would  utilize  the  space  thus  taken  up  with 
extracts  from  that  excellent  monthly  known 
as  the  Vassar  Mis(dlany,  we  are  sure  that  it 
would  prove  much  more  interesting  to  their 
readers. 

The  eleventh  annual  convention  of  the 
Inter- collegiate  Athletic  Association  was  held 
at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  Feb.  27th.  Repre- 
sentatives were  present  from  the  College  of 
the   City  of  New  York,  Columbia,  Harvard, 


Lafayette,  Lehigh,  Princeton,  the  University  of 
Michigan,  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Yale.  The  University  of  Vermont  was  added 
to  the  list  of  eighteen  colleges,  comprising 
the  association.  The  proposition  of  holding 
the  games  on  the  grounds  of  the  Univetsilyof 
Pennsylvania,  offered  by  the  delegates  of 
U.  P.,  was  declined  with  thanks.  Owing  to 
the  increasing  dissatisfaction  with  the  starting 
of  races  during  the  past  an  amendment  to  the 
constitution  was  made,  that  "  the  starter  shill 
be  a  professional  of  known  integrity  aad 
ability."  It  was  decided  to  hold  the  games 
on  May  29,  in  New  York  city,  on  the  grounds 
of  the  Manhattan  Athlectic  Club.  Next  or- 
der of  business  was  election  of  officers.  The 
following;  were  elected  :  President,  R.  Ferrice, 
University  of  Pennsylvania ;  Fite-Presidtnt, 
A.  W.  McCormick,  Lafayette ;  Secretary, 
Clapp,  of  Lehigh.  E.  J.  Wendel,  of  Har- 
vard, and  Maurice,  of  Columbia,  were  then 
chosen  as  the  Executive  Committee. 


TOO  SHIFTLESS. 

My  love's  eyes  were  blue 
And  my  luve's  heart  woa  true. 

As  we  sailed  on  the  river  so  calm; 
My  love's  cheeks  were  red. 
And  her  pretty  bowed  head 

Told  me  something  that  caused  no  alarm. 

We  were  wont  thus  to  float 
In  my  frail  little  boat, 

With  the  useless  oars  thrown  in  the  stern 
Now,  willi  rudder-cords  grasped 
In  hands  gracefully  clasped, 

My  love  waited  my  story  to  leim. 

"  Ivay,"  I  suggest, 
As  her  hand  1  possess, 
'•  Will  you  steer  for  mo  always  like  this  ? 


"  I  will  not,"  she  said. 

"  Steer  for  you.  Muster  Ne 
I'll  refuse  you,  no  matter 

For  (o  me  'tis  quite  clear. 

That  a  boat  will  not  steer- 
Will  not  steer  when  its  h. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


49 


BALADA  AMOROSO. 


Andante  con  moto. 
Solo. 


^^'  -^irr^^ 


TUTTI. 


^ 


j   To    the    hum      of     the    flow    -    ing     wa  -  ters 
I  Ere    his   voice    had    ful  -  filled        its       du  -  ty 


A        cav 
He    heard 

-I- 


a 
a 


Music  by  £.  S. 
Solo. 


i 


Her 
sigh, 

—I- 


m 


Called  on 
And     a 


e 


m 


fesSzni^g 


appassionalu  cres,  poco  a  poco. 


jfi: 


TuTTi.  appassionalu  cres,  po 


one    of  earth's  fair  -  est  daughters,        His     song      to       hear.) 
la  -   dy    of  peer  -  less  beau  -  ty  Stood    list  -  'ning      by.    ) 


His    lute's       sweet  chords  thro'  air  were 


^ 


dramalico. 


Calando, 


« 


-=?-—«-- 


i 


gold  -  en      riv 


er, 


flow     on, 


flow     on, 


■jL 


&t 


'^' 


f^l 


■^ 


thou      shin  -  ing    Gua  -  dal  -  quiv    -    irl 


»i 


£^: 


P 


In  her  eyes  the  fond  youth  is  gazing 

His  soul  away ; 
To  his  mouth  her  white  hand  is  raising, 

In  loving  play ; 
And  the  maid,  though  from  him  offended 

Her  palm  she  slips. 
Only  blushed  when  the  kiss  came  mended 

Upon  her  lips. 
Again  the  lute's  sweet  chords  were  ringing. 
Again  in  joy  this  strain  was  singing : 
"  Flow  on,  flow  on,  thou  golden  river  I 
Flow  on,  thou  shining  Guadalquivir  I " 


3    Then  the  hope  of  his  dreams  were  uttered 

With  wild  delight ; 
And  her  heart  in  its  bondage  fluttered, 

And  then  took  flight. 
Lo-g  she  lay,  without  thought  of  moving, 

Upon  his  breast; 
And  all  those  who  have  souls  for  loving. 

May  guess  the  rest. 
Once  more  the  lute's  sweet  chords  were  ringing. 
While  maid  and  youth  in  joy  were  singing: 
"  F'low  on,  flow  on,  thou  golden  river ! 
Flow  on,  thou  blessed  Guadalquivir  1" 


r 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


THE  STEVENS  MAN. 


.  ite  Ste 
.  The  Ste 
3.  The  Sie  -  VI 


Jul  -  ly  good  fel-Iow;  His  Imx  JAtt-hiteand  his  whis-keis  are  yeMow  ;  He 
lot'ly  old  jok-er;  He  eii  -  chre  can  play  and  al  -  so  draw^po-ker;  llt'- 
jol-ly   old    duf-fcr;      He's  not      the   fe!-lowhsrd    us-age    to    iiuf-fetiTI 


m^^^^^mm 


im' -  irdiinkswhisky,  rum.  tiian-dy.     or  gin,  Thinks  punch  is      a     (0I  -  1y<  and     grog  is     a      sJn  i       Tbo* 

full    of  good  sto-ries  and  laugh-  a  -  ble  squibs,     So    droll  and  so  strange  thai  the  v  tie- kir  one's  rits;      He 

poiirfKlk  haven't  >it-pencc.bc'l]  still  lake  their  pans;  And  Ihoselhalbe   ail-ing,  he'll  com-lon  their  hearts.    Eacb 


^^ES^P^^m^^ 


p^fefg^gig=sigii5ngigi 


__,    _,    hLi    stu-dy — ne'er  goes  to  bed    so-bcr;  Andmasbomin  the    jol  -  ly    old  month  of    Oc-lo-bcr.  Oil 

lau^lisandall]augh;and,  I  know '<T5  no    fa-ble,     His     friendsfrom  his  jokes  haveroM'd  under    the  U-blel  Oh 

gtrl  thro' his  means  finds  3    lov  -  er    to  court  her;  And  he  ofl  gives  Ihc  hun-gry  the      loan  oE      a    qaortcr.  Oh 


'_g^^^^S^U^^^^^ 


-   ly    good  health  to      ihc      Sle 


m^j^^^m^mmm^^mm 


*^^* 


il^^Mefep 


j«t    jl|»l»il,  1886.    *: 


Ra  4. 


-Const/usg. 


I  of  1*«  "  JC«»ii«     . 


coj*. . 


TifE  stevnitfr  m  pre  a  tor. 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOU 

THE   ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY 

RIVER  STREET,  beL  3lh  and  6th.  HOSDKES.  H.  J.. 
OPENS  SEPTEMBER   16,  1885. 

SxaratHBtlotid  tat  &dinl^icn  CD  -.ha  Uta  one  l5th  of  Stfrt^mber 


FULL  COURSES  OF  STUDY,  PREPARATORY  TO  SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE  AKD  COLLEG 


JUNIOR   DEPARTMENT,      -       -       -        -      87Q.OO  PER   AffNUM. 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT,      *       .       .    '  .    8I6O4OO  PER  AMMUM. 

irboM  Mvm*'  ItkOlua*  all  ibM  •tudisB. 


Tqt  Cstaiccaet  apply  to  tbo  Llbruisa  at  Staraaa  tb«BUn«> 


'jQflieveits  jHdi(iel®P. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  APRIL,  i886. 


No.  4. 


Two  uamenBe  trunk  lines,  starting  from  the 
_»olis,  and  connecting  all  the  chief  cities 
fthe 'Empire  State  with  the  West,  their  roads 
mile)  and  their  termini  the  same,  are  by 
B»tion  powerful  rivals.  Such  are  the  New 
Vork  Central  and  the  West  Shore  Railroads, 
whose  interests  have  lately  been  made  identi- 
cal. To  one  interested  in  railroading,  3  com- 
parison of  the  histories  of  these  two  is  most 
instructive. 

The  West  Shore  Railroad  is,  from  an  en- 
gineering point  of  view,  to  be  considered  a 
masterly  piece  of  workmanship.  Leaving  out 
its  financial  difficulties,  it  is  a  triumph  of  mod- 
em skill.  Everything  was  constructed  in  ac- 
cordance with  true  principles  of  science.  The 
road-bed,  heavily  ballasted  with  broken  stone, 
and  laid  with  steel  rails  weighing  sixty-seven 
pounds  to  the  yard,  gave  an  opportunity  to 
start  out  with  locomotives  of  the  maximum 
weight  and  dimensions,  which  locomotive  de- 
signers have  thus  far  found  practicable  for 
efficient  service.  With  a  thorough  equipment 
of  systematically  classified  passenger  and 
freight  cars  of  best  construction  the  road  be- 
gan its  career. 

On  June  4th,  1883,  the  first  division  of  the 
railway  was  opened  between  New  York  and 
Newburg ;  the  remaining  four  sections  were 
thrown  open,  one  after  the  other,  and  the  be- 
gining  of  the  next  year  found  the  entire  road 
in  running  order.  The  New  York  terminal 
stations,  however,  were  not  completed,  and  it 
was  not  until  June  aist,  1885,  that  the  entire 
railroad  was  open,  and  independent  of  all 
other  lines.  Starting  out,  as  it  did.  with  its 
almost  perfect  roadway  and  rolling  stock,  it 
stands  out  in  strong  contrast  with  the  other 
r<>ad,  whose  history  is  half  a  century  older 
and  whose  growth  has  been  more  laborious. 

The  New  York  Central  Railroad,  although 
the  larger  and  richer,  is  still,  on  the  whok-,  a 
road  inferior  to  the  West  Shore.  Its  early  his- 
tory wears  almost  an  ancient  aspect  when 
viewed  with  eyes  that  have  seen  the  other 
r  jfiym  infancy  to  perfection  in  two  or 


three  years.  Most  trunk  lines  have  been 
formed  by  the  gradual  absorption  or  union  of 
lesser  railroads  into  one  great  mainway.  The 
New  York  Centra!  is  an  instance  of  this  kind. 
Of  the  history  of  one  of  its  parts,  the  Hudson 
and  Mohawk,  we  find  some  interesting  facts, 
in  a  scientific  work  published  in  1835.  The 
Hudson  &  Mohawk  Railroad  Company  was 
incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York 
in  i8z6.  On  August  id,  1830,  the  ground 
was  broken  at  Schenectady  for  the  purjjose  of 
commencing  the  construction  of  the  road, 
which  was  carried  on  in  the  following  manner  : 

After  the  leveling  was  finished,  under  each 
line  of  rails  square  holes  were  dug  at  the  dis- 
tance of  three  feet  from  centre  to  centre,  capa- 
ble of  containing  nine  cubic  feet  of  broken 
stone.  Into  these  the  broken  stone  was  thrown 
and  rammed  down;  on  this  foundation,  stone 
blocks,  dressed  on  the  upper  side  only,  were 
placed.  The  next  step  was  to  drill  holes  in 
the  face  of  the  stone.  In  these  drillings  small 
plugs  of  locust  wood,  about  four  inches  long 
and  an  inch  in  diameter,  were  loosely  placed. 
Into  these  plugs  were  driven  the  iron  spikes 
which  held  down  the  cast  iron  chairs;  these 
chairs  were  double  or  single.  The  double 
chairs  were  of  suflicient  length  to  pass  across 
beneath  the  rail,  and  were  used  in  the  propor- 
tion of  one  to  three  single  chairs,  which  were 
on  each  side  of  the  rail,  but  did  not  pass  un- 
der it. 

The  rails  of  the  track  were  composed  of 
plate  iron  laid  on  yellow  pine  stringers.  The 
stringer  timbers  were  about  twenty  feet  long 
and  six  inches  square,  and  were  placed  in  the 
iron  chairs,  wedged  with  wooden  wedges  on 
the  outside  into  a  true  line.  The  wrought 
iron  raits  were  strips,  two  and  a  half  inches  at 
the  bottom,  and  rounded  off  to  seven-eighths 
on  the  top;  their  thickness  was  nine-sixteenths 
of  an  inch.  These  bars  were  tongued  and 
grjoved,  and  were  secured  to  the  wooden 
stringers  by  iron  spikes  driven  through  oval 
openings,  to  provide  for  expansion  and  con- 
traction of  the  metal.  At  the  distance  of 
twenty  feel,  tie  pieces  as  a  security,  were  laid 
down  to  bind  the  rails  together  and  to  keep 
them  in  their  proper  position. 


52 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


The  railroad  was  operated  at  first  by  horse 
power,  and  grades  were  overcome  by  inclined 
planes  at  different  points  along  the  route,  up 
which  the  cars  were  hauled  by  stationary  en- 
gines. The  passenger  coaches  were  hung  on 
through  braces,  like  a  stage  coach,  and  rode 
with  comparative  smoothness.  Two  locomo- 
tives were  put  on  soon  after;  one  of  them  an 
English  engine,  and  one  of  American  manu- 
facture. The  latter  was  built  in  New  York, 
by  the  West  Point  Foundry  Association,  and 
was  quite  light,  weighing  six  tons.  The  Eng- 
lish engine  weighed  eight  tons,  and  was  car- 
ried on  four  wheels,  connected  and  placed 
close  together,  according  to  the  prevailing 
idea  that  this  was  necessary  in  order  to  facili- 
tate the  motion  around  curves.  A  locomotive 
with  a  leading  truck,  was  built  and  placed 
upon  the  road  in  1832,  which  gave  better  sat- 
isfaction. 

Other  links  in  the  railroad  were  built  at 
intervals  of  from  two  to  three  years,  until,  in 
about  1845,  the  line  was  complete,  with  the 
exception  of  gaps  between  the  different  roads 
composing  the  line.  All  the  roads  were  then 
operated  by  steam,  but  the  running  time  was, 
with  the  frequent  change  of  cars,  very  slow. 
Trains  running  from  Albany  to  Buffalo  would 
travel  all  day,  stop  at  Syracuse  over  night,  and 
finish  the  journey  the  next  day.  In  summer, 
two  daily  trains  were  run  each  way,  but  in 
winter  only  one  daily  train  each  way. 

In  the  year  1849  an  entire  revolution  in  the 
mode  of  travel  took  place.  The  different  rail- 
way companies  on  the  line  united  their  tracks, 
took  up  the  thin  bar  rail  and  put  down  a  uni- 
form T  rail.  New  locomotives  and  improved 
saloon  cars,  or  long  cars  seating  thirty  or  forty 
persons,  were  put  on  the  track,  and  the  trains 
began  to  run  at  a  regular  speed.  The  several 
railroads  between  Albany  and  Buffalo,  being 
thirteen  distinct  corporations,  were  consoli- 
dated, in  1853,  to  form  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad,  which  was  afterwards  incorporated 
with  the  Hudson  River  Railroad,  and  thus  the 
through  line  was  completed. 

Albitan. 


FATE  OF  THE  **  STEVENS  BATTERY." 


If  any  of  the  millionaires  who  are  owners  of 
the  new  Queen  Anne  Cottages  at  Babylon,  Bay 
Shore,  or  some  of  the  other  summer  resorts 
on  Long  Island,  were  to  be  told  that  their 
handsome  wood-work  finishings  are  merely  rem- 
nants of  the  old  "  Stevens  Battery  "  the  state- 
ment would  probably  be  received  with  many 


doubts.  Yet  such  is  the  fact.  A  few  remarks 
on  the  dimensions  and  general  appearance  of 
the  vessel  will  probably  not  be  amiss. 

Length  over  all 401    feet. 

Length  between  perpendicnlars. . .  390     " 

Breadth 45      " 

Breadth  over  armor 54      " 

Depth  to  main  deck 24^    " 

Draught  maximum,  fore  and  aft. ...     22      " 
Displacement  at  22  ft.  draught,  6,006.02  tons. 
Area  of  immersed  midship  section,890.26  sq.  ft. 
Ratio  of  immersed  midship  section 

to  circumscribed  parallelogram.. 0.867 
Ratio  of  displacement  to  circum- 
scribing paxallelopiped 0544 

Number  of  steam  cylmders 4 

Diameter. 72  inch. 

Stroke  of  piston 43    " 

Number  of  screw  propellers. 2 

Diameter        "  •*        18  sq.  ft. 

Pitch  "  "         27      " 

Number  of  boilers 10 

Area  of  heating  surface ..28,000  sq.  ft. 

Area  of  grate  surface. 876      " 

The  general  appearance  of  the  vessel,  if 
completed  as  Professor  Thurston  recom- 
mended, would  have  been  of  a  monitor  iron- 
clad. The  proportion  of  length  to  breadth, 
8.666  to  I,  is  that  now  usually  observed  in 
sea-going,  high-powered  steamers,  and  is  some- 
what less  than  in  those  which  represented  the 
extreme  limit  yet  attained. 

The  lines  are  fair  and  fine,  giving  a  sharp 
bow,  and  the  fine  run,  which  is  essential  to  the 
efficient  working  of  screw  propellers.  The 
proportion  of  the  midship  section  which  has 
a  breadth  equal  very  nearly  to  double  the  in- 
tended draught,  were  such  as  are  best  calcu- 
lated to  make  the  vessel  easy  in  a  sea-way. 
Seven  transverse  bulkheads  were  built,  divid- 
ing the  ship  into  distinct  water-tight  compart- 
ments. Two  additional  ones  were  carried 
across  the  ship  below  the  berth-deck.  Coal 
bunker  bulkheads  forward  and  aft,  and  several 
smaller  ones  in  the  extreme  ends  of  the  vessel 
still  further  strengthened  the  structure.  The 
hull  was  made  still  stronger  by  the  bulkheads 
of  the  turret  chamber,  which  stiffened  the 
whole  structure  by  tying  the  decks,  the  coal- 
bunkers,  and  the  lower  longitudinal  bulk- 
heads firmly  together.  When  Mr.  Stevens 
presented  the  famous  vessel  to  the  State  of 
New  Jersey  the  United  States  Government 
decided  that  a  man-of-war  could  not  be  ac- 
cepted as  the  individual  property  of  any  State. 
Mr.  Stevens  then  offered  it  to  the  National 
Government,  but  it  was  refused  as  being  in- 
adequate to  perform  the  duties  required  of  a 
war  ship.  Several  suits  followed  this  decis- 
ion between  the  estate  of  Mr.  Stevens  and  the 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


53 


f  New  Jersey,  which  claimed  that  al- 
it  could  not  hold  the  vessel  it  was  en- 
)  its  value  in  money.     The  final  decis- 
in  favor  of  the  3tate,  and  the  "  Stevens 
,"  as  it  stood  on  the  ways,  was  sold  to 
\.    Laimbeer,  of    New  York    City,   for 
).     The  heirs  of  Mr.  Stevens  say  that 
t  over  $2,000,000  upon  his  pet  object 
ion  to  $500,000  allowed  by  the  Govern- 
In  his  will  was  a  codicil  ordering  the 
iture  of  $1,200,000,  making  the  total 
the  vessel  $3,700,000.     Mr.  Laimbeer 
en  six  months  to  remove  his  purchase, 
half  of  that  time  he  turned  it  over  to 
vens   Institute  of  Technology  for  the 
ts  students.     In  consequence.  Prof.  R. 
irston  was  able  to  give  his  pupils  three 
of  the  most  interesting  practical  study 
5  ever  been  available  in  this  part  of  the 

r 

• 

dismantling  of  the  hull  occupied  the 
I  of  the  time  allotted  to  the  purchaser, 
day  during  this  period  were  there  less 
men  at  work,  while  at  times  the  number 
to  100.  The  wood- work  was  all  found 
f  the  finest  Georgia  pine  in  high  state 
ervation.  That  used  in  the  sides  of 
1  was  in  layers  to  the  thickness  of  5  ft. 
These  layers  were  dovetailed  together 
:ured  by  bolts  4  ft.  long.  In  and 
these  joinings  cresote  was  packed  in 
uantities,  and,  although  this  wood  had 
1  place  for  more  than  20  years,  it  was 
to  be  in  better  condition  than  when 
cut.  All  the  skill  of  the  workmen  and 
ength  of  tools  could  not  force  the 
)f  wood  apart  and  the  work  was  finally 
yr  burning.  It  was  found  to  be  exceed- 
ry  and  susceptible  of  high  polish,  and,  as 
n  stated,  a  large  quantity  of  it  has  been 
the  new  cottages  built  and  building  on 
th  shore  of  Long  Island.  From  the  hold 
ken  two  engines  of  6,000  horse-power 
lade  expressly  for  use  in  a  twin  screw 
and,  therefore,  worthless.  These  were 
up  and  sold  to  the  Delamater  Iron 
from  whence  they  came.  In  addition 
wo  propelling  engines,  there  were  six- 
riving  engines  which  were  preserved 
tnd  taken  to  the  coal  mines  in  Penn- 
a,  where  they  are  still  used  as  superior 
lew  inventions.  Over  2,000  tons  of  iron 
ere  taken  from  the  vessel  and  sold  to 
aissagua  Iron  Works,  in  Pennsylvania, 
%  of  it  was  rolled  in  this  country, 
alance  was  sent  abroad.  The  bolts 
[1   the  construction  of  this  vessel  were 


made  in  Scotland  for  that  purpose  and 
possessed  unusual  tensile  qualities.  These 
were  in  good  condition  after  their  long  years 
of  service  and  were  shipped  to  England,  where 
they  were  used  in  the  manufacture  of  shot- 
gun barrels.  When  all  the  movable  articles 
had  been  carted  away  the  two  pointed  ends  of 
the  boat  were  chopped  off  and  the  immense 
hull  parted  with  its  own  weight.  The  labor 
of  collecting  the  remnants  was  then  compara- 
tively easy.  Immense  quantities  of  giant  powder 
were  used,  however,  to  reduce  the  bulk  of  the 
iron  to  a  mass  small  enough  to  be  carted 
away.  There  remains  intact  to-day  but  one 
article  that  was  used  on  board  the  "  Stevens 
Iron-clad  Battery."  It  is  a  large  bronze  bell 
4  ft.  in  circumference  and  hangs  in  the  tower 
of  a  school-house  in  Tenafly,  New  Jersey. 


« ^  » » 


OBELISKS;    FROM   AN   ENGINEERING 

STAND-POINT. 


Paper  III. — Erection. 


It  may,  perhaps,  be  rather  disappointing  to 
my  readers  if,  at  the  very  beginning  of  this 
paper,  I -tell  them  that,  as  to  the  method  of 
erection  we  know  absolutely  nothing.  The  an- 
cient writers  record,  indeed,  the  facts,  but  en- 
ter into  no  detail,  praise  no  engineering  gen- 
ius. In  their  strange  blendings  of  truth  and 
tradition  they  had  no  place  for  critical  de- 
scription of  any  sort.  Worse  even  than  this  ; 
we  may  inspect  all  known  hieroglyphs,  and 
nowhere  will  we  be  able  to  find  any  record 
left  by  their  authors,  in  regard  to  methods  of 
erection.  It  therefore  goes  without  saying, 
that  whatever  statements  I  may  advance  in 
the  course  of  this  paper  will  be  based  upon 
the  various  hypotheses  alone. 

There  is  a  peculiar  notion  in  the  popular 
mind  that  the  Egyptians  accomplished  all 
their  great  works  by  sheer  man-power.  This 
is  but  partially  true,  as  I  shall  show  hereafter. 
I  wish  now  to  speak  of  the  man-power.  Among 
the  Egyptians,  only  convicts  and  slaves  were 
obliged  to  act  as  beasts  of  burden.  The  race 
was  too  highly  educated — I  speak  advisedly — 
to  be  put  to  such  work.  Even  the  slaves,  in 
the  light  of  this  great  civilization,  were  fitted 
for  better  positions.  Inheritance  is  a  great 
factor  in  science  or  art,  and  a  man  whose  fore- 
fathers, for  generations,  have  pursued  one  oc- 
cupation, is  eminently  well  qualified  to  adopt 
the  same  calling.  Thus,  even  in  the  poorest 
classes,  sculpture  and  engineering  were  not 


54 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


unknown;  and,  from  the  middle  classes,  Egypt 
produced  sculptors  and  engineers — the  best  of 
the  latter  the  world  has  ever  seen.  We  see, 
now,  that  when  we  speak  of  man-power,  we 
refer  to  convict  labor.  It  is  not  hard  to  show 
that  machines  must  have  been  used  in  connec- 
tion with  this  convict  labor.  A  contradictory 
supposition  has,  however,  been  advanced.  Let 
us  first  dispose  of  that.  Sharpe,  in  his  ''  His- 
tory of  Egypt,"  attempts  an  explanation,  as 
follows: 

"  The  obelisk  was  placed  in  a  horizontal  po- 
sition, so  that  its  foot  rested  upon  the  edge  of 
the  pedestal ;  in  the  latter  a  groove  was  cut. 
Next,  the  obelisk  was  turned  upon  this  groove 
as  an  axis,  its  foot  resting  in  the  groove.  This 
raising  process  was  accomplished  by  building 
a  mound  under  its  head."  Obviously  enough, 
the  question  is,  Haiv  to  build  that  mound  J 
Recollect,  nothing  has  been  said  concerning 
lifting  jacks.  I  leave  this  weak  attempt  at 
explanation  to  pass  for  what  it  is  worth. 

Numerous  as  are  the  speculations  upon  the 
subject,  not  one  of  them  is  supported  by  evi- 
dence. In  fact,  there  is  no  other  evidence 
than  this :  From  a  careful  examination  of  the 
length  of  time  involved  in  obelisk  erection  {as 
given  in  their  own  records),  the  obelisks  could 
not  have  been  put  in  place  in  the  stated  time, 
unless  the  application  of  poiver,  involved  in  the 
execution  of  the  work,  was  at  least  equal  to  any 
modern  application  of  mechanical  force.  Now, 
since  the  ancients  had  only  men  and  oxen  to 
furnish  the  requisite  force,  it  follows  that  ma- 
chines were  used ;  and  in  all  probability,  these 
were  derricks,  the  Egyptians  being  quite  well 
acquainted  with  the  use  of  the  pulley-block. 

It  can  now  be  laid  down  as  a  probable,  and 
almost  necessary  supposition,  that  the  obelisks 
were  erected  by  derricks,  the  power  l^eing  fur- 
nished by  gangs  of  men.  But  how,  it  is  im- 
mediately asked,  did  the  derricks  take  up  the 
obelisks  ?  Another  disputed  point !  One  says 
that  a  groove  was  used,  as  before  mentioned, 
and  the  derrick  substituted  for  the  mound  of 
earth.  Another  says,  that  Commander  Gor- 
ringe,  in  erecting  the  "Needle"  in  Central 
Park,  only  copied  the  ancient  method,  /.  c,,  an 
inclined  plane,  up  which  the  stone  was  drawn 
bottom  first,  and  then  tilted  into  place  by 
means  of  trunnions.  I  think  we  may  readily 
allow  both  of  these  methods,  since  there  is 
nothing  whatever  to  show  in  opposition  to 
them.  As  an  interesting  fact,  I  will  state  that 
one  or  more  obelisks  have  been  found  erected 
in  a  court-yard,  whose  limited  area  precludes 
the   use  of  an   inclined  plane,  and  which   is 


known  to  have  been  in   position  before  the 
obelisk  was  erected. 

I  have  tried  to  show  how  little  can  be  said 
concerning  the  erection  of  obelisks.    In  my 
paper    on   Quarrying, '  I   adduced  testimony 
from  modem  methods  employed  in  ancient 
countries.     This  plan  was  tried  with  less  re- 
sult in   the  second   paper ;  and  in  this,  the 
third,  there  are  no  sources  from  which  to  draw 
the  suggestions  which  we  so    much    desire. 
The  reason  for  this  is  apparent.     As  we  un- 
ravel the  mystery,  we  become  more  and  more 
bewildered  by  the  speed  with  which  the  range 
of  circumstances  attending  the  erections  out- 
strips the  increase  of  knowledge  on  the  sub- 
ject.    If  we  could  turn   to  India,  and  there 
find,  in  the  nmeteenth  century,  methods  of 
erection  which  had  been  used  from  time  imme- 
morial, we  might  naturally  conclude  that  the 
problem  before  us  had  been  solved.     But  un- 
fortunately this  is  impossible,  and  so  we  find 
the  theories  which    we  have  deemed  most 
worthy  of  belief    forever  dashed  from  our 
hands  and  the  destroyers  can  point  to  nothing 
which  will  in  any  way  assist  us  in  the  adop- 
tion of  true  theories.     The  critic  is  ever  ready 
to  cast  down,  but  seldom  to  build  up. 

Let  me  say,  then,  in  closing  this  subject, 
which  I  hope  may  have  proved  interesting  to 
at  least  a  few  of  my  readers,  that  there  is  one 
great  difficulty  encountered  by  the  scientific  stu- 
dent groping  in  the  dust  of  past  ages.  It  is  this. 
He  is  not  prepared  to  hear  his  neighbor  say : 
"  That  specimen  is  valueless  ;  throw  it  away ! " 
and  so  he  clings  tenaciously  to  his  theory, 
crying  :  "  Show  me  a  better,  and  I  will  throw 
this  away."  But  of  times  his  supposed  treasure 
is  torn  from  him,  and  he  cries  out  despair- 
ingly :  "  You  have  stolen  my  treasure ;  what 
do  you  offer  in  return  !"  Only  the  truest  of 
of  the  brave  explorers  pass  with  undiminished 
ardor  through  this  crisis.  Chic. 


<  #  »> 


ELEMENTARY   BLOW-PIPE    ANALYSIS. 


VL 

The  elements  which  are  detected  in  the  last 
group  are  mainly  the  metals — gold,  silver, 
copper,  tin,  lead,  bismuth  and  antimony. 
These  are  determined  as  metals,  and  barium, 
strontium,  calcium,  magnesium  and  aluminium, 
which  are  determined  as  oxides.  The  test 
for  sulphuric  acid  also  comes  in  this  group. 

The  additional  apparatus  required  are  a 
small  hammer  and  a  piece  of  polished  steel  to 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


55 


5  an  anvil,  in  order  to  test  the  malle- 
or  brittleness  of  the  metallic  beads. 
>n  soda  or  sodium  carbonate  will  be  re- 
as  a  reagent.    Powder  the  test  substance, 

1  small  quantity  upon  the  palm  of  the 
aix  with  twice  the  volume  of  powdered 
'ter  moistening  the  entire  mass,  so  as  to 
:hick  dough.  This  is  placed  in  a  small 
9n  the  charcoal  and  heated  with  the 
g  flame.     At  first  blow  rather  gently, 

•  drive  off  the  water  which  was  used 
to   prevent   the    powder  from    being 

id  by  the  blast. 

soda  will  form  a  slag  with  the  foreign 

combined  with  the  elements,  and,  if 
itly  fluid,  will  draw  into  the  charcoal, 

the  metallic  bead  upon  the  surface. 

the  slag  be  very  thick,  a  little  more 
ly  be  added,  which  will  aid  in  the  re- 

and  allow  the  small  particles  of  the 
o  sink  to  the  bottom  of  the  cavity  and 

2  into  a  globule.  In  some  cases,  as 
pper  and  tin,  the  small  metallic  par- 
>rabine  only  with  great  difficulty  into  a 

but   remain    scattered   in   the   slag. 

his  occurs  the  slag,  with  a  portion  of 

rcoal,  should  be  cut  out,  powdered  in 

agate  mortar,  stirred  up  with  water, 

lighter  particles  poured  off  with  the 

This    is    repeated    until    the    small 

disks  are  seen  and  recognized  at  the 

of   the   mortar.      If   necessary,   they 

combined   into   a  large   globule  by 

with  a  little  soda  on  charcoal. 

9f  course,  understood  that  gold,  silver 

)per  require  a  hotter  flame  than  the 

lements    for    reducing  or   remelting. 

the  metals  of  this  group  in  most  of 

mpounds  are  reduced  by  the  action  of 

rcoal  and  the  reducing  flame  alone, 

een  shown  in  the  incrustation  group. 

:ry  few  exceptions,  the  metals  are  ob- 

rom  all  their  compounds,  either  nat- 

artificial,  by  the  aid  of  soda,  while  the 

ns,  when  they  occur,  may  be  treated 

assium  cyanide  instead  of  soda. 

lethod  of  obtaining  the  metallic  beads 

;ely  the  same  with  all  the  metals,  and 

i  then  distinguished  from  each  other 

•  physical  properties,  as  color,  malle- 
brittleness  and  fusibility.  If  these 
ully  satisfactory,  a  few  simple  chemical 
y  be  performed. 

s  yellow  in  color,  malleable,  and  fuses 
cherry  red.  Silver  has  a  silver- white 
malleable,  and  fuses  at  light  red  heat, 
be  mistaken  for  tin,  especially  if  the 


bead  is  small.  Dissolve  a  part  of  the  bead  in 
nitric  acid,  dilute  it  and  add  a  drop  of  hydro- 
chloric acid  or  a  solution  of  common  salt.  A 
thick  white  precipitate  of  silver  chloride  indi- 
cates the  presence  of  silver.  Copper  is  very 
easily  recognized  by  its  red  color,  malleability 
and  fusion  at  red  heat.  Tin  is  white,  malle- 
able, and  fuses  below  red  heat.  It  may  be 
mistaken  for  silver.  Apply  the  incrustation 
test  with  cobalt-nitrate  solution.  Lead  is 
easily  known  by  its  lead-gray  color,  malle- 
ability and  low  point  of  fusion.  In  case  of 
doubt  apply  the  incrustation  test  with  sulphur 
and  potassium  iodide. 

Bismuth  is  yellowish-white  in  color,  brittle 
and  fuses  below  red  heat ;  the  incrustation 
test  given  under  lead  may  be  applied. 

Antimony  is  white,  brittle,  and  fuses  below 
red  heat.  The  bead,  if  heated  to  redness,  will 
remain  red  for  quite  some  time  after  it  has 
been  removed  from  the  flame,  and  will  be- 
come covered  with  a  thick  layer  of  crystals  of 
antimony  oxide  which  often  covers  the  entire 
bead.  The  corresponding  incrustation  will 
also  be  observed. 

If  the  test  substance  is  one  of  the  alkaline 
earths,  which  are  generally  white  in  color,  the 
soda  will  form  a  fusible  slag  with  the  oxides  of 
aluminium,  strontium  and  magnesium  which 
will  draw  into  the  charcoal ;  but  with  calcium 
and  barium  oxides  the  soda  does  not  combine, 
and  will,  therefore,  remain  on  the  surface  of 
the  charcoal  while  the  soda  draws  in.  By  this 
method  traces  of  calcium  and  barium  may  be 
detected  in  a  mixture  containing  also  the 
other  earths.  When  strontium,  barium  or 
calcium  is  suspected,  the  flame  color  test 
should  be  applied  to  a  fresh  portion  of  the 
substance.  If  aluminium,  magnesium  or  cal- 
cium is  supposed  to  be  present,  a  fresh  part  of 
the  substance  should  be  heated  to  nearly  white 
heat,  after  cooling,  moistened  with  the  cobalt- 
nitrate  solution  and  again  heated  to  nearly 
white  heat  for  some  time. 

The  presence  of  aluminium  will  be  indicated 
by  a  blue  color  throughout  the  test-piece.  If 
magnesium  is  present  it  is  shown  by  a  very 
delicate  pink  color  which  often  cannot  be  re- 
cognized distinctly  unless  compared  with  some 
white  article,  most  conveniently  a  sheet  of 
white  paper.  Calcium  is  recognized  by  a  gray 
color. 

The  test  for  sulphuric  acid  is  made  by  mix- 
ing the  moist  powdered  substance  with  twice 
its  bulk  of  soda,  and  heating  with  a  good  re- 
ducing flame.  This  causes  the  mixture  to 
draw  into  the  charcoal ;  it  is  then   cut  out. 


crushed  upon  a  piece  of  sheet  silver  or  a  silver 
coin  and  moistened  with  water.  A  black  or 
brownish -black  spot  upon  the  silver  will  in- 
dicate the  presence  of  sulphuric  acid  in  the 
original  test-piece.  The  reactions  taking  place 
on  the  charcoal  are  represented  by  the 
formula. 

BaS04+Na,CO,+iC=Na,S 
+BaO+3CO, 

Those  taking  place  on  the  silver  are  repre- 
sented by 
Na,S+2Ag-|-3H,0=Ag,S+aNaHO+2H 

This  test  is  a  very  delicate  one  and  very 
minute  traces  of  sulphuric  acid  can  be  de- 
tected by  it,  therefore  common  illuminating 
gas  should  never  be  used  in  making  this  test,  as 
it  almost  always  contains  sulphuric  acid  which 
produces  a  very  distinct  reaction.      O.  Pf. 

{Tohiconcludid.) 


AERIAL  NAVIGATION. 

ft  has  been  often  said,  that  we  are  living  in 
an  age  of  progress,  in  a  century  of  inventions. 
To  show  how  far  we  are  justified  in  calling  it 
thus,  would  be  futile;  besides,  history  shows 
us  that  almost  every  age  was  modest  enough 
to  claim  that  appellation — no  era  whatsoever 
would  have  iiesired  to  be  called  an  age  of 
retrogression. 

Apart  from  this,  we  find  our  age  specially 
occupied  with  the  investigation  of  certain 
laws,  forces  or  objects,  all  of  which  are  not 
yet  fully  understood.  Our  century,  for  this 
reason,  is  indeed  an  age  of  research.  The 
mind  of  man  in  general  has  bfcorae  active  ; 
every  one  is  now  thinking  and  working  for 
himself,  while  our  great  philosophers  and 
scientists  are  puzzling  over  unsolved  problems 
to  benefit  the  human  race. 

Among  these  problems,  which  are  gradually 
being  solved,  is  that  of  manageable  aerostation. 
The  prospect  of  sailing  upon  the  air,  and  sub- 
duing the  winds  themselves  ;  to  rival  the  flight 
or  birds  ;  to  rise  with  safety  nearer  to  the 
clouds,  and  look  down  upon  that  diminutive 
creation  below,  where  individual  man,  with  his 
limited  knowledge  and  with  his  unbounded 
fancy,  is  altogether  lost  ;  the  ambition  to 
spurn  our  "old  mother  earth,"  and  to  defy 
her  bond,  the  law  of  gravitation  ;  these  anti- 
cipations and  such  as  these  are  sufficient  lo 
fire  the  mind  of  even  the  dullest  and  lo  make 
him  long  for  a  perfect  knowledge  of  aerial 
navigation. 

And,  indeed,  what  nian  cannot  accomplish 
in  rc'ality,  he  at  least  imagines  in  his  creative 


luind.  In  ancient  times  man  dreamed  of  sno 
cessfuUy  passing  through  the  air;  we  read  of 
poets  ascending  to  the  clouds  on  the  back  of 
the  winged  horse  Pegasus  ;  of  deities  flying  or 
walking  through  the  air. 

The  middle  ages,  again,  with  their  fan- 
tastic beliefs,  invest  their  angels  and  demon; 
with  wings.  All,  however,  think  of  flifilil 
chiefly  as  something  supernatural  and  un- 
attainable by  man  ;  they  give  vent  to  their 
unsatisfied  desire  in  this  indirect  way. 

Some  exceptionally  daring  minds  meditated 
on  the  construction  of  wings,  naturally  choos- 
ing those  of  the  birds  as  their  models.  Thus 
we  find  Daidalos  of  Athens,  the  famous  builder 
of  the  Cretan  labyrinth,  occupying  his  timt, 
during  exile,  in  making  wings  for  himself  and 
for  his  son.  He  is  said  to  have  succeeded  ;  but, 
although  the  manner  in  which  he  constrticKd 
his  machines  with  the  feathers  of  birds  has 
been  minutely  described,  no  man  in  aller 
times  was  able  to  attain  equal  success  !  Iron 
had  also  been  tried,  but  it  proved  too  heavy  ; 
and  several  inventors  paid  as  martyrs  (?)  of 
science,  with  their  lives,  the  daring  with  which 
they  trusted  themselves  to  their  deceitful  in- 
ventions. 

At  last,  in  1782,  the  Montgolfier  Brothers 
constructed  the  first  balloon.  Man  thinks  bis 
dream  is  realized  ;  he  imagines  himself,  no». 
endowed  with  the  power  of  sailing  through  the 
air !  He,  the  lord  of  the  earth  and  of  ife 
water,  has  also  conquered  the  air  ! 

The  great  philosophers  of  the  time  set  them- 
selves at  work  ;  different  gases  are  used  for 
filling  the  balloon  ;  now  heated  air,  now 
hydrogen,  and  later  coal  gas  ;  nidders,  p»<i- 
die  wheels,  sails,  oars,  wings,  and  even  sieam 
engines  are  placed  on  board  and  tried.  Men 
like  Roiier,  Charles  Gay  Lussac,  entrust  their 
lives  to  the  inconstant  air,  more  fickle  ihan 
the  water,  and  they  ascend  to  the  enomions 
heighthof  twenty-three  thousand  (33,000)  feel. 

In  our  own  country,  we  even  find  balloon 
companies  organizing.  One  of  these,  tte 
"Aerial  Navigation  Company,"  was  started  in 
New  York,  in  1834.  The  prospectus  of  ilii' 
corporation  had  a  minute  description  of  iHe 
machine  :  it  stated  that  the  ship  was  lo  be 
made  to  carry  twenty  thousand  (20,000) 
pounds  of  passengers  and  freight  ;  thatavoy- 
age  from  New  Vork  to  London  would  be  made 
against  all  obstacles  in  six  (6 )  days,  and  *-ilii 
everything  in  its  fax-or  in  less  than  one(0 
day! — But  what  has  become  of  this  Company? 

However,  the  excitement  has  not  yet  fully 
subsided.     Who  can  describe  the  feeling  of 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


57 


ition  that  fills  our  breast  when  we  gaze 
d  to  watch  the  flight  of  the  balloon  ! 
e  are  unsatisfied  with  this  display  of  our 
"ect  powers. 

2ems  to  be  the  mockery  of  heaven  !  We 
e  but  a  taste  of  flying,  and  wish  the  more 
is  free  as  the  birds  in  the  region  of  the 
•Ve  are  at  the  mercy  of  capricious 
;  it  is  they,  on  which  the  direction  of 
ght  depends.  Man,  tired  of  this  dis- 
itment  relinquishes  all  hope  of  ever  see- 
;  favorite  dream  realized.  In  the  mean- 
various  scientists,  inventors  and  me- 
s  are  toiling  away  in  the  dark  recesses 
work-shop  ;  now  and  then  the  light  of 
irious  outside  world  is  allowed  to  find 
f  into  the  sanctuary.  Then  there  passes 
;h  the  journals  a  pulsation  ;  some  person 
heard  of  before  has  invented  a  flying 
le — its  construction  is  a/w^j/ completed; 
\  we  hear  that "  Prof.  Tissandier,  in  Paris, 
St  began  the  building  of  an  electric 
ti  with  which  he  will  sail  around  Paris," 
t  Monsieur  Renard  has  accomplished 
jat  feat  of  sailing  against  a  strong  wind, 
all  is  quiet  again  until  some  other 
le  is  said  to  occupy  some  other  person's 

thus  from  day  to  day  we  are  encour- 
o  expect,  at  some  future  time,  a  com- 
manageable  machine  for  navigation  in 

• 

jther  this  age  shall  yet  see  a  successful 
ion  of  this  sort  cannot  be  foretold.  Let 
>^,  however,  that  when  the  nineteenth 
y  has  run  its  course,  it  will  have  added 
achievements  with  which  it  is  already 
id,  that  precious  victory  of  man  over 
nds. 


■♦-#" 


PECTION  TOURS,  CLASS  OF  '86. 


ng  to  press  of  other  work  during  exam- 
i,  we  have  been  unable  to  get  ready  an 
it  of  the  inspection  touis  of  '86.  On 
9,  about  thirty  members  of  the  class 
Bethlehem.      To   chronicle   the   fun 

take  a  column  of  our  paper.  To 
cle  the  work,  we  would  have  to  issue  a 
ment.     The  Eastern  trip  will  be  next 

programme,  and  we  hope  to  give  in 
ay  number  an  account  of  both  excur- 


A  SAW  WITHOUT  TEETH. 


A  saw  without  teeth,  that  will  cut  a  steel 
rail  in  two  minutes,  is  in  operation  at  the  Cen- 
tral Hudson  shops  in  Greenbush,  N.  Y.  The 
saw  is  run  by  a  ninety  horse-power  engine, 
more  power  than  is  required  to  run  all  the 
other  machinery  in  the  shops,  and  is  thirty- 
eight  inches  in  diameter,  and  three-eighths  of 
an  inch  thick  at  the  edge.  The  disk  is  made 
of  Bessemer  steel,  and  runs  at  a  very  high  rate 
of  speed.  While  in  operation  a  band  of  fire 
encircles  the  saw,  and  the  many  sparks  flying 
from  the  revolving  disk  resemble  a  display  of 
pyrotechnics.  To  keep  the  saw  cool  and  pre- 
vent it  from  cracking,  a  tank  of  water  is  placed 
above  the  machine,  from  which  a  small  stream 
runs  down  and  drops  on  the  saw  while  in  mo- 
tion. By  this  plan  one  saw  will  cut  nearly 
3,ooo  rails  before  it  is  worn  out.  A  steel  rail, 
after  about  six  years'  constant  use,  becomes 
battered  at  the  ends,  and  by  cutting  them  off 
the  rails  can  be  used  in  branch  and  switch 
tracks.  Rails  are  cut  by  this  machine  for  the 
whole  line  of  the  Central  Hudson  Railroad. 
The  saw,  while  cutting,  bears  down  hard  on 
the  rail,  the  end  of  which  is  left  as  smooth  as 
the  bottom  of  a  flat-iron.  One  remarkable 
thing  about  the  machine  is,  that  the  chips  cut 
from  the  rail  fly  back  under  the  saw  with  such 
force  as  to  form  a  solid  piece  of  steel  nearly 
as  firm  as  the  rail  itself. 


« ^»* 


GEORGE    WESTINGHOUSE. 


George  Weatinghouse  owes  his  great  and 
rapidly  increasing  wealth  to  his  inventive 
genius.  Twenty  years  ago  he  was  a  poor 
young  man,  but  he  struck  it  rich  in  his  air 
brake  for  railroads,  and  money  has  since 
flowed  into  his  coffers  in  a  golden  stream.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  prolific  inventors  of  the 
age,  and  has  enough  good  mechanical  ideas  to 
furnish  every  manufacturing  establishment  in 
Pittsburgh  with  successful  specialties.  He  is 
not  only  highly  skilled  in  theoretical  and 
practical  mechanics,  but  is  also  a  thorough 
electrician.  He  expends  an  ordinary  fortune 
every  year  in  experiments  necessary  to  the 
perfection  of  his  inventions.  By  warrant  of 
the  King  of  Belgium  he  is  entitled  to  the  title 
of  Sir  George  Westinghouse,  having  been 
knighted  by  that  monarch  as  a  recognition  of 
his  services  to  the  world  as  an  inventor.  He 
is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  is  about 
40  years  old. — N.  K.  Sun, 


>s 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


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ALUMNI;  ATTENTION  I 


WE  are  surprised  and  disappointed  at  the 
action  taken  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mitte  of  the  alumni  in  regard  to  the  Indi- 
cator. If  we  are  rightly  informed,  the  de- 
cision not  to  support  the  paper  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  editors  are  neither  chosen  by  the 
college  at  large  nor  by  the  classes,  but  by  a 
stock  company.  Without  rehearsing  the  diffi- 
culties under  which  the  editors  of  the  old  re- 
gime labored,  it  may  be  well  to  state  here  why 
and  by  whom  the  stock  company  was  formed. 
To  begin  with,  the  Indicator  Publishing 
Co.  was  formed  because  even  the  editors  under 
the  old  rule  did  not  properly  attend  to  their 
work,  and  it  was  considered  desirable  that 
when  a  man  was  elected  to  such  a  position  he 
should  bring  with  him  a  guarantee  of  good 
faith.  The  sum  of  ^s^  dollars  was  settled 
upon  by  the  incorporators  as  a  ])roper  guaran- 
tee, since  a  person  who  has  invested  money  in 


a  venture  is  pretty  sure  to  be  interested  in  the 
success  of  the  venture. 

In  the  second  place,  it  was  moved  and 
carried  at  the  college  meeting — convened  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  action  on  the  resigna- 
tion of  the  last  board  appointed  by  the  col- 
lege— that  the  chairman  of  the  meeting 
appoint  seven  men  to  form- a  stock  ctrnpany 
and  draw  up  a  constitution.  This  answers  the 
second  question. 

It  has  ever  been  far  from  our  purpose  to 
antagonize  the  alumni ;  and  now  that  they 
have  taken  formal  action  upon  the  matter  we 
are  anxious  to  come  to  an  understanding 
which  will  give  us  the  support  of  those  to 
whom  we  should  naturally  look  for  encourag^ 
ment.  We  know  that  dissatisfaction  has  been 
expressed  with  the  basis  upon  which  our  paper 
is  conducted.  Therefore,  we  most  earnestly ^^ 
peal  to  those  alumni  who  have  this  college  ven- 
ture at  heart,  that  they  will  send  us  letters  upon 
the  subject,  expressing  freely  their  opinions. 
These  communications  we  will  publish.  It 
will  be  interesting  to  hear  the  different  plans 
of  action  proposed.  The  Indicator  Pub- 
lishing Co.  stands  ready  to  go  half  way 
toward  the  alumni  in  any  scheme  that  they 
may  offer. 

One  more  statement  before  we  drop  the  pen. 
The  company  will  appoint  a  committee  to 
confer  with  a  similar  committee  from  the 
alumni,  the  number  of  men  and  the  time  to  be 
decided  by  the  latter.  We  consider  a  confer- 
ence necessary  because  those  who  have 
labored  upon  the  spot  will  be  able  to  give  the 
older  men  the  peculiarities  of  the  require- 
ments which,  in  a  scientific  school,  differ  so 
widely  from  those  in  a  school  of  arts.  Let  us 
hear  from  the  alumni ! 

n  GAIN  it  becomes  necessary  to  criticise 
-Gl  severely  the  conduct  of  a  certain  few 
students  (who  call  themselves  gentlemen). 
We  allude  to  those  students  who  sit  upon  the 
Institute  steps,  and  by  their  disgraceful  con- 
duct tend  to  bring  our  College  into  disrepute. 
Two  or  three  thoughtless  or  reckless  fellows 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


59 


iir  behavior,  determine  the  public 
the  morals  of  the  college.  It  is  a 
ted  on  all  sides,  that  students  living 
re  guilty  of  conduct  in  Hoboken 
'  would  carefully  avoid  elsewhere, 
le  townspeople  are  partly  blamable 
n  that  they  appear  at  all  times 
c  to  the  college.  However  that  be 
excuse  the  students.  A  gentleman 
a  gentleman  everywhere.     If  it  be 

I  an  assemblage  of  over  two  hun- 
;  men  there  will  surely  be  found  one 
o  are  not  gentlemen,  we  answer  : 
t  be  able  to  make  a  man  a  gentle- 
rt,  but  we  can  at  least  make  him  a 
in  appearances ;  and  for  this  pur- 

II  to  our  aid  public  opioion.  Let 
ive  no  more  attempts  to  attract  the 
f  every  lady  passer-by.  And  above 
young  ladies  have  a  chance  to  gaze 
eautiful  buildings  and  the  enthusi- 
se  players  without  the  slightest  fear 
suited  from  the  Institute  steps. 

catalogue  has  appeared,  much  be- 
ual  time.  At  first  glance  one  can 
J  or  no  change  in  the  contents  ;  and 
are  several  noteworthy  deviations 
old  order  of  things.  Upon  the 
e,  and  filling  the  place  made  vacant 
h  of  Mr.  Shippen,  is  the  name  of 
•ton.  Ph.  D.  This  is  manifestly  as 
e;  it  is  fitting  that  our  President 
.  trustee  of  the  institution  to  which 
n  so  much  of  his  money  and  valu- 

On  the  opposite  page,  in  the  old 
was  a  clause  relating  to  lectures  on 
jineering;  this  clause  has  entirely 
i  from  the  last  issue.  We  are  sorry 
ranch  has  been  formally  dropped 
:ourse  ;  but  it  is  better  thus  than 
uld  remain   a  dead    letter   in    the 

• 

ly  note  some  of  the  other  changes  : 
uction  of  the  study  of  Spanish  in 
888,  taking  the  place  of  French, 
from  that  time  be  required  for  en- 
Belles-Lettres,  in  addition  to  Shaw, 
•f  Chaucer,  Shakespere,  Bacon  and 


Milton.  The  announcement  of  the  decision 
not  to  found  a  separate  course  of  electrical 
engineering,  but  to  incorporate  electricity  into 
the  present  course. 


« ^  » » 


Those  students  who  use  the  library  for  a 
lunch-room  will  do  well  to  keep  out  of  the 
way  of  the  irate  senior  when  he  consults  the 
ponderous  and  musty  tomes  with  which  our 
library  abounds.  It  is  disagreeable,  if  not  dis- 
gusting, to  be  obliged  to  handle  a  book  whose 
cover  and  pages  alike  are  smeared  with  but- 
•  ter,  cheese,  and  even  jelly.  To  the  thought- 
less student  who  mumbles  his  mid-day  meal 
while  poring  lazily  over  some  valuable  book, 
it  is  the  height  of  enjoyment ;  but  to  those 
who  come  after  him  it  is  a  destroyer  of  relig- 
ious principles  and  an  unnecessary  display  of 
filth.  Fie !  even  the  "  preps "  know  better 
than  to  act  thus. 


*  ♦»» 


It  is  about  time  that  new  erasers  were  pro- 
vided for  the  black-boards  in  some  of  the 
recitation  rooms.  There  are  two  principal 
reasons  why  such  action  should  be  taken. 
One  is,  because  the  efficiency  of  a  block  of 
wood  rubbed  upon  a  pine  board  is  very  small 
as  regards  erasing  power ;  and  the  other  is, 
because  the  noise  produced  seriously  inter- 
feres with  the  progress  of  the  recitations.  We 
notice  that  there  are  at  least  three  varieties  of 
chalk  in  use  throughout  the  building.  One 
grade,  a  peculiarly  soapy  variety,  has  gained 
our  preference  owing  to  the  ease  with  which 
it  may  be  erased,  leaving  a  uniformly  shaded 
surface  for  fresh  use. 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

Looking  over  the  work  of  the  lacrosse 
team  of  last  year,  one  can  easily  see  that  one 
of  the  main  reasons  for  the  poor  showing 
it  made  in  the  league  was  lack  of  team  practice, 
for  in  the  beginning  we  were  almost  nothing 
in  the  lacrosse  world  ;  but  after  we  had 
played  a  number  of  games  in  which  we  were 
in  earnest  and  did  our  best,  we  proved  no 
despicable  opponents  to  the  Druids  even. 
Any  amount  of  individual  practice  will  not 
make  a  team  that  can  hope  to  compete  with 
teams  who  continually,  and  from  the  earliest 
opportunity,  take  all  the  team  practice  possi- 
ble. It  is  true  that  we  have  not  as  many 
players  and  have  a  very  large  amount  of  work 
to  perform  but  that  is  no  excuse  for  the  ones  who 


are  not  working  to  stay  away  from  practice,  as 
is  often  the  case.  We  have  not  the  players  to 
practice  the  team  as  a  whole  ;  but  we  must  do 
the  next  best  thing  and  divide  it,  which  will 
give  the  required  thing  to  a  great,  degree. 
Another  great  fault  of  ours  is  individual  play- 
ing. Although  this  is  very  pretty  it  is  not 
effectual,  and  all  authoritie.s  on  the  subject 
cannot  condemn  it  too  severely. 

There  i.s  no  saying  what  we  cannot  do  this 
year  against  our  older  opponents.  Judging 
from  the  playing  at  the  tournament  we  ought 
to  beat  our  old  enemy.  Princeton.  We  have 
on  our  team  some  of  the  best  players  in  the 
college  world,  and  ought  to  try  the  best  to 
show  up  in  this  game  as  it  is  the  only  chance 
of  making  a  first-class  standing  with  our  big 
rivals.  There  are  more  practising  for  the  team 
this  year  than  ever  before  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  it  will  be  hard  enough  work  getting 
on  the  team  to  make  the  players  get  in  trim 
for  playing ;  and  if,  in  selecting  the  team,  the 
captain  insists  on  this,  that  as  far  as  possible 
the  players  be  in  fighting  order,  it  will  do 
much  to  elevate  the  standard  of  our  team.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  all  of  these  hints  will  do 
some  good  and  that  the  proper  spirit  will  be 
shown  by  all,  and  in  this  way  insure  success 
to  Stevens.  Plaver. 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

■'The  High  School  must  go"  has  been 
heard  so  often  that  it  may  be  a  matter  of 
curiosity  in  some  minds  as  to  whether  there 
are  any  reasons  why  it  should  not  go  ;  and 
fairness  requires  that  such  reasons  be  duly 
considered,  if  any  conditions  do  exist  that  go 
to  counterbalance  certain  annoyances  so  fre- 
quently mentioned. 

As  a  preliminary,  the  High  School  has  the 
right  to  stay,  owning  the  property  it  occupies, 
and  does  not  exist  in  its  present  position  by 
sufferance  of  the  Institute.  The  first  "  High 
School  must  go"  editorial  was  written  in  an 
editorial  room  belonging  to  the  High  School  ; 
so  little  was  this  understoad  that  when  the 
growth  of  the  school  required  that  it  should 
occupy  that  room,  the  editors  thought  only  of 
the  opportunity  to  get  in  another  "  dig  "  at  the 
school. 

It  is  hardly  worth  while  to  suppose,  even  as 
a  basis  for  a  sarcastic  remark,  that  the  gentle- 
men raising  the  cry  are  prepared  to  make  the 
deficiency  good,  to  be  caused  by  the  loss  of 
some  thousands  of  dollars  now  annually  paid 
into  the  general  fund  «f  the  Institute  from  the 


surplus  of  the  High  School.  This  point  needs 
no  discussion.  Every  student  in  the  school 
pays  far  more  in  proportion  for  his  luititm 
than  any  student  in  the  Institute. 

The  causes  for  the  cry  appear  to  be  as  fol- 
lows :  I,  noise  about  the  building  ;  2,  mon- 
opoly of  the  rear  Campus,  and  3,  occasional 
intrusion  with  Institute  halls!  Of  these,  the 
first  and  second  constitute  a  grievance  that 
cannot  be  avoided  under  present  circum- 
stances, occasionally  becoming  a  genuine 
nuisance  ;  but  they  never  last  more  than  one 
hour  and  a  half  in  the  day,  most  of  that  lime 
being  "  off  hours "  in  the  Institute,  The 
third  mentioned  has  been  specially  prohibited 
by  Prof.  Wall,  who  takes  pains  to  enforce  the 
prohibition. 

It  would  appear  that  a  mere  desire  to  saj 
something  was  the  cause  for  certain  fliogs  at 
the  appearance  and  behavior  of  High  School 
students,  ivho  come  from  the  best  families  of 
Northern  New  Jersey,  some  of  the  best  mcB 
in  the  Institute  having  passed  through  tht 
school. 

The  High  School  is  the  best  feeder  the  In- 
stitute has.  sending  nearly  seventy  memkts 
into  '86,  '87,  '88  and  '89.  Among  the  tweniy- 
ninc  freshmen  included  in  this  number,  ik 
found  about  all  those  at  or  near  the  head  ol 
the  class  ;  of  the  five  freshmen  who  fell  in  tht 
first  general  engagement  with  the  enemy  (in 
December),  but  one  was  from  the  High  School, 
{a  fact  surprising  to  those  who  know  what  sort 
of  students  some  of  the  twenty-nine  were,  in 
the  school). 

Those  whom  the  school  sends  up  are  mffit 
patriotic  and  enthusiastic  for  the  Institute, 
(so  much  so  that  some  of  them  think  they 
must  join  in  the  "  must  go  "  cry).  Especially 
is  this  seen  in  athletics  ;  and  no  contest  occurs 
in  which  Stevens  takes  part,  without  the 
presence  of  High  School  boys,  many  of  whom 
thus  pay  more  toward  the  support  of  thf 
Athletic  Association  than  members  of  that 
association  itself  regularly  do.  A  far  sighted 
policy  on  the  part  of  the  captains  of  ihf 
various  Institute  teams  would  encourage  in 
every  way  the  teams  in  the  school.  Ninenl 
the  freshmen  players  in  class  foot-ball  games, 
last  fall,  were  from  the  school.  As  it  is,  the 
school  receives  some  special  favors  ;  last  spring 
the  school  nine  had  the  use  of  the  criciet 
grounds  once — on  a  Saturday  morning— thf 
St.  George's  also  giving  the  use  of  the  grounds 
once,  and  last  fall  three  games  were  played 
there  by  the  school  eleven,  in  one  ease  the 
freshman  captain  very  courteously  postponing 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


6i 


game  in  order_  to  allow  the  school  to 
By  the  way,  the  Acta  Columbiana,  Jan. 
IS  reports  that  game  : — 
V.  20.  Columbia  vs.  Stevens  ;  fool- 
core,  16  to  12,  in  our  favor,"  [jierbatim 
itim),  thus  declaring  that  it  was  a  coj- 
im  that  was  so  nearly  defeated  by  the 
;"  and  at  the  same  time  claiming  the 
)f  having  defeated  the  Institute, 
ever,  the  school  is  doing  pretty  well  in 
s ;  its  nine  has  not  been  defeated  since 
■laying  a  tie  game  (5-5)  with  the  Insti- 
1884,  and  during  the  same  time  no 
eleven  has  defeated  the  High  School 
High  School. 


cise  in  \!echamcal  Drawing — 

. :  "  How  do  you  make  a  Maltese  cross  ?" 

ent :  "Why.  pinch  his  tail." 

w  equation  to  the  arch,  according  to  a 

is  that  in  which  the  inordinates  of  the 

ire  referred  to  the  arch — he!  he! 

knows  the  way  to  the  Mathematical 
tory  ?  Has  any  one  seen  it  yet  ?  Do 
s  how  to  get  to  it ;  we  are  dying  to  know. 
;time  ago,  "  Preserve  "  was  the  man  who 
St  of  the  work  in  the  mathematics  room, 
appears  to  have  been  superseded  by 
;ady. 

.  L.  treated  '88  to  a  miniature  Hades  the 
lay.     If  the  genuine  article  is  propor- 
/  severe,  '88  will  be  a  model  of  good- 
Teafter. 
of  our  worthy  professors  calls  "  the 

third  one-fourth  really."  Exercise 
n  Lightning  Calculation.  Very  severe 
I  of  approximation, 

! !  Don't  speak  it  out  loud.  But  the 
about  the  Institute  make  delightful 
lades,  don't  they?  Ask  some  of  the 
rs  of  the  S.  S.  S.  if  they  don't. 
Soph."  recently  imparted  the  startling 
lat  the  solubility  of  a  certain  gas  was 
e  same  whether  the  water  was  "  warm 
,"  That's  something  like  "  up  the  hill 
n't  it  ? 


The  hardest  man  in  college  to  teach  any- 
thing is  a  Sophomore,  because  he  knows  just 
enough  to  tickle  his  vanity  without  knowing 
sufficient  to  appreciate  the  brilliant  reach  of 
his  stupidity. 

It  has  been  determined,  after  a  careful  in- 
vestigation, that  if  a  man  monkeys  with  a 
twenty  light-dynamo  his  funeral  will  cost  just 
as  much  as  though  he  monkeyed  with  a  sixty 
light  dynamo. 

It  appears  that  '88  has  set  up  a  free  lunch 
counter  in  her  class-room.  "  Strayed-off  " 
has  volunteered  to  act  as  bartender,  and  guar- 
antees entire  satisfaction  as  a  mixer  of  Ameri- 
can and  Dutch  drinks. 

Prof.  L.  has  allowed  that  there  is  one  in- 
stance in  which  seats  in  the  "bald  headed 
row "  are  not  as  desirable  as  those  further 
back.  The  instance  referred  to  is  the  occa- 
sion of  one  of  his  "  explosive  "  lectures. 

The  new  name  for  Sal  Ammoniac,  accord- 
ing to  one  of  the  "  Sophs."  is  Chili  Saltpetre. 
Very  elegant  name,  perhaps,  but  it  was  hardly 
appreciated  by  the  Prof,  and  the  occasion 
proved  rather  of  a  chilly  one  for  the  Soph. 

A  problem  in  engineering:  When  an  engine 
is  "loaded"  is  it  necessarily  drunk,  and  there- 
fore incapable  of  working  to  the  full  extent  of 
its  efficiency  ?  One  brass  button  to  the  one  who 
first  sends  us  a  correct  solution  of  the  problem. 

The  Seniors  have  finally  completed  their 
arrangements  for  commencement.  Pach  takes 
the  photographs,  and  the  class  supper  is  to  be 
furnished  by  the  Brunswick.  The  honor  men 
areC.  Russell  Collins,  valedictorian,  and  Henry 
B.  E  verb  art,  sal  u  tat  or  i  an. 

The  study  of  Bacon,  as  pursued  by  '88,  is 
indeed  a  most  profitable  one.  The  writings  of 
that  eminent  philosopher  are  filled  with  the 
soundest  doctrines,  and  are  well  calculated  to 
be  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  the  student  who 
will  carefully  consider  them. 

A  few  days  ago  the  storm  door  became  dis- 
gusted with  the  lay  of  the  landscape,  and  got 
up  and  walked  down  the  steps,  but,  by  the 
way  O.  W.  J.  looked  at  it,  anyone  might  be 
led  to  believe  that  he  really  thought  it  had 
assistance  in  getting  there. 

These  have  been  brought  forth  after  several 
months  of  hard  labor  and  thoughtfulness. 
There  are  seventeen  more  stanzas  to  each, 
which  will  be  furnished  on  application.  Please 
remit  a  niggardly  nothing  for  the  poet  as  he  is 
a  poor  widower  with  four  mothers  and  an  aged 
child  to  support. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


The  man  that  recently  put  "  Plainer  Vise  " 
on  his  drawing,  probably  meant  that  his 
drawing  was  much  plainer  than  the  drawings 
which  had  been  previously  made  of  the  same 
thing.  That  is  the  natural  inference.  He 
may,  however,  have  been  too  generous  with 
his  titles  and  put  in  an  extra  i. 

No  doubt  the  height  of  ecstatic  pleasure  is 
to  sip  the  delicately  flavored  Hoboken  ice 
cream  from  those  high-priced  and  superior 
lead  tablespoons  used  at  the  S.  S.  S.  socials. 
Anyone  that  gnaws  the  spoons  gets  fined  five 
cents,  the  price  of  two  dozen.  What  an  ac- 
cumulatian  of  spoons  there  will  be  at  the  end 
of  the  season. 

It  is  vtry  gratifying  to  see  the  interest  being 
displayed  in  lacrosse.  The  fine  days  that  we 
have  had,  have  seen  the  Campus  well  filled 
with  men  hard  at  work  with  stick  and  ball  to 
become  proficient  in  the  use  of  the  same- 
The  outlook  for  the  coming  season  is  intensely 
a  bright  one,  and  if  the  interest  already  dis- 
played continues  Stevens  will  be  assured  of 


One  of  our  learned  professors  recently  took 
much  time  and  pains  in  climbing  up  on  a 
series  of  chairs  to  get  at  the  top  board  of  one 
of  the  sliding  boards  in  the  mathematics  room. 
After  risking  his  neck  for  some  minutes  tack- 
ing a  pa|)er  thereon,  he  got  down  with  an  ex- 
pression of  satisfaction  on  his  face  like  to  that 
of  a  conqueror.  What  was  the  matter  with 
pulling  the  board  down  ? 

The  third  German  of  the  S.  S.  S.  was  held 
in  the  Institute,  on  the  zjd  of  March.  About 
twenty  cou])les  danced  the  German,  which  was 
led  by  Mr.  Flack,  The  managers  have  every 
reason  to  congratulate  themselves  on  its  suc- 
cess. The  only  suggestion  which  could  be 
offered  is,  that  the  halls  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  building  be  lighted,  as  some  of  the  wan- 
dering ones  might  get  lost. 

"  Die  Umdrehungsgeschwindigkeit  der  Ver- 
gangenheit,"  is  the  title  of  the  latest  work  from 
the  gifted  pen  of  the  "  Deacon."  It  is  \  de- 
scription of  an  evening's  enjovmcnt,  :is  i;azed 
upon  in  retrospect  the  next  morning.  "'  Dt-ak" 
rcfL-r-.  his  head  to  tri-linear  f  noidiivitcs,  and 
Unii  i;i\  I  s  the  e(iuations  involvi'.I.  Jlc  proves, 
1-011.  Iii-ijvely,  that  the  developed  head  is  theo- 
n-iit  all>  2'  times  as  large  the  ntit  morning. 

We  notice  that  '8g  is  favored  with  a  closet 
ftii  T  squares,  but  we  have  b.ii  unaMt-  to 
Titid  .  as  yet,  the  location  of  a  similar  conven- 


ience for  the  other  classes.  If  any  one 
would  kindly  show  us  the  way  to  the  same  yc 
would  be  greatly  obliged.  Just  at  present,  '89 
has  the  pleasure  of  keeping  its  own  T  square! 
locked  up,  and  of  fencing  and  spanking  each 
other  with  those  belonging  to  other  classes. 
Quite  a  privilege  but  rather  one-sided. 

NEW  STRINGS  TO  OLD  HARPS. 

TuKK— *¥-*■/«■■/«■■ 
A>  I  wu  walking  down  the  ilrcet. 
W.  O.  J.  I  chuced  to  meet : 
Said  I  (o  him,  "  whst  1*  jronr  trade  ?" 
''  I'm  a  Huuseid  maker,  lir,"  he  said. 

TuKi— /«  ffeaven  aitve. 
In  heaven  above  where  all  is  love. 

We'll  meet  our  Facoltf  there ; 
But  down  below  where  all  u  woe. 

The  "preps"  will  sure  be  there. 

According  to  the  principle  of  the  consem-  | 
tion  of  energy,  a  large  part  of  the  energy  ei-  ' 
pended  as  the  clock  runs  down  goes  into  heat 
which  "  warms  up  the  house,"  physicists  say, 
but  any  man  that  can  invent  a  clock  so  ar- 
ranged that  it  will  warm  up  a  man's  breakfast 
at  a  certain  time  in  the  morning,  will  confer  a 
great  blessing  on  suffering  humanity.  Because, 
clocks,  you  know,  are  so  much  more  regular 
than  the  average  Hibernian  fairy  enthroned  in 
the  kitchen. 

When  the  balmy  summer  time  comes,  the 
draughtsman  is  sorely  vexed.  The  festive 
house  fly  lands  on  his  drawing,  when  he  is 
absent  to  dinner,  and  eats  off  the  dimension* 
from  his  drawing.  Then  when  the  draughts- 
man retumeth  he  sees  it  not,  until  he  has 
forgotten  what  the  dimension  was.  The  nature 
of  the  subsequent  remarks  depends  entirely 
upon  thecharacter  of  the  draughtsman.  Hence, 
to  study  human  character,  frequent  draught- 
ing offices  in  the  balmy  summer  time. 

The  Hoboken  boarding  house  keepers  re- 
mind one  of  the  camel  thai  put  his  head  in 
the  Arab's  tent.  They  have  monopolized  the 
bulletin  boards  and  all  other  bill  posting 
places,  and  now  they  are  instituting  another 
monopoly  by  getting  their  respective  boarders 
to  sharpen  table  knives  for  them  in  the 
shop.  Very  soon,  probably,  places  at  the 
grindstone  will  be  at  a  premium,  and  so  when 
you  look  into  the  shop  and  see  the  whole 
class  in  single  file  with  bowies  and  various 
other  varieties  of  knives,  you  needn't  think 
they  are  playing  "  Indian  "  or  anything  like 
that.  They'll  only  be  waiting  for  a  chance  at 
the  grindstone. 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


63 


[unior  was  describing  to  his  girl  a  Turk- 
ath.  He  said,  "The  perspiration  is  so 
sive,  that  they  have  to  put  sticks  of  wood 
;en  the  fingers  so  that  the  perspiration 
escape  more  readily."  His  mother  re- 
trated  with  him  for  drawing  to  such  an 
t  upon  his  imagination,  but  the  girl  in- 
Dted  :  "  Indeed,  Mrs.  Blank,  it  is  all  true, 
e  a  young  lady  friend  who  has  been  to 
,  and  she  told  me  all  about  it.  Yes,  and 
have  to  put  pieces  of  wood  between  their 
00. 

)m  the  appearance  of  the  boards  in  the 
imatics  room,  it  appears  as  though  the 
rs  spend  the  greater  part  of  their  time 
aying  "  Tit-tat-ter  "  and  "  Go-Bang  "  on 
Dards.  Yet  is  quite  possible  that  this  is 
stance  in  which  appearances  are  some- 
deceitful.  It  is  be  hoped  so  at  least, 
•wise  the  course  might  degenerate.  It 
I  look  rather  funny,  wouldn't  it,  to  see 
istitute  turning  out  men  with  the  degree 
:.  T.  T.  T.  (Master  of  Tit-tat-ter)  or  B. 
(Bachelor  of  Go-Bang)  ? 

e  Stevens  Institute  Glee  Club  was  invited, 
le  Young  Peoples*  Association,  of  the 
yterian  Church,  comer  of  6th  and  Hud- 
treets,  Hoboken,  to  sing  at  an  entertain- 

given  by  them  on  the  30th  of  March. 
rs.  Cotiart  and  Campbell,  after  consider- 
rouble,  got  eleven  of  the  members  to- 
r.  The  singing  of  the  Club  was  good, 
dering  that  it  was  the  first  time  they  had 

this  year  and  the  drilling  they  had  re- 
d.  Every  one  connected  with  it  may 
•roud  of  the  success  achieved. 

friend  of  ours  set  out  from  a  Hudson 
•  town  on  a  journey  abroad.  As  the 
iboat  sailed  down  the  river  our  friend 
with  the  bluff  old  captain  upon  the  hurri- 
deck  and  watched  the  friendly  handker- 
>  waving  on  the  shore.  The  captain 
d  and  said  :  "  Mr.  H.,  you  are  going 
d  ;  you  will  probably  visit  Athens  and 
)eii  and  gaze  upon  the  remains  of  an 
civilization.  I  want  you  then  to  think 
ur  old  friend."  "  Yes,  captain,"  replied 
I  will  think  of  you  among  the  other 
nt  ruins." 

las  been  suggested  that  before  the  Seniors 
the  Institute,  perhaps  it  might  be  well  to 
them  a  Household  Tinkering  course,  so 
irhen  they  get  married,  as  they  all  will,  no 
:,  ere  long,  they  can  grapple  successfully 
:he  kitchen  stove,  fix  the  pump  or  thaw 


out  the  water  pipe.  It  is  also  very  valuable 
to  know  how  to  make  picture  cord  out  of 
scrap  string  and  to  carry  a  hod  of  coal  up 
stairs  without  spoiling  one's  pants.  Great  stress 
should  also  be  laid  on  the  art  of  monkeying 
with  carpets.  Any  man  that  can  put  down  a 
carpet  without  strongly  condemning  things  in 
general,  at  least  six  times,  is  one  well  up  in  the 
art. 

It  is  very  .'evident  that  '89,  as  a  class,  are 
not  followers  and  believers  in  the  Golden  Rule. 
They  make  more  trouble  for  the  Sophs,  than 
perhaps,  they  are  aware  of.  Besides  stealing 
thumb  tacks  regularly,  they  make  it  a  point  to 
have  a  good  long  game  of  Mumblety  Peg  or 
some  other  interesting  knife  game  on  top  of 
the  drawing  tables.  The  result  is  that  when  a 
Soph,  uncovers  his  drawing  he  finds  it  pro- 
fusely decorated  with  knife  holes,  which  of 
course  add  much  to  the  general  appearance  of 
the  drawing  and  he  feels  very  much  pleased 
with  the  effect,  so  much  so,  in  fact,  that  he 
sometimes  goes  and  gets  a  new  sheet  of  paper 
so  that  it  will  be  nicely  decorated  with  ink, 
etc.,  the  next  time  the  Freshmen  draw. 

AN  EDITORIAL  GROAN. 

I  am  tired  of  writing  **  chestnuts  "  on  the  little  yaller 
tlog, 
I  am  tired  of  writing  grinds  on  missing  linksi 
And  I  am  tired  of  reading  letters  from  the  man  who 
writes  "incog.," 
And  Tm  tired  of  setting  up  **  the  Board  "  to  drinks. 

I   am  weary  of  the  *'  grinding  **  at  the  mathematics 
chair, 
I  am  weary  of  the  "  laboratory  bill," 
And  I*m  weary  of  iron  castings  which  are  always  full  of 
air, 
And  Tm  weary  of  the  literary  mill. 

1  am  sick  of  reeling  pavements  and  the  alcoholic  jokes, 
I  am  sick  of  hearing  talk  of  colored  chalk, 

And  I'm  sick  of  writing  **  stuffings"  at  th'  expense  of 
other  folks. 
And  I'm  sick  of  hearing  Mr. talk. 

The  other  day,  Prof.  L.  said  he  was  going 
to  show  the  class  some  fine  specimens  of  ruby 
and  sapphire.  The  class  thought  that  was 
pretty  nice,  so  they  all  put  on  white  ties  and 
clean  paper  collars  to  celebrate  the  occasion, 
for  they  were  all  anxious  to  see  how  the  real 
gem  compared  with  the  chewing  gum  prize 
jewels,  with  which  they  were  so  familiar. 
When  the  occasion  arrived,  however,  and 
Prof.  L.  brought  out  about  fifteen  cents  worth 
of  old  rock,  the  equilibrium  of  the  class  was 
nearly  destroyed.  He  said  that  the  specimen 
was  a  very  fine  one  and  was  mined  by  a  friend 
of  his.     But  when  some  rash  member  of  the 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


class  followed  that  remark  by  saying  that  he 
"wouldn't  mind  it"  a  terrible  panic  ensued, 
and  if  it  hadn't  been  for  the  fact  that  each 
man  was  fearful  least  hts  paper-collar  should 
be  damaged,  great  loss  of  life  might  have  been 
the  result.  As  it  was,  no  one  was  injured,  for 
which  we  are  thankful. 

The  skeleton  of  the  Freshman,  who  was 
foully  dealt  with  last  Christmas,  has  been  sent 
lo  us,  Our  scientific  editor,  that  is,  one  of 
the  seven  scientific  editors,  has  partially  classi- 
fied the  creature.  We  append  the  result  of 
fais  labor. 

"The  skeleton  in  question  is  that  of  My- 
cetcs  Seniculus,  or  howling  monkey!  It  has 
two  more  dorsal  vertebras  than  man  proper, 
and  two  less  sacral  vertebrae.  There  were 
nineteen  cocygeal  vertebrae,  and  it  is  assumed 
that  there  were  originally  between  twenty- 
eight  and  thirty.  The  orbital  ridges  are  more 
prominent  than  in  man,  but  the  head  is  nar- 
rower. The  canine  teeth  are  much  more 
prominent.  The  teeth,  instead  of  being  set 
■n  a  plane,  are  curved  upward,  giving  to  the 
head  a  peculiarly  idiotic  expression." 

At  this  point  in  the  analysis  one  editor  bor- 
rowed the  skull  to  frighten  his  landlady  with. 
Another  confiscated  the  two  femurs  and  went 
down  to  turn  out  electric  push-buttons  on  the 
lathe.  Thus  the  poor  Freshman's  anatomy 
was  raffled  off  before  the  classification  had 
been  completed.  Hereafter,  parties  sending 
specimens  for  analysis,  should  inclose  a  five- 
dollar  bill,  as  we  cannot  he  expected  to  de- 
vote our  valuable  time  to  investigation,  how- 
ever scientific,  without  some  rcmun 


BRSrFiEERIFJB   EjSiFES 

A  High  Speed  Engine. — During  the  last 
year  or  two,  says  an  English  pajier,  it  has 
come  to  be  generally  understood  that  large 
machines,  driven  at  a  comparatively  low  speed, 
are  the  best  for  electric  lighting  purposes;  but 
the  lighting  at  the  Lmcoln's  Inn  Dining  Hall 
and  Library  must  be  considered  as  an  excep- 
tion to  this  rule.  The  dynamo  here  is  driven 
01  DO  less  than  13,000  revolutions  a  minute, 
by  a  Parsons  high-speed  engine,  which  justifies 
its  title  by  running  at  the  same  rale.  It  re- 
quires some  mental  effort  to  take  a  statement 
of  this  kind  seriously,  yet  there  is  no  reason 
to  regard  the  Parsons  motor  as  a  toy.  It  was 
shown  in  action  at  the  Inventions  Exhibition, 
running  with  unimpaired  steadiness  from  the 
beginning  to  the  close  of  the  show.     It  is,  in 


reality,  a  combination  of  turbines  driven  by 
steam,  and  consists  of  two  series  of  parallel 
flow  turbines  to  the  right  and  left  of  a  central 
stream  inlet,  the  steam  exhausting  direeily 
from  the  first  turbine  into  the  second,  from 
the  second  into  the  third,  and  so  on  tbrougli 
twenty  turbines  in  each  scries.  The  stem 
parts  with  a  portion  of  its  energy  in  each  tui- 
bine,  and  finally  escapes  at  a  pressure  no! 
much  above  that  of  the  atmosphere.  It  is 
claimed  that  this  is  the  first  motor  that  has 
'ever  been  made  to  work  at  the  actual  vdodtr 
of  the  steam  as  it  escapes  from  the  boiler. 

A  firm  which  makes  a  specialty  of  the  erec- 
tion of  shafting  states' that  its  experienct 
teaches  that  the  loss  of  power  due  to  im- 
proper conditions  in  the  line  of  shafting 
amounts  to  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  engine  powo 
employed,  and  that  the  defects  most  commonly 
found  are  as  follows :  Shafting  too  light  for 
the  duty,  crooked  shafting,  hangers  too  in 
apart,  hangers  bearing  too  short,  pulleys  loo 
heavy  and  not  properly  balanceid,  bankers 
which  are  not  adjustable  and  not  self-adjusting 
and  sometimes  filled  with  spurious  babbiii 
metal,  and  improper  proportion  between  two 
pulleys  connected  by  the  same  belt. 

The  great  Northern  Railway  of  Great  Brit- 
ain, has  turned  out  a  couple  of  new  express 
engines  with  single  drivers  of  rather  tall 
dimensions:  Cylinders,  tSJ  inches  diameter 
by  26  inches  stroke ;  diameter  of  driving 
wheels,  7  feet,  7  J  inches  ;  diameter  of  leading 
and  trailing  wheels,  4  feet,  i  J  inches  ;  distance 
from  leading  to  driving  wheel  centres,  9  (eet, 
9  inches  ;  distance  from  driving  wheel  centre 
to  trailing  wheel  centre,  8  feet,  i  inch;  totil 
wheel  base,  17  feet,  10  inches;  framing,  ij 
inch,  steel  ;  boiler  of  steel,  working  pressure, 
150  pounds  per  square  inch  ;  total  weight  of 
engine  loaded,  89,040  pounds  ;  weight  on 
driving  axle,  38,080  pounds.  Axle  hoses  to 
leading  and  trailing  wheels  are  outside,  while 
those  of  driving  wheels  are  inside  the  wheeli 

A  new  method  for  producing  hydrogen  gas 
— Superheated  steam  is  passed  through  red- 
hot  coke  in  a  retort.  The  result  is  a  mixture 
of  hydrogen  and  carbonic  oxide,  or  what  ts 
known  as  water  gas.  These  gases  are  iben 
passed  on  into  a  second  retort,  strongly  heated 
in  which  a  quantity  of  some  refractory  sub- 
stance, such  as  fire-brick,  is  placed.  At  the 
same  time  jets  of  steam  superheated  to  liw 
point  of  dissociation  are  passed  in  the  retort, 
the  result  being  a  mixture  of  carbon  dioxide 
and  a  double  amount  of  hydrogen.    The  f- 


THE     STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


65 


side  can  be  absorbed  by  passing 
nilk  of  lime,  and  thus  pure  hydrogen 
led  and  collected  in  a  gas-holder, 
of  coke  is  stated  to  correspond  to 
)ic  {metres  of  gas,  and  the  cost  is 
0.015  francs  per  cubic  metre. 

^evue  Industrielle  gives  the  dates  of 
duction  of  railways  in  the  following 

;  England,  September  27,  1825  ; 
September  20, 1828;  France,  October 

United  States,  December  28,  1829  ; 

May  5,  1835  ;  Germany,  December 

Cuba,  1837  ;  Russia,  April  4,  1838  : 
ptember,  1839  ;  Switzerland,  July  15, 
unaica,  November  21,  1845  ;  Spain, 

24,  1848  ;  Canada,  May,  1850  ; 
1850. 

Uest  chimney  in  the  world  was  fin- 

ptember,    1885,   by  the  Mechemich 

ining  Co.     The  leading  dimensions 

Hows  :    The  foundation,   in  dressed 

5onry,  is  36  feet  square  and  11.4  feet 

base  a  cube  of  32.8  feet,  and   the 

plinth   of  the   shaft    are    built   of 

iln    brick.     The    shaft   of    circular 

radial  bricks,  is  397.2  feet  high,  24.5 

de,  and  1 1.5  feet  inside  diameter  at  the 

1 1.5  feet  outside,  and  9.8  feet  inside 

at  the  top.   The  total  height  is  441.6 


the  next  number  of  the  Indicator 
the  season  for  outdoor  sports  will  be 
,  it  therefore  behooves  us  to  make 
gestions  as  seem  necessary  in  the 
number  in  order  that,  should  they 
li  approval,  they  may  be  acted  upon 
is  too  late. 

as  lacrosse  is  concerned  we  have 
>ffer,  for  the  men  likely  to  participate 
ime  seem  all  activity  ;  appearing  on 
3US  every  day,  delighting  the  eye  of 
itor  by  the  graceful  sweeps  of  their 
id  their  skilful  passes  and  catches  of 
er  sphere.  Not  so  with  base-ball, 
;  with  the  exception  of  an  occasional 


catch  between  two  or  three  of  the  students  in 
one  corner  of  the  grounds,  nothing  at  all  is 
being  done  ;  lacrosse,  the  new  intruder,  seems 
destined  to  supplant  the  famous  old  American 
game,  which  has  heretofore  played  so  im- 
portant a  part  in  college  athletics,  and  unless 
something  is  done  soon,  will  (at  least  at 
Stevens)  entirely  erase  that  game  from  our 
list  of  field  sports.  To  allow  this  would  in- 
deed be  a  serious  mistake,  for  whatever  may 
be  the  beauties  of  lacrosse,  it  cannot  equal 
base-ball  as  a  scientific  game,  nor  can  it  ex- 
cite the  interest  or  furnish  so  many  examples 
of  individual  skill  as  the  latter,  when  well 
played. 

No  other  game  has  ever  been  able  to  draw 
the  immense  throngs  that  flock  to  see  a  match 
between  two  of  our  league  c}ubs,  showing  the 
hold  it  has  on  the  affections  of  the  people. 
They  watch  the  ball  in  its  flight  with  a  breath- 
less interest,  and  the  mighty  cheer  that  fills 
the  air  when  their  favorite  has  scored  a  point 
indicates  better  than  anything  else  the  ex- 
citement as  well  as  the  popularity  of  the  game. 
Why,  then,  should  we  allow  it  to  decline  ? 
The  captain  should  pick  out  his  men  at  once ; 
organize  before  the  end  of  the  term,  and  have 
every  man  on  deck  at  the  commencement  of 
the  next.  The  grounds  by  that  time  will  be 
in  good  condition.  Let  a  schedule  of  games  be 
made  out,  beginning,  not  like  heretofore,  with 
the  strongest  clubs,  but  with  our  equals,  and 
work  up  gradually,  so  that  by  the  end  of  the 
season  we  may  have  some  games  worth  looking 
at  ;  games  that  will  stir  up  the  dormant  in- 
terest and  once  more  put  the  sport  at  the  head 
of  the  list,  where  it  rightfully  belongs. 


K<.')a^f</ 


The  longest  lacrosse  throw  on  record  is 
397  i  ^eet. 

An  exchange  defines  a  "  chestnut "  as  a  man 
who  has  been  in  college  longer  than  four 
years. 

The  students  of  Dartmouth,  at  a  meeting 
held  March  23d,  raised  $1,500  for  the  support 
of  a  ball  nine. 


66 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


If  you  wish  to  see  a  delightful  cartoon  on 
one  of  our  professors,  just  ask  some  Cornell 
friend  to  send  you  a  copy  of  the  paper  con- 
taining it. 

D.  B.  Chamberlain,  of  Harvard,  beat  the  best 
intercollegiate  record  for  putting  the  16  pound 
shot,  of  37  feel  10  inches,  by  putting  it  38  feet 
ii\  inches. 

The  latest  thing  in  the  way  of  a  burlesque 
on  the  Mikado  was  written  and  performed  by 
the  students  of  Vassar  College.  It  is  known 
as  the  Mathematikado. 

At  a  private  theatrical  (between  the  acts). 
Maid  :  "  Coffee,  sir  ?  " 

He  (of  the  audience):  "  No,  thank  you;  it 
might  keep  me  awake  next  act." — Ex. 

A  great  effort  is  being  made  at  Yale  to  re- 
vive the  interest  in  lacrosse.  Prominent 
lacrosse  authorities  have  expressed  the  opin- 
ion that  Yale  possesses  the  best  raw  material 
for  a  lacrosse  team  of  any  college  in  the 
country. 

The  Northwestern  is  following  in  the  steps 
of  some  of  the  great  New  York  dailies — that 
of  publishing  the  favorable  comments  of  its 
exchanges.  Remember,  esteemed  contempor- 
ary, that  "  the  weak,  by  conceiting  themselves 
strong,  are  thereby  rendered  inactive." 

The  base-ball  season  among  the  colleges 
was  opened  by  Princeton  and  Yale  on  April 
3d,  The  former  playing  the  Quaker  City 
team  and  defeating  them  by  a  score  of  9  to  5, 
and  the  latter  playing  the  Athletics  of  Phila- 
delphia, which  resulted  in  a  victory  for  the 
Athletics  by  a  score  of  11  to  3. 

The  intercollegiate  cup,  emblematic  of  the 
amateur  track  championship  of  the  American 
colleges,  has  been  won  six  consecutive  times 
by  Harvard,  by  Columbia  three  times  and  by 
Princeton  once.  The  cup  is  to  be  competed 
for  fourteen  limes,  and  if  Harvard  succeeds 
in  winning  it  once  more  during  (he  next  four 
years  it  becomes  the  property  of  the  Harvard 
Athletic  Association. 

Probably  the  most  cxciiing  boat  race  ever 
towed  in  England  took  place  on  the  3d  of 
April.  It  was  between  the  universities  of 
Oxford  and  Cambridge.  Cambridge  won  by 
half  a  length.     The  course  was  4^  miles,  and 


the  time  32  min.  39}  sec.,  the  longest  t 
cupied  since  the  contest  of  1877.  The  i 
age  weight  of  the  Oxford  crew 
pounds,  that  of  Cambridge  170^  pound 
There  have  been  43  races,  of  which  Oxfw 
has  won  13  and  Cambridge  19,  one  n 
in  a  tie.  The  fastest  time  ever  made  6 
present  course  was  19  min.  35  sec , 
bridge,  in  1873;  Oxfords  best  1 
sec,  in  1869. 

We  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  ( 
following  papers  :  The  Delta  UpsilOQ  <_ 
terly,  the  University  Herald,  the  Chronidi 
the  Electrician,  the  Concordiensis,  the  Ts 
gum,  the  Pleiad,  the  Tech,  the  W.  T.  I.,  tb 
Sibyl,  College  Argus, the  Chironian,  the  Tuft 
onian,  the  Northwestern,  the  T)e  Paui 
Monthly,  the  Williams  Fortnight,  the  Havei 
fordian,  the  College  Mercury,  the  Queen' 
College  Journal,  the  Holcad  Bowdoin  Orienl 
the  Vassar  Miscellany,  the  Troy  Polytechok 
Rouge  et  Noir,  the  University  Review,  tin 
Monochord,  the  Pennsylvanian,  the  '84,  tb 
Amherst  Student,  the  Swathmore  Phoenix^jf 
Deacon,  the  Eclipse,  the  Willislontao,  •« 
Pithic,  the  Lafayette,  the  Cornell  Re%-iev.  i 


tb 

I 


An  old  lady  read  a  paragraph  in  one  O 
papers  the  other  day,  describing  how  a  |, 
stone  burst  in  a  saw  mill  and  killed  four  cneA 
She  happened  to  remember  that  there  was  1 
small  grindstone  down  in  her  cellar,  lcaniti{ 
against  the  wall ;  so  she  went  out  and  go< 
an  accident  insurance  policy,  and  then,  sU» 
morning  her  servant,  and  holding  a  pie-boat^ 
in  front  of  her  face,  so  that  if  the  thing  «■ 
ploded  her  face  would  not  be  injured,  had  th 
stone  taken  out  into  the  road,  where  twenty 
four  pails  of  water  were  thrown  over  it,  audi 
stick  was  stuck  in  the  hole  J)earing  a  pli^d 
marked  "  Dangerous."  She  says  it  is  a  awj 
(he  whole  house  was  not  blown  to  pncotfl 
ihe  thing  before  this.—  IVoett  ami  fr^i      ^m 


THE   STETES'S  TffiyfC ATOH. 


iMij: 


a  i^i  :z>3=:i=ta-Tlilzi  Ej-a.T?s 


S  iNSTI'nillllE  OF  ©BGHNOLOGY. 

u  CASTLE  Kll 
.      :!n!f  r)tustnition&. 


-*BQUHD  IN  WHITE  ALUQATOH.  PRIGE  80  CENTS' 


r-Will    il-.-    nmiltftl    If    TIM    TldDtP^-    !.f!    tjri'.i  !    o)    ;:,    .--Tn-  - 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOO 

THE   ACADEMIC    DEPARTMENT 

—K,\  -nil  — 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY; 


RIVER  STREET,  bet.  5th  and  6th,  HOBOKES.  K  J. 
OPENS  SEPTFMRF-R     1  h     (RRh 

a«iuniDBtJflti«  lor.  Aimi 


'POLL  COURSES  OF  STUDY.  PREPAK.VILKY  TO  uliOOU-  OF  SCili^'CE  A:il  C01LE'.tT»^ 


i 


JUNIOR   OEPARTMENT, 
SENIOR  DEPARTMENT, 


S7S.OO  PER  ANNUM, 
BI60.00  PER   ANNUM. 


Friu»  tuuludip  uU  tbv  •iitdia*. 


Tar  C&ialocAM  tppi?  u  th<  l.tt)mrian  of  Swrvnt  btstltoi^- 


THE 


^UevefiB  J^disalsp. 


r    Voi.3- 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  MAY,  1886. 


No.  5. 


THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  ECHO. 


Would  you  know  whence  is  the  echo, 
Whence  the  weird  and  mocking  echo, 
Mocking,  laughing  at  the  red  man  ? 
'Tb  the  cry  of  horrid  witches — 
Witches  domiciled  in  snake  skins 
With  their  homes  among  the  mountains. 
Whence  they  call  to  passers-by. 
lowi,  the  turtle  dove, 
Gathered  seeds  throughout  the  valley  ; 
Through  the  valley  caJm  and  peaceful, 
And  her  little  baby  slept. 
Weary  was  she  with  her  labor. 
Labor  tiresome  and  ne*er  ending  ; 
So  she  laid  her  sleeping  burden 
Under  the  Tihopi  sage-bush 
With  his  sister,  fair  Ohotcu, 

■  With  the. summer — ^yellow  bird, 
Leaving  both  beneath  the  sage  bush. 
Wide  she  wandered  in  her  searching, 
Roved  in  search  of  seeds  for  eating. 
Then  appeared  a  fierce  old  woman, 
Tsoavwits,  the  witch  of  red  men, 
Scowled  upon  the  girl  and  asked  her 
Whether  that  was  not  her  brother. 
Then  said  fair  Ohotcu,  wise  one — 
She  had  heard  that  girls  were  nothing 
In  the  estimate  of  witches — 
••This  is  nny  own  little  sister." 
Then  the  Tsoavwits  was  angry. 
Angry  with  the  girl  and  chid  her, 
Chang^  her  own  form  into  hurror, 
Scared  the  maid  and  stupiHed  her. 
Then  the  witch  took  up  the  small  boy, 
Took  him  to  a  distant  mountain 
To  her  home  in  rocky  places, 
Down  upon  the  ground  she  laid  him, 
Grasped  him  firmly  by  the  right  foot, 
Stietched  the  baby's  leg  and  strained  it, 
Tin  a  man's  leg  was  not  longer 
Ifext  the  left  leg  stretched  she  also, 
And  his  right  arm  and  his  left  arm, 
And  his  body  elongated. 
He  was  now  a  man  in  stature 
But  a  babe  in  thought  and  action  ; 

.. Titos  the  witch  obtained  a  husband  — 
Tsoavwits  had  long  desired  one, 
But  ere  this  had  not  succeded. 
To  !the  sage  bush,  the  Tihopi, 
Glad  returning  to  Ohotcu, 
lowi,  the  mother,  sickened — 
SidDCned  and  turned  pale  with  anguish, 
When  the  lips  of  her  fair  daughter 
Told  her  of  what  just  had  happened. 
Punished  she  her  daughter  harshly  ; 
Forth  departed,  crying,  mourning, 
all  attempts  to  comfort 


From  her  friends,  her  true  avengers. 

Chief  among  her  friends  her  brother, 

Kwina,  eagle,  the  great  traveler. 

Journeyed  over  hill  and  plain, 

Saw  the  Tsoavwits  and  Uja — 

Uja,  sage-cock,  youthful  husband — 

To  the  Tsoavwits,  the  cruel  one  ; 

Yet  he  did  not  know  the  sage-cock. 

For  his  nephew  was  a  baby. 

And  the  Uja  was  a  chieftain. 

Then  said  lowi,  the  mother  : 

"If  that  is  indeed  my  baby. 

He  will  recognize  my  accents, 

He  will  know  his  mother's  voice." 

So  she  went  into  the  mountains, 

Took  her  station  in  a  cedar, 

In  a  high  and  lofty  cedar. 

In  a  tree  nut  very  distant 

Sat  the  eagle,  Kwina,  traveler, 

Gazing  at  the  boy-man,  Uja. 

Uja  knew  his  mother  calling, 

Cried,  "  O,  Squaw,  I  hear  my  mother." 

But  the  witch  laughed  in  derision  ; 

Led  him  oflf  to  rest  in  quiet 

In  the  caves  within  the  mountains. 

Uja  had  become  a  hunter ; 

In  the  art  his  wife  had  schooled  him, 

Schooled  him  well  with  bow  and  arrow. 

So  a  mountain-sheep  he  slaughtered. 

And  his  wife  took  out  the  entrails. 

Then  within  the  emptied  stomach 

Both  took  refuge,  man  and  woman. 

Tsoavwits  could  not  imagine 

lowi,  the  saddened  mother, 

Looking  in  the  empty  stomach 

Of  a  harmless  mountain  sheep. 

Safe  within  this  novel  refuge, 

Out  of  sight  of  all  the  searchers. 

Puzzled  by  the  disappearance, 

Lay  they  many  days,  till  hunger 

Pressing  sore,  o'ercame  their  caution. 

Kwina  then,  the  mighty  eagle. 

Guessed  their  hunger,  plotted  'gainst  them  ; 

Killed  a  rabbit,  chose  a  pme  tree. 

Tall  and  lofty,  stripped  the  bark  off. 

In  the  very  topmost  branches 

Placed  the  rabbit,  dressed  and  tempting. 

Tsoavwits  was  very  hungry 

So  she  tried  to  climb  the  pine  tree  — 

Fell  back  earthward  hard  and  often  ; 

Still  she  persevered  undaunted. 

From  his  hiding  place  the  eagle 

Swooped  down  on  the  baby  husband, 

Bore  him  back  to  the  Tihopi, 

Laid  him  gently  'neath  the  sage-bush. 

And  once  more  he  was  a  baby. 

Far  up  in  the  sky  went  Kwina, 

And  returning  brought  a  tempest; 

Brought  a  tempest  in  his  anger  ; 


68 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


Brought  the  fierce  Kabibonokka. 
Then  the  flood  came  down  in  torrents. 
Torrents  roaring  in  their  anger, 
Covering  up  the  eagle's  footprints — 
Footprints  Tsoavwits  might  follow. 
On  tne  trail  she  found  a  feather, 
Found  a  feather  coarse  and  grayish. 
That  it  lay  there,  Kwina  knew  not ; 
That  she  found  it,  Kwina  knew  not. 
What  cared  he,  the  eagle,  Kwina, 
That  his  deed  had  been  discovered  ? 
Tsoavwits  cried  out  in  anger : 
**  Well  I  knew  the  eagle,  Kwina  ! 
lowi  calls  him  her  brother, 
Kwina,  warrior  and  chieftain  ! 
To  the  rattlesnake;  Togoa, 
To  the  father  of  my  mother, 
I  will  turn  my  vengeful  footsteps. 
He  will  give  to  me  protection, 
He  will  gratify  my  hatred." 
From  lus  mid-day  sleep  Togoa, 
Roused  by  her  approaching  footsteps. 
Called  to  her,  **  You  are  not  wanted  ! 
Turn  away  !  You  are  not  welcome  !  " 
Tlien  she  begged  him  for  protection, 
For  protection  from  the  eagle. 
To  their  parleying  came  Kwina — 
Kwina  still  upon  the  war-path. 
Tsoavwits  with  fear  and  trembling 
Hunted  for  a  place  to  hide  her, 
Then  in  pity  spake  Togoa : 
"  Crawl  into  my  mouth  and  hide  there. 
So  the  Kwina  shall  not  see  you." 
Opened  wide  his  jaws  asunaer  ; 
And  she  crawled  into  his  stomach. 
Retching  seized  upon  Togoa 
Tsoavwits  had  hurt  him  sorely ; 
She  had  caused  him  inward  trouble. 
Thus  he  writhed,  and  squirmed,  and  struggled  ; 
Writhed,  aud  squirmed,  and  struggled  fiercely  ; 
Till  at  last  his  skin  grew  looser, 
And  he  crawled  with  ease  from  out  it  ; 
Tsoavwits,  hisgrandchild,  leaving — 
Leaving  in  his  empty  snake-skin. 
Kwina,  eagle,  called  her  uften, 
And  she  answered  him  with  mocking, 
Gave  him  back  his  words  in  mocking, 
Till  at  last  he  ceased  from  calling. 

41  «  *  * 

To  this  day  in  rocky  regions. 
Hid  in  snake-skins  live  the  witches, 
White  men  call  these  old  hags  *'  echoes." 
But  the  red  man  knows  their  voices  ; 
Hears  the  old  hags  when  they  call  him, 
Call  him  loudly  in  derision. 

Chic. 


« ^  » » 


THE  NEW  FERRY. 


On  Monday,  May  3,  the  class  of  *86  began 
its  last  term  at  Stevens,  and  upon  the  same 
day  another  memorable  event  took  place,  /.  ^., 
the  opening  of  the  new  Fourteenth  Street 
Ferry,  which  was  expected  to  be  in  running 
order  nearly  a  year  ago.     The  Hoboken  Land 


and  Improvement  Co.  celebrated  the  day  by 
offering  free  travel  to  all  patrons  desuing  to 
avail  themselves  of  such  an  opportunity.  So 
a  few  Stevens  men,  out  for  a  daily  constitu- 
tional, sally  along  towards  the  new  ferry 
house  to  treat  themselves  to  a  free  sail,  to  ex- 
pand their  cramped  lungs,  and  to  imbibe  a 
little  of  the  fresh  breeze  blowing  over  the 
Hudson  from  the  north.  Ever  ready  to  criti- 
cize points  of  construction  and  taste,  the 
various  opinions  from  the  gigantic  intellects 
of  these  few  students  would  doubtless  be 
worthy  of  fullest  note ;  but  we  can  stop  in 
this  short  description  to  give  only  a  few  of 
the  principal  criticisms. 

Fourteenth  Street  is  a  wide,  airy  street,  with 
but  few  buildings.  It  is  newly  paved  with 
rectangular  stone  pavements.  Leading  to  the 
ferry  it  runs  for  some  distance  upon  a  long 
pier  which  is  solid  earth-work,  filled  in  b^ 
tween  two  wide  walls  of  cross  logs  and  stone. 
A  walk  for  passenger  use  is  at  the  left  of  the 
street  as  one  approaches  the  ferry  ;  it  is  sup- 
ported upon  piles  at  its  outer  edge,  and  by 
the  solid  pier  at  the  inner  edge ;  it  is  con- 
structed of  three-inch  planks  spiked  to  longi- 
tudinal timbers.  At  the  outer  edge  of  thb 
walk  comes  the  first  object  of  our  critidsm, 
a  six-foot  board  fence  running  the  entire 
length  of  the  pier  and  completely  obscuring 
any  view  of  the  river,  which,  with  its  sails  and 
steamers,  always  presents  a  varying  and  inter- 
esting scene.  If  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
have  a  solid  board  fence  to  keep  the  public 
from  falling  over  into  the  Hudson,  why 
couldn't  it  at  least  be  a  foot  or  two  lower,  so 
that  one  would  not  feel  as  if  shut  up  in  a  box 
for  several  hundred  feet  before  entering  the 
ferry  house  ?  The  ticket  box  for  teams  is  at 
the  left  ot  the  street  instead  of  at  the  centre 
or  at  the  right,  but  it  is  probable  that  New 
York  teamsters  are  so  accustomed  to  foreign 
ways  in  Hoboken  that  it  will  come  quite 
natural  to  drive  to  the  left  instead  of  the 
right.  The  ferry  house  next  demands  our  at- 
tention. It  is  large,  of  tasty  design,  and 
good  proportion  ;  it  has  two  slips,  and  the 
general  management  and  construction  is  simi- 
lar to  that  at  the  Barclay  and  Christopher 
Streets  ferries.  Upon  entering  is  found  a 
large,  airy  waiting  room,  decorated  uniquely 
and  tastily.  The  designs  above  the  windows 
and  doors  are  especially  worthy  of  note.  But 
Stevens  men  always  look  high,  and  away  up 
at  the  top  of  the  building  they  spy  something 
of  interest  to  them  in  the  shape  of  a  long 
row  of  large  transom  windows  hinged  at  the 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


69 


top.     Beneath  these  is  a  long  horizontal  rod 

carrying  a  crank  for  each  window,  to  which  it 

is  connected  by  a  connecting   rod.      At  the 

^d  of  the  horizontal  rod    is  a  segment  of  a 

toothed  wheel  ;   in   this  works  a  worm  which 

^s  attached  to  a  vertical  rod  running  to  within 

easy  reach  from   the  floor.      The  end  of  this 

rod  is  squared  to  admit  a  small  crank   handle 

to  be  slipped   over  it ;   by  means   of  a  few 

turns  of  this  crank  the  windows  may  easily  be 

opened  to   any  desired  extent,  giving    good 

ventilation. 

But  a  free   ride  even  upon  the  old   James 
Rumsey  is  not  to  be  despised,  so  a  mob  of 
Hoboken   children  flock  to   entertain   them- 
selves therewith.      In  they  pour  through  the 
gates,  all  sizes,  shapes,  conditions  and  nation- 
alities; they  run  through  the  cabins  in  high 
glee,  and  mix  indiscriminately  with  a  crowd 
of  urchins  who  came  from  New  York   on  the 
last   boat  for  a  similar  ride.      They  wait   im- 
patiently until  the  boat  leaves  the  slip,  then 
the  breeze   freshens,  and  ofi^   come  all   their 
hats  to  be  held  in  their  hands  for  safety.    The 
uncombed  hair  of  the  little  maidens  streams 
wild  in  the  wind,  but  more  wildly  shriek  their 
little  voices  as  they  cheer  every  passing  ferry 
boat  with   hats  waving  in  the  air,  while  one 
little  urchin  waves  his  own    and   one  for  his 
sister,  who  carries  a  little  babe  who  is  hardly 
^^d   enough  to  leave  its  mother's  arms.     When 
the     New   York   side  is  reached,    the  crowd 
'y^ll.es    off,   the    young  street    Arabs    giving 
^"^^acteristic  yells  as  they   arrive    on    their 
na^i^g  soil.     The  ferry  house  at  the  New  York 
^^^^^^inus  is  situated  at  the  foot  of  Fourteenth 
^^""^et ;  it   is   small,  having  but  one  slip,  and 
cari  "not  compare  with  the  Hoboken   buildings. 
.-^^  s  we   approach    Hoboken   on  the  return 
^"1^»  the  current  runs  swiftly  by  the  ends  of 
Jj^       Hoboken  slips,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that 
^"^^>^  were  once  washed  away  during  the  pro- 
ce^^  of  construction.      The  pilot  brings  the 
"^^Jt  successfully  in,  although  it  bumps  roughly 
^K^-X  nst  the  side  of  the  slip.    These  slips  seem 
^^       fee    particularly  well  made,  the    upright 
P'^^ks  being  set  off  a  considerable  distance  at 
^"^Tii:  upper  and  lower  ends  from  the  piles  to 
^^-ic^h  they  are  attached,  allowing  them  a  re- 
macx-j^ably  good  spring   at   the   centre.      The 
low^f  ends  of  these  planks  rest  upon  the  edge 
^\   Viorizontal  planks  which  prevent  them  from 
*"^ing  downward. 

.  So  ends  the  free  ride,  and  the  students  who 
"^^  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town  calculate 
^'^^  time  possibly  to  be  saved  by  patronizing 
wife     new  ferry.     Everybody  leaves  the   boat 


with  a  feeling  of  no  little  satisfaction  for  hav- 
ing had  at  least  one  ride  at  the  expense  of 
the  Hoboken  Land  &  Improvement  Co.  The 
flock  of  children  have  lost  most  of  their  ex- 
citement, and  run  more  quietly  from  the  ferry - 
house  ;  while  the  students,  with  somewhat 
refreshed  bodies,  wend  their  way  toward  the 
weary  boarding  houses,  to  partake  of  the  ele- 
gant hash  and  rice  pudding  dessert  ;  there  to 
cram  their  brains  with  calculus  which  doesn't 
seem  to  have  the  least  connection  with  ferries, 
but  which,  in  fact,  may  possibly  some  day  be 
of  valuable  assistance  to  them  in  just  such 
kind  of  work. 


-♦-•-♦► 


THE  FIRST  THERMOMTER. 


For  a  long  time  philosophers  have  been  in 
doubt  as  to  who  was  the  real  inventor  of  the 
thermometer.  The  history  of  this  simple  in- 
strument is  useful  as  well  as  interesting,  be- 
cause it  aids  us  in  tracing  the  histories  of 
various  other  instruments  with  more  certainty. 
Some  industrious  physicists  (Wohlwill,  Ger- 
land,  etc.)  have  been  making  use  of  the  earliest 
records,  and  have  at  last  got  the  history  of  the 
thermometer  very  nearly  complete.  Very 
nearly,  because  there  still  always  remain  some 
points  which  cannot  be  proven  but  are  highly 
probable. 

Galileo  Galilei  is  now  thought  to  have  been 
the  man  who  made  and  used  the  first  ther- 
mometer (1593),  and  this  on  account  :  firstly, 
of  statements  made  in  letters  written  to 
him  by  his  fellow  countryman,  Sagredo  ; 
secondly,  of  those  published  in  a  biog- 
raphy composed  by  one  of  Galileo's  pupils ; 
last,  not  least,  Castelli's  description  of  the 
instrument  used  by  Galileo  agrees  exactly 
with  the  thermometer  kept  in  a  Florence 
museum  and  said  to  be  the  original  one.  This 
instrument  is  an  air-thermometer,  consisting 
of  a  hollow  glass  sphere,  about  two  inches  in 
diameter,  blown  at  the  top  of  a  rather  thin 
tube. 

The  other  end  of  this  tube  is  immersed  in 
water,  while  we  heat  the  inclosed  air  by  hold- 
ing our  hands  around  the  globe.  Consequent- 
ly, on  cooling,  the  air  contracts  and  the  water 
rises  into  the  tube  ;  the  fall  or  rise  of  the 
water  thus  indicates  that  the  air  has  become 
heated  or  cooled. 

In  the  17th  century  several  other  physicists 
were  spoken  of  as  the  inventors  of  the  ther- 
mometer, amongst  others  Otto  von  Guericke. 

The  first  improvement  on  Galileo's  apparatus 
was  that  instead  of  using  a  straight  tube,  the 


70 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


tube  was  bent  into  a  U-shape  and  the  open 
end  widened  to  a  small  globe  to  receive  the 
water.  The  whole  was  fixed  to  a  small  board, 
with  a  scale  to  read  the  position  of  the  water. 
Very  soon,  however,  experimenters  found  out 
that  both  kinds  of  thermometers  were  very 
poor  instruments  to  measure  heat  with,  be- 
cause the  expansion  or  contraction  of  the  air 
inside  of  the  globe  depends  not  only  upon 
the  temperature  of  the  air,  but  also  upon  the 
atmospheric  pressure.  This  objection  was 
overcome  by  Jean  Rey,  who  reversed  the  ap- 
paratus of  Galileo,  filled  the  globe  and  part 
of  the  tube  with  water,  and  thus  changed  it 
from  an  air  thermometer  into  a  water  thermom- 
eter. This  form  of  apparatus  (afterwards 
called  the  Florentine  thermometer)  also  re- 
mained very  defective  on  account  of  the 
quick  evaporation  of  the  water,  until  Ferdi- 
nand got  the  apparently  simple  idea  of  closing 
the  top  of  the  tube.  He  boiled  the  water 
until  all  air  was  driven  out  and  then  sealed 
the  tube  by  means  of  a  blow-pipe. 

It  is  not  known  who  first  substituted  colored 
alcohol  for  water,  thus  enabling  experimenters 
to  measure  temperatures  below  the  freezing 
point  of  water.  Reaumur  mixed  the  alcohol 
with  one-fifth  volume  of  water  so  as  to  be  able 
to  nieasure  all  temperatures  between  the 
freezing  and  boiling  points  of  water.  It  is 
known,  however,  that  Fahrenheit  was  the  one 
who  made  the  best  mercury  thermometers, 
pure  mercury  having  the  advantageous  prop- 
erties of  freezing  at  a  temperature  far  below 
the  freezing  point  of  water  and  of  boiling  at  a 
temperature  much  higher  than  either  water  or 
alcohol.  Reaumur  objected  to  using  mercury 
because  its  co-efficient  of  expansion  is  smaller 
than  that  of  alcohol  ;  but  the  subsequent 
forms  given  to  the  apparatus  also  overcame  this 
difficulty. 


« ^  » > 


THE    SCHOOL    OF    TECHNOLOGY    AT 

BERLIN. 


The  following  description  of  an  institution 
that  promises  to  become  the  best  of  its  kind 
in  the  world  will  undoubtedly  prove  of  inter- 
est to  some  of  the  readers  of  this  paper  : 

There  are,  in  all,  five  courses  pursued — i. 
Architecture  ;  2.  Civil  Engineering  ;  3.  Me- 
chanical Engineering  and  Ship-building;  4. 
Chemistry  and  Metallurgy  ;  5.  General  Sci- 
ences. The  complete  course,  in  any  one  of  the 
departments,  embraces  eight  **semesters"  (half 
years).  The  annual  register  contains  thorougli 
j)lans  of  all  the  studies  for  the  whole  course 
*  in  order  to  give  a  list  of  all  the  lectures  in 


such  a  way  that  every  lecture  is  introduced 
into  that  semester  in  which  it  will  be  heard 
with  most  success."  This  enables  the  students 
to  pick  out  their  studies  themselves.  The 
fifth  department,  "  General  Sciences,"  em- 
braces lectures  on  collateral  subjects,  as  math- 
ematics and  higher  analysis,  theory  of  projec- 
tions and  descriptive  geometry,  experimental 
and  analytical  physics,  drawing  and  modeling, 
and  the  modem  languages — French,  English, 
and  Italian.  It  is,  in  reality,  only  a  branch 
of  the  other  courses  wherein  the  men  arc 
fitted  for  the  various  "  technical  professions." 
Besides  this,  all  the  students  are  entitled  to  hear 
lectures  on  other  sciences,  as  philosophy,  his- 
tory, literature,  political  economy,  etc.,  which 
are  delivered  at  the  Berlin  University  itself. 

There  are  at  present  ninety -six  instructon 
— fifty-five  "  ordinary  and  extraordinary  pro- 
fessors "  and  forty -one  private  tutors  and  as- 
sistants— at  the  technical  school  alone,  besides 
eighty-six  "  controlling  officers."  Among  the 
professors  there  are  many  names  of  world- 
wide reputation,  as  Du  Bois-Raymond,  Wein- 
garten,  Reuleaux,  Vogel,  Dobbert,  Hauck, 
Ende,  Rietschel,  and  others. 

In  the  summer  term  of  1885  there  were, 
altogether,  588  matriculate  students,  of  which 
eighty-one  were  foreigners  (nine  from  the 
United  States);  nearly  one-half  of  them  be- 
longed to  the  third  department — Mechanical 
Engineering  and  Ship-building.  Besides  these 
there  were  295  special  students,  so-called  "hos- 
pitants,"  sixty-two  of  whom  were  University 
men. 

Although  this  attendance  appears  rather 
small  when  compared  with  that  of  the  Uni- 
versity, still  there  is  not  the  slightest  doubt 
as  to  the  increase  of  the  number  of  students 
within  the  shortest  time.  A  great  deal  is  done 
to  enable  students  without  means  to  attend 
the  school.  About  forty  men  received  schol- 
arships, seventy-two  obtained  yearly  stipends 
of  600  marks  from  public  or  private  funds, 
and  forty  were  occasionally  assisted  with  from 
150  to  300  marks.  The  expenses  of  all  in- 
spection tours,  some  of  which  last  for  weeks  at 
a  time,  are  paid  for  by  the  government. 

The  choice  of  lectures  being  entirely  left  to 
the  student,  not  the  least  importance  is  laid 
to  his  attendance  or  non-attendance  at  the 
school.  All  the  stress  is  laid  on  the  examina- 
tions, which,  of  course,  must  be  very  thorough. 
The  oral  examinations  are  reported  as  special 
"  terrors."  But,  still,  a  redeeming  feature  is 
that  the  student  may  apply  for  any  examina- 
tion as  soon  as  he  is  ready  to  take  it.  He 
may  try  until  he  succeeds. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOk. 


71 


lERN     AMERICAN     PASSENGER 
LOCOMOTIVES. 


the  past  few  years  there  has  been 
rful  progress  and  improvement  in  ma- 
^  in  America.  Some  have  attributed 
>ult  to  the  International  Exhibition  of 
n  which  American  manufacture  received 
ilus  which  in  a  few  years  began  to  make 
ivident.  However  this  may  be,  it  is  a 
tat  since  the  year  1880,  American  loco- 
s  have  been  so  improved  that  we  might 

call  that  year  a  renaissance  in  loco- 
:  construction.  It  will  be  of  interest 
to  consider,  in  a  general  way,  the  prin- 
5comotives  that  have  been  built  since 
ne. 

type  of  locomotive  in  America  in  general 
•  passenger  traffic,  has  been  the  "  Stand- 
ight-wheel  locomotive,  having  a  leading 
heel  truck,  two  pairs  of  driving  wheels, 
>t  pair  being  the  main  drivers.  Changes 

accepted  design  at  first  made  their 
ance,  claiming  questionable  advantages 
le  ordinary  type.  The  first  innovation 
locomotive  built  for  the  Bound  Brook 
n  March,  1880,  by  the  Baldwin  Loco- 
I  Works.  It  was  designed  for  fast  pas- 
traffic,  and  had  but  one  pair  of  driving 

;  the  weight  of  the  fire-box  being  car- 
n  a  two-wheel  truck.  Part  of  this 
,  however,  could,  when  necessary,  be 
.  upon  the   drivers  by  means  of  a  steam 

This  locomotive  made  some  fast  time 
short,  empty  train,  but  it  was  never  re- 
l  as  a  success,  and  was  finally  sent  to 
id,  where  certain  experiments  were 
vith  it.  No  more  engines  of  that  type 
ince  been  built.  The  next  experiment 
lat  of  the  "  Shaw  "  four-cylinder  loco- 
r,  which  was  a  "  Standard,"  with  two 
ers  acting  upon  each  main  driver.  It 
ade  with  the  hope  of  overcoming  the 
tions  of  the  engine  at  high  speed.  This 
lilt  at  the  Hinkley  Locomotive  Works, 
IS  given  a  fair  trial,  but  it  never  demon - 
I  its  superiority  and  was  finally  consid- 


ered a  failure,  as  in  the  attempt  to  overcome 
one  trouble,  many  more  had  been  introduced. 
The  two  "  Fontaine  **  locomotives  were  also 
brought  out  in  1880,  and  created  considerable 
curiosity  and  some  excitement.  Much  discus- 
sion was  carried  on  in  regard  to  the  merits  of 
their  construction.  The  main  driving  wheels 
were  elevated,  and  rested  upon  the  regular 
driving  wheels,  causing  them  to  turn  by  fric- 
tional  contact.  Trials  were  made  with  these 
on  several  lines,  but  nothing  seems  to  have 
been  gained  by  this  system  of  gearing  that 
could  not  have  been  attained  by  using  ordi- 
nary driving  wheels  of  a  larger  size.  The  two 
were  finally  rebuilt  and  changed  to  the  "  Stand- 
ard '*  pattern. 

These,  however,  were  the  theories  of  "prac- 
tical **  men.  Meanwhile,  men  of  true  theoreti- 
cal education  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  "  Standard  "  was  the  most  efficient  type  of 
locomotive  for  passenger  service  in  this  coun- 
try. The  only  problem  was  to  increase  the 
steaming  capacity  of  the  engines,  by  enlarging 
the  boilers  and  fireboxes,  to  increase  the  size 
of  cylinders  and  wheels  as  far  as  practicable, 
and  to  perfect  the  reciprocating  parts  and 
wearing  surfaces.  In  1881  the  Baldwin  Loco- 
motive Works  turned  out  a  set  of  ten  loco- 
motives of  **  Standard  "  type,  designed  by  Mr. 
Woodcock,  of  the  Central  Railroad  of  New 
Jersey,  to  run  the  fast  passenger  trains  on  the 
Bound  Brook  Line.  Notably  among  these  is 
No.  169,  which  has  proved  to  be  one  of  the 
swiftest  locomotives  in  the  world.  This  has 
18  in.  by  24  in.  cylinders,  with  68  in.  driving 
wheels,  and  weighs  45  J  tons.  After  five  years 
of  hard  and  regular  service,  it  is  now  to  go 
into  the  shop  for  general  repairs,  confirming 
the  truth  that  a  machine  built  on  true  scien- 
tific principles  will  work  longer,  as  well  as 
faster,  than  those  of  ordinary  construction. 

The  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  in  June,  1881, 
built  the  first  locomotive  of  "  Class  K,"  having 
18  in.  by  24  in.  cylinders,  78  in.  wheels,  and 
weighing  462  tons.  These,  at  first,  attracted 
a  good  deal  of  attention  owing  to  the  large 
size  of  their  wheels.     There  are  now  eighteen 


72 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


of  these  doing  good  service  on  the  Phila- 
delphia express  trains  on  that  road.  Three 
years  afterward  the  "Class  P"  were  built, 
having  iS|  in.  by  34  in,  cylinders,  68  in. 
wheels,  and  weighing  50  tons.  There  are  now 
twenty-two  of  these  running  and  they  show 
themselves  capable  of  hauling  fast  trains  of 
from  ten  to  twelve  cars.  The  West  Shore 
Railroad  has  100  "  Standard "  locomotives, 
with  18  in,  by  24  in.  cylinders  and  68  jn 
wheels,  designed  by  Mr.  Howard  Fry  and 
built  at  the  Rogers  Locomotive  Works.  There 
are  two  classes,  hard  and  soft  coa!  burning, 
there  being  forty  of  the  first  class,  weighing 
48  tons,  and  sixty  of  the  second,  weighing 
47I  tons.  As  in  the  Pennsylvania  locomotives 
a  number  of  English  features  have  been  intro- 
duced, making  them  somewhat  of  a  departure 
from  the  accepted  American  model  of  outline. 
Being  admirably  constructed,  these  West 
Shore  locomotives  have  operated  with  entire 
satisfaction  fast  trains  of  five  or  six  cars  and 
heavy  trains  of  twelve  passenger  cars.  The 
Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railroad,  to  oper- 
ate their  section  of  the  Bound  Brtiok  line, 
built  some  locomotives,  "Class  D  33,"  with 
^P  the  Wooten  fire-box,  which  rests  on  top  of  the 

^  frames    over  the  driving-wheels,  and    is  very 

wide,  having  an  area  of  76  sq.  ft.  These  lo- 
comotives have  21  in.  by  32  in.  cylinders,  68 
in,  driving-wheels,  and  weigh  48  tons.  The 
cab  is  placed  forward,  over  the  main  driving- 
wheels  ;  the  main  principles  of  the  "  Standard  " 
type  are  retained,  however.  They  have  been 
run  at  very  high  speeds  with  trains  of  six 
.  cars.  Last  year,  1885,  the  four  heaviest  pas- 
senger locomotives  in  the  world,  "Class  D  44," 
were  constructed  by  this  road.  These  were 
built  with  the  Wooten  fire-box,  and  have  21  in. 
by  az  in,  cylinders  and  68  in.  wheels.  They 
weigh  54  tons.  No  definite  results  have  yet 
been  obtained  from  these  immense  locomotives, 
but  heavy  passenger  trains  of  fourteen  cars 
have  been  hauled  with  ease  at  considerable 
speed. 

In  noting,  therefore,  the  improvements  in 
modern  locomotive  construction,  we  find  that 
the  average  "  Standard  "  passenger  locomotive 
of  ten  years  ago,  which  had  17  in.  by  22  in,  cyl- 
inders, 60  in.  wheels,  with  130  lbs,  boiler  pres- 
sure and  weighing  35  tons,  has  changed  now 
to  one  having  18  in.  by  24  in.  cylinders,  68  in. 
wheels,   with   140   lbs.   boiler   pressure,  and 


weighing  45  tons.  Injectors  for  feeding  the 
boilers  have  taken  the  place  of  the  pumps. 
Steam  reversing  levers  have  found  some  favor, 
aj)d  the  Weslinghouse  air-brakes  have  found 
universal  adoption.  The  Richardson -.A  lien 
balanced  slide-valve  is  coming  more  and 
more  into  general  use.  The  huge  "  diamond  " 
smoke-stack  has  been  done  away  with,  and  the 
straight  stack  has  taken  its  place,  while  the 
use  of  the  exiended  smoke  box  is  becoming 
general  as  the  best  spark  arrester.  But  BOl 
only  have  we  improved  in  the  efficiency  of 
our  locomotives,  but  their  appearance  hai 
greatly  changed  for  the  b-jtter.  The  old-fash- 
ioned brass  trimmings,  fancy  brackets  disposed 
in  various  places,  the  gaudy  paint,  have  all 
disappeared.  A  simplicity  and  uniformity  of 
design  is  shown,  and  the  main  beauty  of  ihi; 
locomotive  is  found  in  the  shape  of  the  ma- 
chine itself.  Albitan. 

ELEMENTARY    BLOW-PIPE  ANALYSIS. 

VII. 

The  synopsis  contained  in  this  article,  the 
last  one  of  the  series,  has  been  prepared  to 
present  a  general  view  of  the  subject  in  a  con- 
densed form  ;  it  is  also  intended  to  give  a 
convenient  working  table  for  laboratory  use : 
and  to  facilitate  the  latter,  the  order  of  the 
elements  as  given  in  the  first  vertical  column 
has  been  made  to  coincide  with  the  order  as 
generally  given  in  books  on  wet  analysis,  some 
rarer  elements  and  a  few  reactions  for  acids 
having  been  added. 

At  the  top  of  the  remaining  vertical  col- 
umns the  numbers  of  the  groups  and  the 
principal  apparatus  or  reactions  are  given,  so 
that  any  reaction  in  any  vertical  column  can 
readily  be  found,  explained  more  definilety 
by  referring  to  the  corresponding  article  or 
group. 

By  comparison  it  will  be  found  that  for 
each  element  there  is  some  test  in  the  dry 
way  by  means  of  which  it  can  be  detected. 
Of  course  it  must  not  be  expected  that  an 
unknown  element  can  always  be  unmistakably 
determined  by  a  beginner,  simply  by  compar- 
ing the  observed  reaction  with  the  results  given 
in  the  table  ;  but  some  patience  and  practice 
will  be  necessary  to  master  the  subject.  If 
there  should  be  any  doubt  about  a  certain  re- 
action, repeal  it,  or  make  a  wet  test,  or,  best 
and  (juickest  of  all,  take  the  supposed  ele- 
ment, make  a  dry  test  and  observe  wheth« 
the  same  reaction  occurs. 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


73 


ill  be  understood  that  blow-pipe  analy- 
i  never  take  the  place  of  wet  analysis, 
always  will  be  a  very  valuable  help  to 
tter,  as  it  can  readily  determine  the 
contents  of  a  test  substance.  If  the 
nee  should  contain  more  than  four  or 
iments,  or  only  minute  traces  of  some 
Its,  a  complete  examination  can  then 
e  made  in  the  wet  way.  Nevertheless, 
time  will  still  be  saved,  as  all  the  ele- 
which  have  been  determined  in  the  dry 
eed  not  be  considered  when  the  wet 
is  is  made.  The  best  practical  appli- 
of  blow-pipe  analysis  is  made  by  the 
urgist  and   assayer  in   the  preliminary 


examination  of  ores  and  minerals  in  which 
but  one  or  two  useful  minerals  are  sought.  It 
is  also  indispensable  to  the  successful  miner- 
alogist. 

The  literature  on  the  subject  is  quite  ex- 
tensive, a  number  of  separate  volumes  having 
been  published,  and  almost  every  work  on 
mineralogy  contains  a  chapter  on  blow-pipe 
analysis,  with  special  reference  to  minerals. 

If  these  small  efforts  have  created  an  inter- 
est in  any  of  my  readers  for  this  beautiful 
and  neat  method  of  analysis,  or  if  they  have 
been  of  any  assistance  in  the  chemical  course 
at  the  Institute,  my  time  on  them  has  been 
well  spent.  O.  Pf. 


I. 

H. 

HI. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

Sublim... 

UOD 

Tube. 

0<ida- 

tion 
Tube. 

Flame 
Color. 

Incru:i- 
tation. 

Beads. 
Borax.                Phosph.  Salt. 

Soda  on  Charcoal 

Rbmakks. 

O.  F. 

R.F. 

O.  F. 

R.F. 

MeuUic  (Hobule 
Color    1  TenacHy 

Gray. . 

•  •  •   .    >  •  • 

Piiik. . . . 

White.. 

Mall  ... 

1 V.  White  coat  beneath 

Gray 

1   Cover  with  dry  soda. 
IV   WithS+KI  yellow. 
Ill   Cu.Cl  Blue. 

Blue... 
Green . . 

White... 

•  •  ■ 

Blue. . . . 

Gray... 

Red.... 

Yellow. 

White. 

Mall... 
Mall... 

Brittle.. 

Blue Cu.   ... 

Green . . 

Yellow. 
Red 

Brown 
White.. 

IV.  With  S+KI  brick  red. 

Whirc' 
Cry>t. 
White.. 

•  •  •  •      ■  •  • 

Paic 

Blue 
Blue. . . . 

HI  'Ck. 

1 

I.  A.n,  Sg  red  fumes.     Odor  very  volatfle 
IV.  Vol 

Oi^.ked 

White.. 

1 

White.  . 

White.. 
Yellow. 

Brittle.. 

Mall... 
.Mall  . . 

White.. 

IV.  With  Co{NO,>,  bluish-green. 

•  •  '   •  •/  • 

Yellow.  Green. . 
Yellow..  Green.. 

YeMow.. 
Green . . 

Snixky. 
Green . . 

With  KNo,  on  plat  foQ  yeUow. 

With  Co(No.).  blue. 

With  KNo,  on  plat  foil  green. 

IV,  Invol^  with    Co(No,),  yellow,  green. 

•  •  ■       •  ■  • 

White 

Red 

Red 

B.ue 

Brown 
Violet 

Blue.... 
Ni 

Blue — 
Red .... 

Blue... . 

Yellow. 

Vrllo*r 

Green 
Purple.. 

Ba  O.CaO.SrO.LiO,  turn  red  Utmusblue. 

Orange . 
Carmmc 

With  Co(No,)  gray. 

With  Co<NOa),  faint  pmk. 

Violet  . . 

Yellow. 

Oilor 

Odor... 

Faint 

III.  Red  litmus  turned  blue. 
11.  Blue  litmus  turned  red. 
I.  In  cold  part  of  tube. 

Yellow.. 

So.Odr. 

Green 

Drops 
HaO. 

Green'. . 

1 

*    *    •          •     ■    a 

Livid 
Blue. 

_   _   . 

1 

1 

1 

St.  Sk  .-leton 



1 

Draw  s  into  Chrcl. 
...1 

VI.  BUckera  Ag. 

Blacken 

.•«•••■• 

1 

' i 

;w  element  has  been  discovered  by  Prof. 

nkler    at    Freiberg,  Saxony,  in  a  new 

il,    argyrodite,    recently  found    in   the 

elsfuerst  mine  at  Freiberg.      The   min- 

mtains  73-75  per  cent,  of  silver,  17-18 

?nt.   of   sulphur,   21  per  cent,  of  mer- 
md  6-7  per  cent  of  the  new  element. 


called  Germaniu'm  by  its  discoverer.  The 
physical  properties  of  the  new  element 
consist  in  a  gray  color  similar  to  that  of 
arsenic.  It  has  a  medium  lustre,  volatilizes 
at  a  cherry  red  and  is  heavier  than  antimony. 
Its  atomic  weight  is  supposed  to  be  between 
those  of  antimony  and  bismuth.  —  Extract 
from  Dresdner  Anzeiger^  Feb,  2<?,  1886, 


74 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


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The  editors  do  not  hold  themselves  responsible  for  opin* 
tons  expressed  in  literary  articles  or  communications. 


IN  our  last  issue  appeared  a  communication, 
signed  **High  School,"  which  received 
our  careful  attention.  We  feel  compelled  to 
say  that  the  writer  treated  the  subject  from  an 
impartial  standpoint,  and,  recognizing  this,  we 
admit  that  many  slurs  at  the  "  Preps."  have 
crept  into  our  columns.  While  it  is  readily 
admitted  on  all  sides  that  they  are  at  times  a 
nuisance,  the  many  good  deeds  they  have 
done  on  behalf  of  the  college,  as  narrated  by 
their  champion,  deserve  recognition. 


IN  a  recent  issue  of  the  Scientific  American 
Supplement  appeared  our  article  on  "  The 
Youth  of  Isaac  Newton."  In  a  still  more  recent 
issue  of  the  Scientific  American  we  found  two 
smaller  articles  taken  from  our  April  number, 
but  placed  in  reverse  order.  We  take  no  ex- 
ception to  the  latter  paper,  because  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  copy  short  **  notes  "  without  credit- 
ing the  papers  in  which  they  originally  ap- 
peared. We  do,  however,  consider  the  insertion 


of  our  article  on  Isaac  Newton  nothing  less 
than  plagiarism.  To  be  sure  the  Supplement 
lays  some  sort  of  claim  to  beiftg  an  eclectic 
periodical.  This,  however,  does  not  relieve 
it  of  the  obligation,  imposed  by  even  the 
scantiest  courtesy,  to  credit  the  paper  from 
which  their  articles  are  clipped.  We  would 
be  ready  to  acknowledge  the  honor  shown  us 
by  our  esteemed  contemporary  in  thus  clip- 
ping from  our  obscure  sheet,  were  we  not 
painfully  impelled  to  believe  that  it  was  purely 
in  an  endeavor  to  "  fill  up  "  that  "  The  Youth 
of  Isaac  Newton  "  appeared  in  another  sheet 
as  "  Isaac  Newton."  At  the  moment  of  going 
to  press  we  notice  that  the  Supplement  has 
again  drawn  upon  our  columns  ;  this  time 
giving  us  credit.  There  being  no  time  to 
change  the  above  editorial,  we  will  let  it  stand 
as  a  protest  against  past  actions.  We  are  now 
fully  convinced  that  the  Supplement  intends  to 
honor  us,  not  to  steal  from  us. 


-♦-♦■ 


TT7HE  action  taken  by  a  certain  instructor 
1  in  the  last  examination  is  either  very  just, 
or  very  uncomplimentary  to  the  Sophomore 
class,  according  to  the  standpoint  from  which 
we  consider  it.  If  the  gentleman  in  question 
was  prompted  by  a  sense  of  justice  in  taking 
a  seat  in  the  rear  of  the  room,  so  that  those 
whose  names  had  not  fallen  in  pleasant  places 
in  the  alphabetical  list  might  have  the  same 
advantages  for  cribbing  that  those  in  the  rear 
had  when  the  desk  was  occupied,  we  give  him 
credit  for  an  amount  of  fairness  rarely  equaled 
in  our  American  colleges.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  he  considered  a  rear  seat  the  most  ad- 
vantageous one  for  the  purpose  of  spying  out 
the  dishonest  students,  he  casts  a  slur  upon 
the  reputation,  not  only  of  the  class,  but  of  the 
college.  For,  the  natural  inference  is  that  he, 
being  a  graduate  of  the  college,  has  seen  dur- 
ing his  four  years'  course  numerous  acts  of 
dishonesty  among  his  associates.  This  poor 
estimate  of  the  character  of  the  class  of  '^4 
we  instantly  repudiate.  There  is  only  one 
inference  left. 


THE     STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


75 


partment  of  mathematics  has  become 
the  originality  displayed  in  its  con- 
ng  the  present  collegiate  year.  Per- 
,  even  probably,  this  departure  from 
;tomed  order  of  things  may  be  ex- 
i  follows  :  Our  professors,  as  a  rule, 
a  man  a  gentleman  until  he  proves 
knave.  The  originality  of  which  we 
ing  consists  in  considering  a  man  a 
til  he  has  given  repeated  evidence  of 
a  gentleman. 


<  #  » » 


:^9r6fiiiieR  6mr8S. 


lations  have  come  and  gone,  and  the 
conditioned  student  has  rested  his 
i  given  himself  over  to  the  material 
of  life.  And  even  now  he  returns  to 
I  a  happy  countenance,  for  his  purse 
and  sheer  loafing  is  uncongenial  to 
th  the  many  promises  made  to  his 
n  his  head,  he  is  bracing  up  for  four 
re  study.  Remember,  only  four  weeks! 
:  work  harder  than  ever! 

vent  of  the  "  cherub  "  has  dispelled 
1  hanging  over  the  classic  features 

J.  The  "  cherub  "  may  require 
:ription.  He  is  of  medium  height, 
axon  curls  form  a  fitting  frame  for 
;  face.  His  pale  blue  eyes  turn  lan- 
»on  you  when  you  address  him,  but 
imes  he  is  gazing  off  into  the  misty 

the  unknown.  It  would  be  almost 
us  to  say  that  it  (the  cherub)  is  ab- 
led  ;  his  actions  make  that  apparent, 
ippend  one  example: 
ng  since  it  became  necessary  in  the 
f  human  events  to  refill  the  water- 
D.  W.  J.  called  together  his  staff  and 
the  matter.  It  resulted  in  the 
"  being  detailed  for  the  work.      This 

under  the  most  approved  economic 
5.  The  bucket  standing  beneath  the 
.s  emptied  into  the  cooler  (!).  Then 
J  bucket  was  employed  to  carry  water 
hydrant  to  the  required  spot.  We 
it  to  sample  the  contents  of  the  cool- 
other  fellow  did.  Poor  little  "  cher- 
ow  we  pity  him  when  the  other  fel- 
les  him ! 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

Understanding  that  up  to  the  present  time 
your  appeal  to  the  Alumni  for  support  has  re- 
ceived no  answer,  and  since  it  seems  that  they 
have  no  suggestions  to  offer,  allow  me,  as  a 
student  and  member  of  the  I.  P.  Co.,  to  offer 
this  suggestion  : 

Let  a  committee  be  appointed  by  the  com- 
pany to  meet  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Alumni.  Give  this  committee  full  power  to  act. 
In  this  way,  perhaps,  the  Alumni  may  be 
roused  from  their  indifference  and  urged  into 
some  sort  of  action. 

A  Prospective  Alumnus. 


-•-#- 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

It  seems  to  me  that  arbitration  between  the 
college  and  the  Alumni  will  not  work.  If  the 
publishers  of  the  Indicator  wish  us  to  sup- 
port them  they  must  abandon  the  stock  com- 
pany scheme  and  go  back  to  the  old  method 
of  electing  editors.  I,  for  one,  do  not  con- 
sider the  Indicator  a  paper  representing  the 
college.  If  the  classes  are  allowed  to  do  the 
electing  they  will  then  be  represented,  and 
the  paper  will  receive  both  financial  and 
literary  support  from  the  Alumni. 

Justice. 


«■♦  »» 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

I  like  your  plan  of  arbitration  as  suggested 
in  the  Indicator  for  April.  It  is  a  pity  that 
the  Alumni  do  not  support  such  a  worthy  col- 
lege enterprise  as  the  Indicator,  and  yet  there 
is  cause  for  the  present  difference  of  opinion. 
The  stockholders  in  the  first  instance  were 
elected  by  the  college — or,  rather,  appointed 
by  the  chairman  of  the  college  meeting.  At 
the  present  time  who  elects  new  stockholders  ? 
The  company.  In  other  words,  the  men  in 
the  company  have  the  right,  if  they  so  choose 
to  exercise  it,  to  elect  a//  the  members  from 
one  or  perhaps  two  classes,  leaving  the  others 
in  the  cold.     Is  this  right  ? 

In  justice  to  the  company  I  admit  that  the 
stock  company  plan  may  have,  at  the  time, 
saved  the  paper  from  ruin  ;  yet,  now  that  the 
financial  condition  of  the  Indicator  is  sound, 
it  might,  perhaps,  be  well  so  to  modify  the 
Constitution  of  the  company  as  to  satisfy  the 
views  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Alumni,  without  in  any  way  hindering  the 
literary  advancement  of  the  paper. 

Conservative. 


THE    STEVEMS    INDICATOk. 


Good-bye  George — Ta  ta  ! 

Glad  to  see  you  sober  enough  to  be  around 

so  soon  lifter  vacation. 


heri 


The   Spring    has   come,   the  flowers  are 
'.     "  Whoa,  Emma  !  " 


Matthew  supports  a  new  stiff  hat.  O.  W.  J, 
will  bi;  parading  around  in  a  dress  suit  next. 

The  grand  systematic  bounce  from  Math, 
has  begun  again.  Whatchergivenus.  B.  waxeth 
bold. 

"  Who  struck  Billy  Patterson  ?  "  The  "  yal- 
Icr  dog"  I  guess.  Billy  probably  struck  him 
back. 

Lacrosse  is  booming,  but  the  season  isn't 
fully  opened  yet.  No  one  has  had  his  nose 
broken. 

Owing  to  the  illness  of  Mrs.  Lewis,  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Leeds'  reception  to  the  senior  class  was 
postponed  indefinitely. 

Mike,  the  coal  man,  won't  come  around  the 
Institute  any  more  because  he's  afraid  some 
one  will  take  him  for  a  Freshman. 

Come  one,  come  all 
Both  great  and  small 
To  Kegelbelm's  and  take  a  "  ball." 
Not  at  our  expense,  though,     Dutch. 

The  man  who  stole  thai  three  hundred  dol- 
lar zinc  watch  from  Christian  had  better  give 
it  up.  Christian  has  the  "  pug  hound  "  on  his 
track. 

Isn't  it  too  bad  to  see  that  reckless,  naughty, 
look  beginning  to  steal  over  the  faces  of  the 
innocent  little  Freshmen  ?  "  'Tis  true,  'tis 
pity,  and  pity  'tis  'tis  true." 

An  entrance  requirement  should  be  a  thesis. 
To  be  compelled  to  compile,  originate,  buy 
or  purloin  a  thesis  third  term,  senior  year,  is 
the  hardest  tug  of  the  whole  course. 

The  present  term  is  a  short  one  and  the 
chances  are  that  the  general  tendency  will  be 
to  let  things  slide.  Hut  don't  do  it,  boys, 
don't  do  it.     "  A  miss  is  as  good  as  a  mile." 


Where,  oh  where,  is  the  Stevens  Rowing 
Club?  Challenges  are  arriving  and  lying 
around  loose,  but  they  fftil  to  find  a  claimant. 
Gel  out  the  shad  boats,  boys,  and  turn  inside 
out  for  a  change. 

History  lells  us  that  Shakespeare's  father 
was  an  alderman,  but  we  think  that  there  is 
some  mistake  somewhere,  because  history  also 
lells  us  that  he  was  very  respectable,  and  the 
two  statements  don't  agree  at  all. 

The  industrial  exhibition  held  at  the  insti- 
tute proved  to  be  a  very  interesting  one. 
Some  of  the  work  on  exhibition  displayed  a 
skill  equal  to  that  of  a  first-class  workman, 
and  fine  productions  were  to  be  seen  in  every 
branch. 

Nowadays,  the  average  man  about  the  col- 
lege don't  think  he  is  performing  his  whole 
duty  unless  he  pulls  the  new  fire  hose  ofif  the 
wall  and  fills  it  up  with  water.  O.  W.  J.  has 
got  a  great,  big  cast-iron  ax  that  he  is  sharp- 
ening up  (or  those  men. 

For  "private  tips  "on  the  labor  question, 
the  distinctions  between  the  terms  '  tie  up," 
"lockout,"  "boycott"  and  the  influence  of 
two-ply  trousers  on  the  eight-hour  system,  you 
may  rely  on  the  senator  from  Washington  as 
being  way  up  beyond  his  years  on  those 
topics. 

Isn't  it  delightful  to  look  upon  the  campus 
and  watch  the  infantile  "  Prep."  turn  a  hand- 
spring and  break  his  rope  suspenders?  If 
the  "  Prep."  was  less  innocent  he  might  paint 
the  atmosphere  red,  but  he  don't  know  the 
wicked  ways  of  the  world  yet.  Wait  until  he 
gets  to  be  a  Freshman. 

We  did  not  know  that  we  had  a  memberof 
the  pugilistic  fraternity  among  us,  but  it  seems 
that  one  of  our  worthy  professors  knocked  the 
magnetism  out  ofa  bar  of  iron  in  three  rounds, 
(]uile  recently.  We  saw  hira  do  it,  or  else  we 
wouldn't  have  believed  it  at  all.  Strange  hov 
things  will  happen,  isn't  it  ? 

An  incident  which  strengthens  the  theory  of 
the  weakness  of  human  nature  transpired /«J 
than  a  year  ago,  right  here  among  us. 

Prof,  to  class  :  "  In  closing,  I  would  suggesi 
greater  care  in  writing.  I  find  a  great  many 
f;rammalicai  errors  in  your  papers.  That  will 
da.    Take  the  three  first  chapters  for  to-m*"- 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


11 


Burdette  has  concluded  that "  The  emi- 
cientist  who  discovered  that  heat  is  only 
le  of  motion,  did  it  by  sitting  on  a  hot 
n  the  dark.  The  motion  he  discovered 
motion  to  adjourn,  carried  by  a  rising 
It  would  be  well  for  the  Seniors  to 
m  this  fact  in  theses  which  touch  upon 
bject. 

le  in  Freshman  class.  Roll  call  : 
.:  A-mo-r !  (little  pause)  Beers  !  Mr. 
t  wakes  up  and  answers  to  his  name. 
B.  answers  also.  Prof,  calls  Beers 
Mr.  B.  answers  again.  Some  one 
idibly  in  the  back  of  the  room  :  "  That 
two  beers  for  him.  Keep  it  up  and 
n't  have  a  recitation." 

H.  B's  watch  believes  in  giving  plenty 
e  for  examinations,  if  he  don't.  When 
>t  Calculus  examination  was  held,  the 
very  kindly  stopped  about  half-past 
and  gave  the  students  about  an  hour 
half  more  than  they  were  intended  to 
3ut  not  a  bit  more  than  they  ought  to 
ad.     Hurray  for  the  watch  ! 

gie  Boo  Booh,  the  Burmese  missionary 
Doken,  has  given  up  the  field  and  opened 
n  on  Hudson  Street.  Three  Chinamen 
the  tin  sign  down  last  week  and  got 
d  on  the  spot,  but  when  a  Dutch  under- 
kicked  Yuggie  Boo,  as  missionary,  all 
le  Elysian  Fields  in  hopes  of  getting  a 
le  "  cops "  had  not  a  word  to  say. 
tcher  loife,  they  hadn't. 

le  :  Stevens  High  School. 

out  thirty  Preps,  standing  together.  One 

has  an  apple.     Cuts  the  apple  up  into 

parts  and  distributes  them.) 

►. :  "  Why  is  this  apple  like  the  flowers 

hur  ? " 

nd  intellectual  "  sneak  "  by  the  crowd 

0  result.) 

K  :  Well,because  its  very  finely  divided, 
rible  panic  and  great  loss  of  life.  Prep, 
nd  volatilized  gore.  Red  music  and 
re.) 

PEACHBLOW ! 

nger  when  thy  friend  spins  thee  a  yam, 

1  from  the  dust  heaps  of  the  Long  Ago, 
llished  though  it  be  with  wrinkled  jokes 
first  saw  light  what  time  the  ancient  sage 
iselah  spun  tops  and  played  at  "  mibs," 
)eit  told  thee  for  original, 

;otten  off  with  all  the  conscious  pride 

thorship — no  longer,  I  repeat, 

thou  shout  •'  Chestnuts  !  "  at  the  guilty  wretch, 


Nor  murmur  **  Swmes  !  "  in  his  enchanted  ear, 

Lest  he  should  chiae  fheete  Uie  use  of  these 

Which  indicate  antiquity  themselres, 

In  their  own  toothless  second  childishness, 

But  with  a  calm  and  quiet  dignity, 

Thou  shalt  say  *'  Peachblow  ! !  !  "  and  the  offending 

one 
Will  seek  out  for'  himself  some  little  hole, 
Crawl  in,  and  there  expire,  and  be  no  more ! 

It  is  rumored  that  the  fashionable  plaid  paper 
seen  and  used  so  much  around  the  Institute  late- 
ly is  going  to  undergo  a  change  in  price,  so  as 
to  come  within  the  reach  of  the  poorer  classes. 
When  the  spondulix  received  approximates  to 
the  amount  that  was  paid  for  the  plates,  then 
the  microscopic  checker  boards  will  be  sold 
by  single  sheets,  if  desired,  and  probably  at  a 
low  price.  Nothing  like  getting  both  feet 
planted,  is  there?  The  above  is  on  good 
authority.  Three  hens,  a  sparrow,  and  the 
south  wind  told  us  about  it. 

Some  of  the  Sophs'  examination  papers  in 
"  descriptive  "  are  profusely  decorated  with 
various  witty  paragraphs  from  the  pen  of  the 
professor  who  corrected  them.  Below  is  a 
specimen  : 

"  The  line  through  the  vertex  of  a  cone  can 
be  called  tangent  to  the  cone  only  by  special 
act  of  Congress^  and  it  satisfies  equally  well  the 
condition  of  the  line  piercing  the  cone."  And 
as  another  example  :  **This  is  a  very  curious 
expression  and  its  intention  obscure, "  The 
student  tried  to  supply  his  want  of  knowl- 
edge by  what  is  commonly  known  as  "  gas  ;  " 
but  the  scheme  failed  to  work  in  this  case. 
These  are  but  two  cases.  There  are  myriads 
more,  and  all  equally  pithy.  We  refer  you  to 
the  Sophs,  for  an  investigation  of  the  same. 

This  is  the  time*  when  the  lazy  Freshman 
taketh  to  himself  great  vileness  and  bethink- 
eth  himself  how  he  shall  bulldoze  the  elder. 
So  he  goeth  straightway  to  the  elder  and  saith 
with  face  like  unto  brass  :  "  Behold,  I  have 
taken  much  marks  to  myself,  but  so  likewise 
hath  another.  We  are  a  tie  for  first  place  in 
the  class.  So  then  must  I  go  to  another  exam- 
ination to  burst  asunder  the  tie.  Now,  seest 
thou  the  reason  why  I  will  take  to  myself  a 
private  tutor  ? "  Then  the  elder  smiles  a 
Jumbo  smile  and  grateth  his  ears  together  at 
the  back  of  his  head,  and  kicketh  his  tremen- 
dous feet  high  in  the  air.  "  Go  then,  my  son," 
he  saith,  "  and  take  to  thyself  a  private  tutor." 
And  the  son  goeth  forth  and  just  manageth  to 
pass  ofif  his  ^^  conditions  "  and  no  more.  (Look 
in  the  June  number  for  the  rest.) 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


OUR  SORROW. 

WhKl  makes  our  halls  so  lonely  ? 

Whnl  rallkes  us  brcalhc  a  sigh  ? 
'Tis  nul  because  we've  only 

One  more  exam,  to  try. 

'Tit  not  because  we  flunljcd  last  teim. 

Nor  will  we  flunk  the  next ; 
'Tis  not  because  diicontenl's  germ 

Has  all  out  bosoms  vexed. 

Our  Profs.  »re  all  we  could  expect. 
Our  tasks  are  not  too  bard  ; 

To  our  boarding  house  we  can't  object 
Because  the  butter's  lard. 

Whence  then  this  awtul  sorrow  ? 

Whence  thia  aching  pain  ? 
It  may  leave  us  on  the  morrow. 

But  'twill  return  agatD. 


The  "Preps."  are  getting  up  a  play.  The 
show  cards  are  out.     Home  made.     Look  at 

KUMM  TO  CE  US 

IN    THE    GRAIT    PLAY,  BV    JAY   COUtD,  KALLED 

MEAIRGAGWOGGEN. 

THE    EARTH    OR    WATT   DU    VER    WARNT, 

Tickuts  Wun  DoUer. 

Dorgs  And  Menn  Withoiite  Rollers  Not 

Erloud. 

KUMM  TO  CE  US. 

Those  "  Preps."  ought  to  be  looked  after. 

The  death  rate   in   Hoboken  is  .ilroady  largp 

enough  without  running  it   up  in    that   way. 

Mayor  Timken  ought   lo  come    up  and  step 

on  a  couple  of  hundred  "  Preps."  and  chaw 

things  up  a  little. 

Hurray  for  '88  !  The  bar  still  flourishes, 
and  the  class  are  contemplating  the  building 
of  a  gutter  and  the  erection  of  a  lamp-post. 
The  gutter  is  for  the  convenience  of  "dead 
drunks"  and  the  post  is  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  "lamp-post  drunks."  The  warm 
weather  will  probably  necessitate  the  election 
of  another  bar-tender.  The  deacon  is  suggest- 
ed, as  he  has  the  reputation  of  being  able  to 
mix  ali  those  kinds  of  "  medicines  "  that  dea- 
cons take  in  the  drug  store,  which  are  much 
rehshed  by  many  young  men  outside  of  the 
brotherhood.  The  gutter  and  lamp-post  idea  is 
a  veiy  good  one,  as  it  obviates  the  necessity  of 


going  into  the  street  for  those  indispensable 
factors  of  a  good  old-fashioned  drunk  and 
does  away  with  the  danger  of  arrest.  The 
only  :hing  that  stands  in  the  way  of  its  cotn- 
picle  success  is  the  fear  that  the  gutter  can 
not  be  made  large  enough  to  accommodate 
every  one  who  wishes  to  occupy  iL 


THE   "BOLT." 


The  Bolt  for  i886  is  certainly  a  most  cred- 
itable production.  Feeling  dissatisfied  with 
the  showing  made  last  year  the  new  Board, 
with  doubled  numbers,  set  to  work  on  the 
torgings  for  the  present  issue.  The  wisdom 
of  having  eight  editors  instead  of  four  is  ap- 
parent upon  every  page.  However,  we  leave 
the  book  to  win  its  own  way  into  the  hearts 
of  our  friends. 

There  are  several  special  features,  however, 
worthy  of  our  criticism,  which  shall  be  in  a 
marked  degree  favorable.  The  indo-print  of 
the  Class  of  '86  is  an  improvement  on  the  orig- 
inal photograph,  the  light  on  the  faces  being 
more  in  contrast  with  the  background.  The 
editorial  is  remarkably  well  written,  and  care- 
fully presents  the  ideas  and  aims  of  the  Board. 
"Ye  Loved  Ones  "  strikes  the  right  chord  in 
the  heart  of  every  student,  while  the  "Glee 
Club  "  brings  up  associations  which  reconcile 
us  to  the  life  of  study  which  we  have  under- 
taken. The  dedicarion  "  To  "86,  '87,  '88,  "89" 
is  very  neat,  and  will  probably  please  all  Fiave 
'89.  We  are  disappointed  in  the  picture  of 
the  foot-ball  team.  It  had  much  better  have 
been  left  out  entirely. 

But  the  most  interesting  feature  is  the  in- 
stantaneous photograph  of  the  Class  Day 
exercises  at  Castle  Point  in  June,  1885.  WTiile 
Mr.  Williams  was  delivering  the  opening  aii- 
dress  a  photographer,  stationed  on  the  gallen.' 
of  the  Stevens  mansion,  obtained  the  vie*' 
which  ha.s  been  worked  up  into  an  indo-piin'- 
Although  the  view  is  rather  small,  ceriain 
well  known  individuals  are  easily  recognizable, 
and  we  feel  assured  that  a  careful  use  of  th^ 
maij.iifying  glass  would  result  in  the  idenllfi- 
cat  on  of  almost  all  the  college  men  who 
honored  tlie  occasion  with  their  presence. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


79 


5R6rRBBRri?6    RSSPES 

resent  the  deepest  well  in  the  world  is 
lewood,  Pa.,  owned  by  Mr.  Geo.  West- 
se,  Jr.  In  this  well  everything  found 
nature  of  gas  or  water  at  a  depth  of 
eet  was  cased  off  as  unimportant,  and 
isent  depth  is  6,000  feet  below  the  sur- 
hich  makes  this  the  deepest  well  in  the 
Since  it  would  necessarily  have  to  be 
prolific  gas  vein  to  justify  such  exten- 
ring,  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  conject- 
r  object  that  prompted  such  a  work,  un- 
3e  purely  to  satisfy  curiosity. 
re  is  in  Washington  Co ,  Pa.,  a  well 
to  a  depth  of  4,000  feet,  and  the  only 
so  far  as  known,  which  approach  the 
reached  by  Mr.  Westinghouse,  are  an 
[1  well  in  France,  in  which  a  depth  of 
:'eet  was  reached,  and  the  well  now  be- 
ik  at  Schladebach  by  the  German  Gov- 
it  which  at  the  last  accounts  had  reached 
\i  of  4,565  feet. 

durability  of  steel  rails  is  discussed  by 
ebb,  of  the  London  and  Northwestern 
y,  who  states  that,  according  to  his 
tion,  1,400  pounds  of  steel  disappear 
lour  from  the  track  of  that  company*s 
,780  miles  in  length.  At  first  glance 
jms  a  surprising  statement,  but  it  is 
10  ton  each  hour,  or  16.8  tons  a  day,  or 
let  tons  each  year,  for  a  line  of  1,780 
having  an  exceptionally  heavy  traffic, 
^th  the  railways  of  this  country  are  71.3 
hat  of  the  London  and  Northwestern, 
the  same  rate  of  destruction  by  wear, 
antity  of  steel  rails  required  for  replace- 
n  all  the  roads  of  this  country  would 
y  about  438,000  net  tons.  The  con- 
on  of  rails  in  1883  in  this  country  was 
1,400,000  tons,  of  which  6,500  miles  of 
ad  required  perhaps  650,000  tons,  leav- 
>,ooo  tons  for  replacements  both  of  iron 
eel.  It  may  be  inferred  that  the  des- 
n  of  rails  by  wear  on  the  London  and 
vestem  is  not  relatively  so  great  as  it 
J  on  many  roads  in  this  country. — Iron 


Manufacturers'  Gazette  says  :  "  Wires 
ars  are  now  produced  direct  from  fluid 
>y  pressing  it  out  through  dies  in  a  man- 
nilar  to  the  production  of  lead  pipes 
iad.  An  iron  vessel,  lined  with  refrac- 
aterial,  is  provided  with  a  man-hole  and 


a  cover  at  the  top,  and  securely  closed.  At 
the  bottom,  opposite  the  man-hole,  there  is  a 
cast  iron  outlet  pipe,  through  which  passes  a 
steel  tube  with  water  circulating  round  it  ex- 
actly like  a  '  tuyere,'  by  which  the  steel  pipe 
or  die  can  be  cooled.  The  inner  end  of  the 
steel  tube  is  lined  with  fire-clay,  where  the 
very  hot  fluid  steel  meets  it.  The  tube  is 
plugged  up  by  a  steel  stopper,  and  the  liquid 
steel  is  filled  into  the  vessel  with  liquid  carbon 
dioxide  above  it.  The  scopper  being  with- 
drawn, the  liquid  steel  is  forced  out  by  pres- 
sure of  the  carbon  dioxide  in  a  red-hot  rod  or 
wire,  which  goes  from  the  vessel  into  the  roll- 
ing mill  while  still  hot,  and  is  there  finished 
off.  We  may  also  add  that  steel  is  now  pro- 
duced direct  from  the  ore  by  a  new  process 
of  a  French  engineer.  The  ore  in  a  powdered 
condition  is  submitted  to  the  action  of  car- 
bonic oxide  gas  at  a  high  temperature  in  a 
cupola  or  blast  furnace,  where  it  is  reduced 
by  the  incandescent  gas  to  pure  iron  or  steel." 


The  apparatus  for  registering  the  speed  of 
trains,  in  use  on  the  German  railroads,  has 
been  improved  by  the  famous  firm  of  Siemens 
&  Halske.  The  position  of  the  train  at  any 
point  on  the  track  is  registered  by  means  of 
an  apparatus  consisting  of  two  upright  vessels 
containing  quicksilver  and  communicating 
with  each  other,  one  of  which  is  exposed  to 
pressure  on  the  rail,  which  causes  the  mercury 
to  fall  in  it  and  rise  in  the  other  vessel  until 
it  reaches  a  wire  and  closes  a  circuit,  which 
causes  a  small  knife  in  the  station  to  cut  a 
square-cornered  hole  in  the  strip  of  paper 
which  travels  at  an  uniform  speed,  so  that  the 
time  where  any  point  on  it  passed  the  knife  is 
known.  The  above  firm  have  delivered  1,505 
of  the  track  apparatus,  and  318  of  the  station 
apparatus. 

The  steamship  "Buffalo,"  of  the  Wilson 
Line,  plying  between  New  York  and  Hull,  is 
the  largest  carrier  in  the  Atlantic  service. 

She  was  built  at  Jarrow,  near  Glasgow, 
by  the  Palmer  Company.  Her  length  is 
425  feet  between  perpendiculars  ;  breadth 
moulded  52  feet;  depth  of  hold,  35  feet  9  in- 
ches; depth  of  hold  to  upper  deck,  39  feet 
II  inches;  height  between  decks,  7  feet  11 
inches.  She  has  four  decks,  the  two  upper 
being  of  extra  strong  steel,  a  projecting  keel, 
straight  stem  and  an  elliptical  stern. 

She  is  classed  at  Lloyd's  roo  Ai,  special 
survey,  four  decks  steel,  such  parts  are  of  iron 


as  allowed  by  classing  and  survey  rules  of 
Lloyd's.  She  requires  Lloyd's  special  survey 
certificate,  the  M.  C.  Builder's  certificate,  the 
Board  of  Trade  passenger  and  the  Suez  Canal 
certificate. 

Her  gross  tonnage  is  5,500  tons;  nel,  1,960 
tons,  and  she  will  carry  7,000  tons  dead 
weight  upon  a  moderate  draft. 

Her  engines,  also  by  the  Palmer  Company, 
are  of  the  triple  expansion  type,  with'  cylin- 
ders 33-inch,  54-inch  and  86-inch  diameter, 
and  60-inch  stroke,  steam  is  supplied  by  four 
(4)  boilers,  two  (3)  single  and  two  (2)  double 
enders,  having  eighteen  (18)  furnaces,  fitted 
with  the  Fox  pattern  corrugated  flue.  During 
her  last  passage  the  indicator  showed  5,003 
horse-power,  at  the  same  lime  she  was  making 
55.5  revolutions  per  minute,  and  14  knots  per 
hour,  and  yet  she  consumed  only  an  average 
of  43  tons  of  coal  per  day. 

Steam  is  admitted  into  the  high-pressure 
cylinder  at  boiler  pressure,  160  lbs.  per  square 
inch,  from  thence  it  passes  into  the  interme- 
diate cylinder  at  80  lbs.  per  square  inch,  and 
when  admitted  into  the  third  cylinder  it  has  a 
pressure  varying  from  }4  to  i  lb.  per  square 
inch.  The  vacuum  in  this  cylinder  averages 
27  inches  of  mercury.  The  consumption  of 
coal  is  1.5  lb.  per  horse-power  per  hour. 

The  vessel  is  fitted  with  eight  special  large 
winches,  having  two  expansion  engines,  each  of 
the  tandem  type,  the  low-pressure  cylinder  be- 
ing between  the  high-pressure  cylinder  and  the 
crosshead  ;  these  are  also  worked  at  the  above 
boiler  pressure  and  have  special  condenser 
and  pump. 

She  has  four  masts,  square-rigged  on  the 
fore  and  main  masts;  long  poop  and  bridge 
combined  extending  54  feel.  She  is  divided  by 
I3  bulkheads  of  steel  and  is  fitted  with  ccUilar 
bottom  for  water  ballast  all  fore  and  aft.  The 
main  deck  is  fitted  to  carry  600  head  of  cattle. 

Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  numerous 
subdivisions  of  the  various  holds  to  provide 
against  the  possibility  of  the  cargo  shifting, 
which  insures  the  success  of  the  vessel  as  a 
grain  carrier.  Handsome  and  commodious 
accommodations  are  provided  for  35  first-class 
passengers  in  a  large  deck-house  at  the  for- 
ward end  of  the  poop  amidships.  The  rud- 
der frames,  of  solid  crucible  cast  steel,  in  two 
parts,  have  tapered  pintles,  brass  liners,  lig- 
num vita  bushing  and  two  rudder  stops. 

She  is  fined  with  direct  steam  windlass 
and  all  the  latest  improvements,  combined 
hand  and  steam  steering  gear  amid.-ihip^i,  also 
screw-gear  in  the  after  wheel-house,  wher,.-  the 


quadrant  is  fitted  with  an  efficient  and  strong 
gripping  gear  for  holding  the  tiller  when  di^ 
connecting  from  steam  to  hand  gear.  The 
vessel  is,  moreover,  lighted  throughout  with 
the  Swan  incandescent  lamp,  the  masthead 
and  side  lights  being  also  electric. 


PERSSRPUS. 


James  M,  Cremer,  formerly  with  thtf  Cum- 
mer Engine  Co.,  is  Mechanical  Engineer  ai 
the  Hydraulic  Works,  Brooklyn.  N.  Y.. 

'77- 
Mauricc  I.  Coster  is  on  a  visit  lo  Ae  States 
and  has  lately  r.;visited  his  A/ma  ^^iUr. 

'79- 
Wm.  W.  Dashiell  is  Secretary  and  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Buvonne  and  Greenville  Gas 
Light  Co.,  Bergen  Point,  N.  J. 
'80. 
Theo.  A,  Eliott  has  severed  his  connection 
with  the  Noye  Manufacturing  Co.  and  maybe 
addressed  at  379  Pennsylvania  Street,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y, 

■84- 
john  A  Bensel  is  Assistant  Engineer  of  the 
Maintenance  of  Way   Department,   Pennsyl- 
vania R.  R.,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  ' 
■84. 
Lafayette  D.  Carroll    is    at    the   Jefferion 
Pressed  Brick  Works,  Birmingham,  Ala. 

■85. 
W.  Harvie  Wade  is  now  with  H.  R.  Wotlt- 
ington  Hydraulic  Works,  Brooklyn,  N.  V. 
■86. 
Otto  Pfordte    has    accepted    a    position  as      . 
draughtsman   and    designer  with   the  Jonson      I 
Foundry  and  Machine  Co.,  New  York,  N.  V. 


During  vacation  it  was  rather  difficull  W 
Tind  enough  men  in  town  to  make  out  a  nins- 
On  Saturday,  April  34,the  lollowing  nine  played 


THE   STEVENS    INDICA  TOR. 


.  N.  V, :  Aidridge,  c;  Ducommun,  p.; 
;ham,  r  b,;   Sevenoak,  a  b.;   Dnimmond, 

Morrison,  s.  s.;  Sheldon,  r.  f.;  H.  Mac- 
,  c.  f. ;  Cotiart,  I.  f. 
ore  by  innings  : 
;vens 40020100 7 

C.  N.  Y 3OO0I0000  — 3 

;vens   making  7   base-hits,  3   errors,  no 
pitches,  no  passed  balls. 
I  Thursday,  April  29,  the  nine  was  to  go 
'atsessing,  according  to  agreement  made 
eason.     At  the  last  moment,  two  decided 

0  go,  and  two  failed  to  put  in  an  appear- 
without    even    notifying    the    captain. 

ever,  the  following  seven  went  and  played 
crice  game  :  Aidridge,  c.  ;  Morrison,  p.; 
ham,  I  b-;  Sevenoak,  a  b-;  Drummond, 
Hart,  s.  s.;  Taylor,  1,  f.  The  Watses- 
,  who  had  beaten  the  Jersey  Blues,  in 
iken,  on  the  Saturday  previous,  only  a1- 

1  us  to  make  four  runs  during  the  time 
hey  made  thirteen  ;  this,  of  course,  was 
expected,  for  no  nine  can  expect  to  win 

3  if  half  of  their  positions  are  filled  by 
itutes.     Those  men  who  fail   to  appear 

the  team  is  to  play,  should  be  fined,  un- 
hey  have  a  reasonable  excuse,  or  else 
led  from  the  team  to  make  room  for  those 
vill  play- 

:rosse  is  still  making  rapid  strides  to- 
i  the  front  rank  in  college  games  and  we 
afe  in  predicting  a  high  place  for  Stevens, 
ose  who  have  watched  the  team  while 
cing  cannot  have  failed  to  observe  the 
St  with  which  the  men  enter  the  sport, 
le  rivalry  that  exists  in  the  struggle  for 
:e  on  it.  Passes  and  checks  are  made 
a  skill  that  would  do  credit  to  a  profes- 
,  while  the  staying  qualities  of  the  men 
'ery  noticeably  improved  Many  of  the 
:  and  Freshmen  are  looming  up  in  great 
,  making  our  chances  for  champion  In 
jport  very  encouraging  indeed  ;  a  game 
le  played  on  the  20th  of  May  with  Har- 

when  the  students  will  have  another 
e  of  seeing  what  the  boys  are  made  of. 
h  this  term  comes  the  Spring  games,  a 
e  in  all  college  athletics,  and  one  which 
student  should  have  at  heart.  The  com- 
:  will  do  all  that  lies  in  their  power  to 
it  a  success,  and  if  substantial  aid  is  given 
by  the  students,  there  is  no  reason  why 
J  Id  not  be. 

rosse.  May  15. — Lehigh,  o  ;  Stevens,  1. 
e-ball,  May  15, — Brooklyn  Polys  w,  Ste- 

no  match. 


M^^/</ 


Columbia  has  boiten  every  college  nine  it 
has  played  with  this  season. 

Since  1878,  Henry  Irving  has  realized  over 
a  million  dollars  from  his  acting. 

We  would  recommend  anyone  interested  in 
electricity  to  read  an  article  entitled  "  Practi- 
cal Dynamo  Buildingfor  Amateurs,"  which  ap- 
peared in  the  last  number  of  the  Electrician 
and  Electrical  Engineer. 

An  exchange  defines  a  New  York  Alderman 
as: 

"  Ad  e«dt«d  man 
Who  keeps  ill  be  gels 

And  gets  all  he  can." 

The  first  number  of  the  Amherst  Literary 
Monthly  was  received  last  week.  It  is  well- 
written,  well-printed  and  everything  about  it 
points  to  its  taking  a  high  rank  among  college 
magazines  of  a  similar  character. 

Owing  to  the  increased  size  of  the  National 
Amateur  Lacrosse  Association,  the  Olrich  Cup 
Tournament  will  be  played  in  two  sections 
this  year-  The  first  section  on  May  a 2, 
and  the  second  section  on  June  5.  The 
winner  of  the  May  section  to  play  the  winner 
of  the  June  section  during  the  afternoon  of 
June  5. 

The  first  of  the  middle-distance  races 
between  Myers  and  George  for  the  champion- 
ship of  the  world  was  held  on  the  first  of  May, 
in  New  York,  the  distance  being  1,000  yards. 
It  was  easily  won  by  Myers.  Time,  ; 
23I  sec.  The  second  race  of  5^  of  ; 
was  held  on  May  8,  and  resulted  in  ; 
tory  for  Myers. 

The  students  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania intend  to  produce  on  the  14th  and  15th 
of  this  month  the  Acharnians  of  Aristophanes 
in  the  original  Greek.  The  Acharnians  was 
first  produced  at  Athens  in  the  year  425  B.  C. 
This  will  be  the  first  time  that  a  Greek  comedy 
has  ever  been  presented  in  this  country.  The 
undertaking  has  been  placed  in  the  hands  of 
a  large  committee  of  students,  alumni,  profes- 
sors and  trustees,  who  are  using  every  exer- 
tion to  insure  perfect  accuracy  in  point  of 
scholarship  and  detail- 


82 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


If  Harvard  is  lo  win  the  intercollegiate  cup 
again,  it  will  be  through  the  efforts  of  Baker, 
'84,  and  Bradley,  '86,  repeating  their  previous 
performances.  Chamberlain, '86,  in  putting  the 
shot ;  Bemis,  "87,  in  the  mile  walk,  and  Dean, 
'88,  and  the  tug-of-war  team  as  possible  firsts  ; 
with  a  good  number  of  second-rate  men  who 
may  again,  as  they  did  last  year,  save  Harvard 
from  defeat. 


A   NEW   FASHIONED   GIRL. 

She'd  a  great  and  varied  knowledge  picked  up  at  a 
female  colleee,  of  quadralics,  hydrostalics  and 
pneumatics  very  vast. 

She  wai  slutted  wilh  erudition  at  you  Bluff  a  leather 
cushion,  all  the  ologiei  of  the  colleger  and  the 
knowledges  of  the  post. 

She  had  studied  ibe  old  lexiconi  of  Peruvians  and  Mex- 
icans,  ihcir   theology,  anthropology   and  geology 

She  knew  all  the  forms  and  features  of  the  prehistoric 

cicatures — ichthyosaurus,  pleiiosaurun,  megalosau. 

ruB  and  many  more. 
She'd  describe  the  mncienl  Tuscans,  and  the  Basques 

and  the  Etruscans,  their  griddles  and  their  kettles, 

and  the  victuals  that  they  knawed. 
She'd  discuss,  the   learned  charmer,   the   ihenli^  oF 

Brahma,  and  the  scandals  of  the  Vandals.  an<l  the 

inndaU  that  they  trod. 
She  knew  all  the  mighty  giants  and  the  master  minds 

of  science,  all  the  learning  that  was  turning  in  the 

burning  mind  of  man. 
But  she   cDiiidn'l    prepare    a    dinner   for  a  gaunt    and 

hungry  sinner,  or  get  up  a  decent  supper  for  het 

poor  voracious  papa,  for  she  never  was  constructed 

on  the  old  domestic  plan.  — Lynn  Union. 

"Mr.  Notes  and  Ctimmcnts,"  writes  Eva, 
''  why  is  dying  called  '  kicking  the  bucket  ?  '  " 
"  Don't  know,  dear,  unless  death  is  the  pail 
dest  roy  e  r  ■ ' ' — Ex. 

Student,  arguing  a  point :  "  Professor,  I'm 
sure  I  never  saw  the  word  before  with  that 
meaning."  Prof.:  "  Let  us  congrattilate  our- 
selves that  it  is  possible  for  you  to  learn  some- 
thing in  this  class. — Argus. 

Prof,  in  Chemistry  :  "  Give  a  practical  illus- 
tration of  the  incombustibility  of  carbon  di- 

Bright  Student:  "  If  you  light  your  breath, 
it  won't  burn," — Bx. 


-.•STEVENS'r 

i^thletic  A^^ociatiof 


I    BE    HELD    AT    THE 


ATHLETIC+GROUNDE 

—  ON 

Thursday,  Maj  27,  1886. 

The  following  events  will  be  hotly  contested: 

1,      100   Vends    Bcsb, 

2.      440  Yords   Run, 

3,     220  Yards   Run 
4.     0ne-l,alf    FRiie    Run, 

5,     t^l^rowinq    Dacrosse   Do" 
U,      ^tanding  Orood    Jump, 

7.      l\unriinq    Migb  J^Jn^P. 
O,      (^Qrowing    Ijose-ball, 

9.      Puttin_9  tl,e   ^bot.ieiLi 

I^ Other  events  will  probably  be  added. 

AH  aEGANT  SOLID  SILVER  MEDAL  10  Th 
WINNER  OF  EACH  EVENT. 

GLORY  AND   nONOR,   ONLY,    TO    5BCOKD   BES1 

Entries  Olo^e  l]aij  25,  -  -  Fee  f  I 

For  /uri/iir  informalion,  apply  (o  Bi/aid 
of  Dinclors. 


il.  S.  ®  June,  1886.  B  Oo.  6. 


5RooCmg    gfar*    (^erfiefi).  .  .     , ^3 

5faa«    of  '®& 83 

dcuiS    Sfac^e* .  ,  ,  , 85 

bcuiezer   lj\    ^fa^) ,' 86 

!^c6ei-r,    anc^    Gilwin   J\.    gfevSGnfi. 88 

icrp    i^aifroac^    ©ur'se go 

ri<^a6ee  gatoS c^i 


IG?*     


f^S    Sojc t)4 

.ecrge    (irlciCet  Slroun^ gj 

^'^^^^'^^'^ 95 

f^c;© cj6 

lencemenC  ®^eefi g7 

"S«® 98 


n,  a.  ^.; 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


^THE  4-  ECCENTRIC.^ 

The  ASyUAL  PubUsfuftJ  by  the  VndevifradnatcH  of  Sff'vens  Institute. 


■)  CC)N  TA  INS      o  V  \'.  H( 


&(ID    roimiKBUNs^Ei 


-•^tV 


125   IMAGES   OF    ©HOIGB    PLEADING    ffl A ^T -Ti E i^. 

Bound  in  a  Substantial  Board  Cover. 


rrcICE.  r,o  CENTcy. 


i  ..  *  . .  ■- 


(    . 


\.\y  .•>■'.;■  '.-  ?>l»t:j:rit:tt-  :f;-  70  cent-,  postai^c  prepaid,  bv  .i'i(irc=;>ii\:.. 

V .  I :   A K  D f: r so n .  427  garden  ^;^ ,  hdbokLN'.  n.  j. 


STEVENS  HIGH   SCHOOL 


-*•    --"^jC    ■   -••- -  


....   1 


1  ■  '■'■'. 


^-  • 


V 


j  i 


t  .  <  i . 


'.^      I       »     V    . 


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A    .    .    ■  •  «, 


■J        '  '.V 


'w    •    A  .VI 


.    .    .   ■  i        .  ' 


i     1.  '      .       11      >  . 


SENIOR    DEPARTMENT, 


>.'i  '\K)  V  HO^'LS  ;jF  ^L./: 


♦    ♦    ♦ 


riiv*!^**    1*^i-i-i-     i;iv':lu   tv-*      ill     t)ie    .--l  li.  1  i  .-?rt. 


i^or  Ca'^a*0i;ue3  apply  to  the  Librarian  cf  Steremi  In3t.:iuVi 


f  H^ 


•^UevefiS  jRdiQal©P. 


3. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  JUNE,  1886. 


No.  6. 


THE  SHOOTING  STARS. 


It  was  a  glorious,  starry  night, 

In  splendor  shone  each  star; 

And  as  I  stood  and  watched  them  all, 
The  near  ones  and  those  far; 

From  out  the  sky  one  bright  star  fell 

And  bade  its  friends  a  sad  farewell. 


And  every  other  starry  night. 

When  e'er  to  look  I'd  chance, 

That  empty  space  did  glare  at  me 
In  heaven's  broad  expanse. 

This  ached  my  heart,  it  gave  me  pain- 

And  lo !  another  fell  again. 

And  nightly,  as  I  watched  the  stars, 

Another  seemed  to  fail ; 
It  seemed  as  if  they  all  would  fall ! 
Such  doom  I  did  bewail. 
"Oh,  tell  me  starlets,  tell  me  why 
"  You  all  forsake  yon  placid  sky  ?  " 


And  mark  !  the  brightest  of  them  all, 
So  humbly  answer  makes : 
"  Alas,  we  all  are  doomed  to  fall, 

•*  When  fate  our  bondage  breaks  ! " 
"  Oh,  must  it  be  ! "  I  then  replied, 
"That  stars  must  leave  each  other's  side?" 


At  last,  in  dreary  solitude, 

A  single  star  was  left; 
It  twinkled  sadly  down  to  me. 

Of  all  its  friends  bereft. 
I  spoke  ;  then  prayed  that  it  should  stay. 
But,  no  ! — it  dropt,  and  passed  away. 

And  now,  the  whole  of  heaven  's  bare, 

A  vacant,  empty  space — 
Oh !  how  I  long  their  lot  to  share  ! 

Does  like  doom  wait  our  race  ? 
No  twinkling  star  can  now  be  seen 
A-glittering  with  majestic  sheen. 

Night  after  night  I  watch  and  watch, 

Awaiting  their  return; 
Rut  all  in  vain  I  watch  and  hope. 
In  vain  for  stars  I  yearn  ! 
"Oh !  let  them  all  be  gone  "  I  cry  ; 
"With  fancy's  aid  I  shall  espy 
"A  thousand  siarleis  in  the  sky." 

A.  Jasper  Swift. 


THE  CLASS  OF  '86. 

Ant,  Aguilera  :  A  Cuban  gentleman,  always 
en  grande  frisure  and  waxed  moustache ; 
abhors  all  profanity — that  is  not  his  own. 

John  F,  Arnoldy  C,  E.:  A  graduate  of  the 
Troy  Polytechnic  Institute ;  knows  every- 
thing— except  himself ;  makes  his  feet  con- 
stantly hug  the  ground  when  he  walks. 

Ed.  T.  Birdsall:  The  man  with  the  full 
beard  ;  will  take  electricity ;  is  said  to  have 
obtained  possession  of  the  valuable  chest 
wherein  Noah  had  kept  the  antediluvian 
nuts, 

C.  D.  Blauvelt :  Loves  to  go  out  buggy 
riding  with  a  girl  at  his  side  !  otherwise  quite 
innocent  and  charming. 

W,  S.  Chester :  The  great  organist,  with  the 
small  vocal  organ;  at  least,  he  never  spoke 
loud  when  reciting ;  far  above  the  rest  of 
mankind;  has  a  sweet  temper. 

C.  R.  Collins :  Never  drinks  before  5  p,  m., 
because  the  free  lunch  is  not  yet  ready  ;  quite 
literary;  editor-in-chief  of  this  sheet  for 
several  terms  ;  a  born  critic,  though  not  a 
borne  critic:  valedictorian  of  the  class. 

Ed,  J.  Cook :  Represents  foot  and  base 
ball,  lacrosse,  etc.;  artist  and  student;  a 
misogynist;  spars  so  lively. 

E,  M,  Cotiart :  The  Adonis  with  the  slight 
whiskers  ;  never  succeeded  in  talking  French 
like  English;  a  great  singer — leader  of  the 
Glee  Club;  renowned  athlete  and  champion 
boxer;  his  voice,  like  Stentor's,  can*  cross 
the  Hellespont;  loud  enough  to  be  heard  in 
the  "mind's  ear"  after  C.  has  left  for  his 
native  shore. 

Jly,  B,  Ever  hart :  The  scholar;  used  to  play 
base-ball  ;  does  not  like  Webster *s  dictionary; 
does  not  like  to  be  nick-named;  salutatorian  of 
the  class. 


84 

C.  J.  Field:  Motto:  "Business  before 
Study;"  well  up  in  arithmetic;  gives  many  re- 
ceptions and  postpones  them;  knows  every 
"  dog-gone  "  young  lady  of  Brooklyn ;  is  going 
to  Canada ! 

William  Fuchs,  B.  S. :  Graduate  of  the 
College  of  the  City  of  New  York;  poses  as  a 
cynic  and  succeeds  well  in  satirizing  himself; 
says  that  he  was  spoiled  at  the  Institute; 
otherwise  quite  modest. 

Ovidie  Giberga,  C,  E.:  Another  Renssellaer 
man;  now  engaged  on  the  Isthmus  of  Panama; 
is  not  afraid  of  fever;  has  a  charming  voice, 
and  sings  with  the  grace  of  a  swan;  the  class 
picture  shows  him  taking  the  high  C. 

Wm.  L.  Haynes:  Came  from  Rutgers  Col- 
lege; blushes  at  the  mere  mention  of  a  skirt; 
but  still  likes  dancing ;  does  not  like  to  be 
teazed;  started  out  with  the  project  of  rival- 
ing "  Birdie  "  in  the  beard  line,  but  of  course 
had  to  give  it  up. 

John  M.  HaskeU:  Dignity  from  head  to 
toe,  and  toe  to  head;  inventor  of  a  monkey- 
wrench;  judges  of  the  politics,  religion  and 
other  minor  characteristics  of  others  by  the 
way  they  pronounce  certain  words  ;  quite  a 
modest  philosopher. 

F.  E.  Jackson:  Does  not  like  to  draw 
trusses  on  cross  section  paper ;  otherwise 
very  sensible;  never  indulges;  gentle  and  stem, 
weak  and  energetic,  sportive  and  solemn,  he  is 
bound  to  succeed,  and  success  is  bound  to 
him. 

M.  G.  Lilly:  As  pure  and  chaste  as  his 
namesake;  was  never  known  to  blush;  his 
whisper,  stolen  from  the  calm  zephyrs  of  the 
night  that  rock  and  hum  the  lily  lo  sleep  ! 

Fran.  La  Pointe  :  A  great  politician,  likes 
beer,  but  doesn't  snuff;  a  quiet  sort  of  lad 
who  smiles  supremely  and  serenely  when  he 
hears  others  howl ;  loves  to  hear  Prof.  Wood 
ask  him  whether  he  does  "  see  the  point." 


John  A.  McCulloch  :  U  mecanicien  par  ex- 
cellence; no  special  mark,  free  from  all  vices 
and  full  of  virtues.  "  He  is  a  man,  take  him 
for  all  in  all,  etc.,  etc." 

J.  S.  Merrill:  Treasurer  of  the  class; 
another  of  Mc's  tribe;  "too  sweet  for  any- 
thing," when  he  puts  on  knickerbockers. 


G.  R.  Mekal/e :  The  "  Giddy ;"  beautiful 
chops,  handsome  beaver,  and  pretty  cigar  (?); 
the  three  characteristics  by  means  of  which  he 
may  be  recognized ;  also,  never  refuses  a 
drink  when  a^ed  politely. 

Frtd.  N.  Morton:  Metcalfe's  twin  brother; 
sometimes,  but  very  seldom,  found  alone; 
loves  music  passionately  ;  goes  to  bed  with  a 
"horrid  "  flute  in  his  mouth,  and  a  banjo  at 
his  side ;  very  often  "  Giddy "  takes  the 
banjo's  place.  "  Freddy"  &:  "  Giddy,"  now 
and  forever,  one  and  inseparable  ! 

E.  P.  Mowton:  a  renowned  jrachtsman, 
bicyclist,  and  athlete  ;  has  but  few  idiosyncra- 
cies. — (Cont  in  our  next,  after  his  leave.) 

H.  K.  Morrison  :  the  well  beloved,  homce- 
pathic  Morrison  ;  his  name  will  call  up 
pleasant  recollections  to  all  that  will  remember 
It ;  sweet  Morrison,  thy  base-ball  time  is  over. 

L.  G.  Paine :  entered  during  the  Senior 
year  of  this  glorious  class ;  hard  worker  and 
perfect  man,  [Don't  know  him  well,  you 
know !] 

Wm.  C.  Post :  always  straight ;  captain  of 
the  lacrosse  team  ;  travels  his  time-beaten 
road,  and  cares,  politely,  for  no  one. 

Otto  Pfordte :  the  big  "  Ego  ; "  the  fiisl 
man  of  '86  to  catch  a  job  ;  has  some  exceiieni 
ideas  on  lock-nuts,  and  so  forth ;  a  chemist 
who  can  analyze  you  into  your  minuiest 
elements  by  merely  looking  at  you. 

W.  IV.  Randolph  :  A  beauteous  blonde;  hails 
from  the  South ;  likes  the  old  Rock  where  ihe 
Rye  grows ;  nf  ver  kissed  a  girl  without  hei 
expressed  desire. 


Ed.  D.  Self: !■ 

John  R.  Slack,  A.  B. :  Graduate  of  Colum- 
bia ;  has  some  faults,  I  know,  but  I  shan't  lell 
you  !  "  I'd  rather  choose  to  wrong  myself, 
and  you,  than  I  will  wrong  such,  etc." 

W.  W.  Thomas  :  A  fine  sport ;  believes  in 
the  wise  proverb  :  "  You  must  look,  but  you 
may  not  touch  !  "  Ask  him  to  show  you  the 
New  York  "Oriental  Pachyderm."   ■ 

£.  F.  R.  Varick  ;  His  winning  countenance 
will  soon  be  lost ;  is  not  an  anarchist  orator, 
according  to  his  own  authority. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


85 


;  White :  Little  "  Ed,"  surnamed  the 
vree ;  "  laughs  merrily,  talks  cheerily, 
(verily!)  and  swears — like  a  major — 
id"  and  by  "Jinks." 

".  White :  A  Mexican,  with  a  great  deal 
ia ;  still,  very  often  dances  like  a  will- 
vrisp ;  a  "  puffickt  leedis  man,"  with 
indrearies. 

-.  Woodbridge :  Graduate  of  the  Brook- 
lytechnic  Institute ;  musician,  mathe- 
n,  electrician,  mechanician,  chemistic- 
mposition,  and  exhibition  ;  these  and 
many  others  combined. 

R.  King :   (Pretty  nearly  forgotten,  not 

>n  the  list — but,  oh,  my!  ")  has  a  promi- 

jht  mustache  and  hair;  has  been  offered 

excellent  positions,  but  has  not  yet  de- 

of  a  destructive  turn  of  mind  ;  treats 

low  students  like  a  Mentor  his   Tele- 

His  variety  is  infinite. 


-»-#- 


DAMASCUS  BLADES. 


n  the  days  of   the    Crusaders  until  a 
recent  date,  these  remarkable  weapons, 
gh  famous  in  all  parts  of  the  civilized 
have  remained  a  mystery  as  far  as  the 
ses  used  in  their  manufacture  are  con- 
l ;  and  all  attempts  to  reproduce  their 
ir  properties  have  proved  futile, 
g  before  the  Christian  era  the  wootz  of 
was  carried  to  Damascus,  where  it  was 
1,  by  hand,  into  blades  which  were  the 
r  of  the  East ;  and,  since  the  Crusaders, 
;  seen  (and  felt)  their  wonderful  perfec- 
nade  them  known  in  Europe,  they  have 
:onsidered,  the  world  over,  the  acme  of 
morer's  art.     Their  keenness  of  edge, 
jxtreme  hardness,  their  elasticity  and  the 
ful  display  of  prismatic  color  seen,  by 
ig   them  in  certain  lights,  and  due  to 
e  bundles  or  knots  of  exceedingly  fine 
:rossing  and  recrossing  at  every  conceiv- 
ngle  upon  their  surfaces,  are  their  chief 
:teristics.     The  first  three  of  these  have 
imitated  with  more  or  less  success  by  a 
er  of  experimenters,  but  the  last  defied 
iuction  until  about  the  year  1840,  when 
Anosoff  (of  the  Russian  army)  and  M. 
t  conducted  investigations — an  account 
ich  was  published  in  the  "  Russian  Min- 
nnual  " — that  led  to  the  full  comprehen- 
►f  the  subject.     They  did  not,  however. 


attempt  to  produce  the  desired  effects  by  using 
the  Indian  steel,  or  wootz,  which  is  obtained 
by  a  very  primitive  process;  but,  having  ana- 
lyzed this,  produced  a  metal  having  its  essen- 
tial qualities.  Working  this  by  very  compli- 
cated modern  methods,  with  the  aid  of  the 
most  perfect  modern  machinery  and  with  all 
the  experience  of  modern  science,  they  suc- 
ceeded in  making  blades  possessing  the  same 
qualities,  though  in  not  quite  so  marked  a  de- 
gree, as  those  made  at  the  simple  forges  of  the 
armorers  of  a  semi  barbarous  race,  upon  whom 
the  Roman  people  looked  with  scorn. 

The  process  referred  to  above,  by  which  the 
wootz  is  obtained,  is  as  follows:    The  iron, 
gotten  direct  from  the  ore  (a  magnetic  oxide, 
yielding  only  15  per  cent.)  is  put  into  cruci- 
bles of  clay  and  10  pei  cent,  of  dry  wood,  in 
small  bits,  added.     This  is  covered  with  two 
or  three  green  leaves,  and  the  crucibles  are 
then  carefully  stopped  up  with  moist  clay  to 
exclude  the  air.     From  twenty  to  twenty-five 
of  these,  each  holding  only  a  pound  of  iron, 
are  placed  in  a  blast  furnace  fed  with  charcoal 
and  kept  at  the  highest  temperature  of  which 
the  furnace  is  capable,  for  about  two  hours 
and  a  half.     They  are  then   taken   out   and 
cooled,  after  which  they  are  broken  and  the 
steel  obtained  in  little  lumps.    Of  theSe  lumps, 
only  those  whose   surfaces  are   smooth  and 
regular  are  retained,  roughness  indicating  a 
poor  quality  of  steel,  and   these,  being  too 
brittle,  are  melted  again  and  kept  at  a  red 
heat  for  several  hours,  when  the  steel  is  ready 
for  use.     An  excellent  specimen,  procured  by 
Gen.  Anosoff,  was  analyzed  by  M.    Ilimoff, 
with  the  following  result:   iron,  98;  carbon, 
1. 31;    sulphur,    .014;   silicon,  .5;   aluminium, 
.055;  copper,  .3;  and  traces  of  silver. 

The  investigation  of  Gen.  Anosoff  led  to 
the  establishment  of  works  at  Zlatust,  in  the 
Ural  mountains,  where  blades,  having  the 
properties  of  those  of  Damascus,  are  man- 
ufactured by  a  process  of  his  invention.  The 
crucible,  having  been  charged  with  about  11 
lbs.  of  iron,  very  malleable  and  ductile,  -^  as 
much  pure  native  graphite,  ^  part  of  scales 
of  iron,  and  ix  P^^'  of  dolomite  as  flux,  is 
placed  in  the  blast  furnace,  where  it  is  kept 
for  five  hours,  when  three-fourths  of  the  graph- 
ite will  have  disappeared  and  a  net  work  of  fine 
lines  will  be  visible  on  the  steel.  When  the 
fuel  in  the  furnace  is  exhausted  and  the  cruci- 
ble becomes  cool,  the  latter  is  taken  out  and 
the  lump  of  steel,  weighing  about  1 1  pounds, 
and  presenting  a  surface  of  uniform  appear- 
ance, is  obtained.     This  is  drawn  out  under 


^r 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


a  hammer,  from  three  to  nine  heat^  being 
required  for  the  Ojwration,  after  which  it  is 
cut  into  thrte  pieces  and  each  piece  forged 
again  separately.  As  the  lower  side  of  the 
original  lump  is  better  marked  than  the  upper, 
care  is  taken  in  forging  to  preserve  the  dis- 
tinction between  the  two,  that  the  cutting  edge 
of  the  blade  may  be  made  from  the  former. 
The  iridescent  appearance  is  brought  out  by 
washing  in  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  iion  con- 
taining a  certain  quantity  of  sulphate  of  alu- 
mina, after  which  it  is  repeatedly  washed  with 
soap  and  water,  and  wiped  dry. 

These  blades  resemble  the  real  Damascus 
in  all  essential  particulars,  and  the  estahHsh- 
ment  at  Zlatusl,  became  celebrated  for  their 
manufacture  during  the  life  of  Gen.  AnosolT. 
Since  his  death,  however,  which  occurred  in 
1851,  his  successors  have  been  unable  to  sus- 
tain the  reputation  of  the  works;  and  it  is 
supposed  that  he  had  always  kept  part  of  his 
process  a  secret,  and  that  it  died  with  him. 
M.  B.  G. 


DIANA  LOUIEZER. 

A    PLAY    IN    NOT   QUITE   SO   MANY    ACTS, 

Adapttd  fiem  Ike  Ctniian  ty  T,  Dingvi  Kchot. 

DRAMATIS  I'ERSON/E. 

Loophole,  A  Kid,  going  on  Iwcnly-one. 

ErrHHRllliNL     Fkstin,   His    mother,   owner    of    llie 

Brewery. 
GOSHtiARN    FUSSBH,     Rascally    Plumber,     and     hcnvy 

DeuJei  in  Coal,  Wo(k1  and  Slalionery. 
DUNA  LOUIBZER,  H IS  daughter. 
Mahijuis  i)B  Shellac,  Dishonest  Undenaker  to   the 

RuBui-Liul^-uuii.  A  Police  Cnplain, 

JOKRCB,     Hlunibcr's    Assistant.    Third-rale  Villian,  in 
league  with  ShellRC. 

Faufl'  \   Beggarly  Plumbers, 

VECETAnLES,    ) 

Unedueuted  Brewen.  Mobs.  Degraded  Aldermen. 

ACT  I. 

Scene. — Dark  comer  in  Fusser's  shop. 

Diana.    sirafiKg  pift-lach.      Jokrgb,    sUaliHg  sla- 

JoRR^iE.  Hoek  f  Diana,  Hock  ?  What  know  I  of 
hock  ?  Vou  charge  me  with  hocking  your  father's  rub- 
bers and  say  you  saw  the  check  protruding  from  me 
vest  pocket,  Diana,  why  seek  you  to  turn  from  me 
love?  Melhinks  the  vulgar  brewery  chump  hath  pried 
into  the  ground  floor  of  thy  affections  and  thrust  me 
out.  Bui  nay  !  It  cannot  be  ;  it  must  not  be.  (Gels 
very   hiavily   txciltd.)      Oh,   gacurl,    me    heart — I — 

Ohwowjoo   joplumbogo (Slm^gUi  vieltnlly 

milk  a  Jtimiui  plasUr  an  Ail  lifl  inail.)     Oh  1   Diana, 


say,  will  you  not  1«  nie  own  ?  [K'ntib  fxtiltdly  an  tint 
feuntli  of  putty  audmias  his  sfring  fanls.) 

Diana  (  iVilk  pale  hlut  ematioM.)  Jorrge,  avut : 
Drive  me  not  In  violence,  I  have  a  loud,  strong  breilb 
■nd  can  defend  myKlt.  Beware  Ihce,  Jorrge — Beware  I 
I  will  not  take  youi  love ;  not  even  with  b  pound  nt 
lea  beside.  Nay,  leave  me  !  {  K'awi  her  feel  gtacf/ullj 
lo7v.irJi  the  door.) 

JoRiGB.  [A  riling  wilh  derp^ed  iiillainy  tIampiJ  oni 
tminiiiereii  on  varteut parli  of  kis  counlenanct.)  Aha  ! 
Then,  Diana,  you  reject  me  love  ?  The  die  is  c»L 
Vou  yet  shall  me  with  big  salt  teats  of  imilalion  anguish 
the  ilay  when  you  ca.it  ihe  jewel  of  me  love  away. 
{Exit.)  (Diana  eonlinun  It  stmpr pipe-lacks  rtfiicHi>rly.) 
Enter  Loophole. 

Loophole,  Oh,  Diana!  So  long.  (£«/,1  {Rt-emttniis 
fuHr  itHg/nhlicii.)  Now  yon  »ee  me!  Now  you  don't! 
(Falls  uiu.xpecledly  daum  Ihe  cellar  itairs.  DiANA  gives 
several  tries  tut  net  any  »f  them  mid  attA  piercing. 
Runs  to  Ihe  staits.) 

Diana.  Oh,  Loophole  are  you  damaged  7 

Loophole,  ( From  ieloa:)  No,  but  I  lost  a  wooden 
toothpick.     Bring  two  boxes  <A  matches  while  I  find 

Diana.  Tarry  not  there.  Methioks  I  heat  my 
father's  footsteps  approaching  on  horseback.  (Loophole 
comes  Hf  frvm  Ihe  etllar.) 

LooPHO^F.  Diana,  I  saw  the  plumber  pup  on  yonder 
comer  and  tnelhought  he  looked  as  though  he  sought 
gore,  and — but  hold  !  I  see  also  upon  your  face  fom 
conaeculive  shades  of  agitation.  Has  the  mongrel 
guttersnipe  disturbed  thee? 

DiANA-  Aye.  Loophole,  and  I  would  have  kicked 
him  wilh  my  number  nines  had  I  known  that  you  wett 
near.    But  I  fear  there  will  be  trouble  brewing. 

Loophole.  Yes :  there  is.  We  brew  it  daily  al  the 
brewery. 

Diana,  Huyler,  once  again,  Loophole,  Fresh  eveiy 
hour.  But  1  mean  thai  I  rejected  Jorrge  and  he  will 
work  us  ill.     He  said  Ihe  same. 

Loophole,  Nay,  Diana.  The  foul  snooier  shall  noi 
thwart  us,  I  will  grasp  him  by  his  paper  collar  a.Dd 
thrust  him  nearly  three  feet  from  mc.  I  shall  fix  things 
up.     Depend  on  me. 

Diana.  Oh,  Loophole,  let  me  lay  my  head  upon  youi 
lofty  shirt  front.  {Loyi  her  head  upon  his  higi-fritiJ 
dirty  skirl  cover  with  nelking  tut  a  false  hasirni  umlrr 
it.  He  embraces  her  and  rmmden  if  ie  has  cash  erwugi 
far  iToa  sodas.  Lengthy  pause,  in  ivhich  JottlCE.  FlsH, 
Frl'it,  dH'/ Vei;btablbs.  look  in  alike  window  and  mii 
in  the  procredint;s.  After  a-Mch  they  lake  all  lie  ItaJ 
pipes  and  suf plies  vithin  reach.  Jorrge  maies  a  naisi. 
Loophole  leoii  up  and ftrctives  him.) 

Loophole,  (Jumping  six  and  tkree-quarirr  feel.) 
Seel  Jorrge,  Ihe  guttersnipe  1  (JokRCE  J'oealei  stry 
kaslily.) 

Diana  Great  Phoebus  >  We  are  wrecked.  (/'aiWi 
dead  ataay  on  two  and  a  kalf-doten  gas  glaies.) 


ACT  U. 

Scene— flatt  part   of  Ike    Bn 


JoHKr.E.  Now,  Sir  Marquis  de  Shellac,  you  say  youi 
busines"  ho-s  been  dull  of  late,  because  ihc  beer  i? 
brewed  loo  pure,  nnd  hence  there  are  not  funerals 
enongh. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


87 


Shellac.  Even  so,  and  I  know  not  wherewith  to 
boom  things. 

JORRGE.  Yes,  but  I  do,  I  am  a  plumber.  Aye,  a 
regular  snyde  plumber.  I  can  go  beneath  the  brewery 
and  tinker  witn  the  plumbinfc  and  fix  things  so  the  vul- 
gar sewer  gas  will  mingle  with  the  beer,  and  then,  sir, 
funerals  will  start  in  nrst-class  shape.  (Shellac  gets 
highly  elaUd.  Turns  three  hand  springs  and  dances 
one  double  shuffle.) 

Shellac.  Most  noble  plumber  ;  and  will  you  do  it  ? 

JoRRGE.  Aye,  if  you  will  do  for  me.  Young  First  in 
has  robbed  me  of  me  fair  one,  and  I  seek  revenge.  Help 
me  to  revenge  ;  10  drag  him  down,  down  to  the  depths 
of  degradation  and  I  will  tinker  with  the  plumbing. 

Shellac.  Agreed. 

JORRGE  Then  first  I'll  tell  you  of  what  I  lately  saw 
between  them.     (Exeunt,  talking.) 


ACT  III. 

Scene. — Luxurious  up-Uyum  apartments  ^/Etterrheni 
FlRSTlN  Etterrheni  seated  at  an  aged  piano 
with  every  other  note  gone^  playim^  the  *  *  Brewer^ s 
Quadrille^'*  concocted  by  herself.  Ente»  Shellac  «»- 
attended  by  a  valet.) 

Shellac.  Madame,  oxskuse  me.  I  came  to  talk  of  a 
little  matter  regarding  his  nobbishness,  your  son. 

Etterrhenl  Proceed;  I  am  acquainted  with  me  son 
somewhat  and  I  supply  him  with  spondoulix  occasion- 
ally. 

Shellac.  Your  son  is  on  the  .^-line  to  ruin.  One 
Fusser,  a  rascally  plumber  has  a  daughter  who  has  be- 
guiled Sir  Loophole.  When  he  visits  her,  she  engages 
him  in  conversation  while  her  father  steals  around  and 
purloins  various  articles  from  his  person.  And  they 
even  go  so  far  as  to  treat  him  to  your  own  beer.  The 
couple  must  be  arrested.  Let  us  proceed  at  once  to 
procure  liberty  and  justice  and  a  seventy-five  cent 
warrant. 

Etterrhenl  Oh,  geursh  !  can  this  be?  Excuse  me 
while  I  put  on  my  rubber  boots  and  my  cast  iron 
basque,  trimmed  with  zinc.  (Exit  for  a  few  minutes. 
Re-enters  and  exit  with  SHELLAC ) 

ACT    IV. 

Scene.  Front  door  Kusser*s  shop.  Fusser  smoking 
a  three  for  five.  Enter  JORKGE,  FiSH,  Fruit  am/ 
Vegetables. 

JoRRGE.  Good  morning.  Mr  Fusser,  will  you  come 
inside  for  four  hours  while  1  talk  with  yuu  on  business 
that  don*t  concern  you  in  the  least  ? 

Fusser.  Oh,  certainly,  don't  mention  it.  Ju!>t  wait 
two  years  while  I  infect  the  neighborhood  a  little  more 
with  my  Havana. 

JoRRGE.  With  pleasure;  no  hurry.  {Grabs  Fusser  by 
the  pants  and  drags  him  ail  over  the  shop.)  Nice  weather 
for  exercise.  I  came  to  see  you  about  a  little  matter 
regarding  your  daughter.  I  feel  that  you  ought  to  be 
informed  on  the  subject.  There  comes  to  see  her, 
daily,  a  vile  brewery  waif,  and  not  only  is  he  of  a  low  ex- 
traction, but  he  is  a  thieving  villain.  But  yesterday  the.se 
gentlemen  here,  and  myself,  saw  him  swipe  lead  pen- 
cils from  the  stock  while  he  was  here  and  Diana  was  in 
charge.  He  is  a  base,  chrome  green  villain.  Rise  up 
against  him.  Let  us  go  this  very  eyewink  and  procure 
a  warrant  for  bis  arrest. 


Fusser.  Jorrge,  I  thank  you,  accept  a  little,  mean, 
insignificant  token  of  my  gratitude.  {Hands  him  a  loaded 
cigar  ;  two  cent  sizzler,  with  horse  hair  and  bad  saltpetre 
filling )  I  will  have  the  villain  arrested  at  once.  Let 
us  be  off  for  a  warrant.     {Exeunt.) 

ACT  V. 

Scene. — Front  of  Fusser's  shop.  Fusser  soldering 
his  suspenders  ;  Jorrge  sweeping  out.  The  morn- 
ing sun  { price  two  cents),  stealing  all  over  the  land- 
scape.) 

Fusser.  Now,  Jorrge,  let  me  recline  me  orbs  ou  the 
base  human  lump  that  seeks  to  ruin  me.  With  four 
cops  and  a  gilt  edged  warrant  in  the  back  ^oom  his  doom 
is  sure.  (  iVinks  his  ears  satisfactorily.) 

Jorrge.  Aye,  the  villain  is  entrapped.  {Smiles  a  big 
tin  smile  of  insatiate  villainy.  Rumble  of  wheels.  En- 
ter brewery  wagon  containing  SHELLAC,  Etterrheni, 
RuBBi-DUB-DUB  and  a  gang  of  UKEDVCATKD  Brewers). 

Etterrhenl  ( Turning  a  hand-spring  oiUof  the  wagon 
and  rushing  at  FusSER.  thirty-two  miles  per  hour.)  Haa  ! 
Hoo  !  Hee  !  Base  bummer  I  have  you.  {Grabs  him  by 
both  ears  and  bumps  his  head  at  the  rate  of  seventy-six 
times  a  second  against  the  brick  wall.  Enter  Loophole, 
much  amazed.  Fusser  perceives  him  and  breaks  loose; 
falls  with  a  dull  thud  upon  him.) 

Fusser.  Hi  !  Ragged  rufHan.  at  last.  {Blocks  his 
stiff  hat  and  hits  him  a  poke  on  his  false  shirt  front. 
Grand  right  and  left.  Cops,  Brewers,  Plumbers 
Etterrheni  gets  Fusser  down  and  jumps  up  and  down 
on  his  neck  ;  LooPHOLE/^ra-^ze'j  JORRGB;  rocks,  sticks 
and  Dutch  pro fanity.  Plumbers  a«</  Brewers  heave 
lead  pipe  ^  coal^  looodand  solder.  Entn  fifteen  thous'tnd 
assorted  populace.  RUBBI-DUB-DUB  bawls  one  lung  out. 
Cops  and  RuBBl-DUB-DUByf>w//v  stop  the  riot) 

RUBBI-DUB-DUB.  What  means  this  howling  riot  ? 

Fusser.  {Crawling  up  from  the  cellar  way.)  There, 
behold  the  villainous  instigator  !  {Points  to  Loophole.) 

Loophole.  {Gathering  up  his  snyde  jewelry  from  the 
surrounding  landscape.)  Nay!  But  there,  see  the  mon- 
grel pup  that  first  barked.     {Points  to  Fusser.) 

Diana.  {Rushing  in  out  of  breath.)  Seize  the  bow 
eared  knaves.  {Points  to  Shku.kc  and  ]oKKiiE..)  lover- 
heard  them  talking  of  a  base  scheme  and  this  is  the  re- 
sult. I  have  run  all  the  way  from  Morristown  N  J., 
but  alas,  too  late.  {Sinks  in  several  distinct  heaps  upon 
the  grottnd  and  gives  J  OKKGE  and  Shellac  dead  away. 
They  are  seized  and  ctficr  full  explanation  Etterrheni 
approaches  Fusser.) 

E'ITERRHENI.  Fus.  old  fel.,  excuse  me  for  treading  on 
your  jugular,  but  I  was  laboring  under  a  delusion. 

Fusser.  Oh,  certainly  Et..  certainly  ;  don't  mention 
it.  I  beg  you  to  give  me  your  tin  breastpin  as  a  token 
of  this  pleasant  occasion.  (Etikrrheni^iz/^j  ^«//»  M<r 
pin) 

Loophole.  Ah,  Fusser,  now  gaze  into  my  four  een 
carat  countenance  and  say  the  fair  Diana  can  be  mine 

Fusser.  Take  her.  Loophole.  Aye,  and  even  more :  a 
load  of  wood  and  one  p.ickige  of  note  paper  with  her. 
{Leads  Diana  to  Loophole.) 

Etterrheni.  {To  the  Brewers.)  Geester  heim  :  Auf 
dee  brewery  hineingogoen  an.  (£'jriV  Brewers.)  {To 
Fusser.)  Come,  let  us  all  to  ihe  dime  restaurant  and 
roll  in  luxury  in  honor  of  the  occasion. 

All.   Well!  Now!  {Excun'.) 

Curtain. 


THE    STE-VENS   INDICATOR. 


JOHN,    ROBERT.    AND    EDWIN   A. 
STEVENS. 


One  of  the  greatest  engineers  living  at  the 
commencemenl  of  the  present  century,  with- 
out having  lieen  the  first  to  propose  naviga- 
tion on. land  or  sea  by  steam,  yet  exhibiting  a 
far  better  knowledge  of  the  science  and  art  of 
engineering  and  holding,  more  advanced  views 
in  regard  to  the  importance  and  capabilities 
of  the  steam  engine,  was  Col.  John  Stevens. 
He  was  born,  i749f  in  New  York  City,  but 
became  a  resident  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.  His 
attention  was  directed  first  to  steam  engineer- 
ing, by  seeing,  in  1787,  the  imperfect  steam- 
boat of  John  Fitch  on  the  Delaware  River. 
Familiarizing  himself  with  this  new  and  curi- 
ous combination,  he  became  an  unwearied  ex- 
perimenter in  the  application  of  steam  to  loco- 
motion. 

In  1804,  three  years  before  Fulton's  steam- 
er, the  ■'  Clermont,"  plowed  its  way  up  the 
Hudson,  Stevens  had  constructed  a  steam- 
boat which,  by  the  principles  involved,  was 
destined  to  become  the  parent  of  the  modem 
Atlantic  steamship.  This  boat  was  propelled 
by  a  pair  of  twin  screws,  and  was  furnished 
with  steam  at  50  lbs.  pressure  by  a  sectional 
boiler.  The  machinery  of  this  boat,  as  here 
illustrated,  is  to  be  seen  in  the  Library  at  the 
Institute. 

The  success  of  this,  and  of  a  ond  u  1 
in  1806,  although  the  knowledg  f  hem  a 
confined  to  a  limited  circle,  wa  u  h  h 
Stevens  was  encouraged  to  con  ru  a  1  j, 
steamboat,  the  "  Phcenix,"  a  s  ew  p  opelle 
which  was  brought  out  closely  af  he  on 
pletion  of  Fulton's  side-whee!  boat,  and  made 
a  successful  trip  to  Albany  in  August,  1807, 


only  a  few  days  after  the  voyage  of  the  "  Cler- 
mont." A  law  passed  in  New  York  gave  to 
Fulton  the  monopoly  of  the  waters  of  the 
State  ;  so  in  1808  he  sent  his  boat,  in  charge 
of  his  son,  Robert  L.  Stevens,  around  into  the 
Delaware,  thus  making  the  first  sea  voyage  in 
a  steam  vessel.  Here  the  "  Phcenix  "  proved 
a  success. 

In  the  year  1811  he  urged  the  construction 
of  a  railroad  to  connect  the  Lakes  with  the 
Hudson  River,  insisting  upon  the  economy  o( 
first  cost  and  maintenance  as  well  as  the  speed 
of  transportation,  as  contrasted  with  the  canal 
then  proposed.  At  that  time  not  a  locomotive 
existed  in  any  shape.  A  few  short  tram-roads 
were  in  existence,  and,  for  transportation. 
wagons  with  ordinary  wheels  turning  on  axle- 
trees  were  drawn  by  horses.  The  wagons 
were  prevented  from  running  off  sideways  by 
a  raised  flange  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  rail. 
He  published,  May,  181 2,  a  pamphlet,  making 
public  his  views  and  calculations  respecting 
the  feasibility  of  applying  steam  to  locomo- 
tion on  land,  and  the  precise  mode  of  such 
application.  He  describes  precisely  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  modern  railroad  ;  the  non- 
condensing  locomotive  with  tubular  boiler, 
its  wheels  fast  on  the  axle,  and  the  flanges  on 
the  inner  perifery  of  the  wheels.  He  writes : 
"  I  can  see  nothing  to  hinder  a  steam  carriage 
moving  on  these  ways  with  a  velocity  of  100 
miles  an  hour,"  but  adds  :  "This  astonishing 
velocity  is  considered  here  as  merely  possible. 
It  is  probable  that  it  may  not,  in  practice,  be 
convenient  to  exceed  twenty  or  thirty  miles 
an  hour.  Actual  experiments,  however,  can 
alone  determine  this  matter,  and  I  should  not 
be  surprised  at  seeing  steam  carriages  pro- 
pelled at  the  rate  of  forty  or  fifty  miles  an 
hour.     In    1838   this   great  man  died,  whose 


t    JOHN    STEVBNS,    I804. 


THE     STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


enl^ged  liberal  and  progressive  ideas  placed 
him  tar  in  advance  of  the  times  in  which  he 
lived. 


Robert  L.  Stevens,  his  son,  was  born  in 
1786,  and,  when  a  boy,  worked  in  the  ma- 
chine shop  at  Hoboken.  He  devoted  his 
whole  life  to  experimental  philosophy,  the  re- 
sults of  which  have  been  of  great  public  ben- 
efit. He  was  associated  with  his  father  in 
many  important  experiments.  In  1814  he 
launched  the  steamboat"  Philadelphia,"  which 
attained  the  then  wonderful  speed  of  13!^ 
miles  an  hour.    He  determined  and  introduced 


into  his  practice  the  forms  of  least  resistance 
and  the  graceful  water  lines  to  which  so  much 
attention  is  now  paid.  In  this  steamboat  he 
employed  the  expansive  working  of  steam. 
In  1822,  when  Fulton  introduced  steam  ferry 
boats,  Stevens  built  one  which  was  the  first  of 
the  now  standard  form.  Here  he  substituted 
for  the  heavy,  solid  cast-iron  walking-beam, 
the  skeleton,  wrought-iron  walking-beam  now 
in  universal  use  in  America.  In  iSay,  on  the 
steamboat  "North  America,"  he  applied  the 
hog-frame,  consisting  of  the  large  timbers  on 
the  sides,  to  prevent  the  boat  bending  in  the 

An  invention  of  great  importance  was  that 
of  the  Stevens  valve-gear,  the  joint  work  of 
Robert  L.  Stevens  and  his  nephew,  Francis 
B.  Stevens,  in  the  year  1841.  In  the  same 
year  he  invented  the  double  slide  cut-off  for 
locomotives  and  large  engines.  This,  besides 
the  general  use  on  the  river  boats  built  in 
New  York,  is  in  use  on  the  great  locomotives 
of  the  Central  Pacific  R.R.  The  first  loco- 
motives used  on  the  Camden  and  Amboy 
R.R.  were  built  from  his  plans.  He  corre- 
sponded and  exchanged  ideas  concerning  lo- 
comotives, with  Robert  Stephenson.  He  in- 
vented the  universally  used  T-rail,  and  as  his 
design  was  pronounced  in  Scotland,  an  im- 
possible one  to  roll,  he  went  abroad  to  show 
how  it  was  to  be  done.  In  1843  he  designed 
an  iron  clad  war  vessel  to  be  250  feet  long, 
but  in  1854  such  progress  had  been  made  in 


go 


THIi   STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


1 


naval  engineering,  that  he  abandoned  this  and 
laid  down  the  keel  of  a  ship  of  much  greater 
size  and  power.  This  was  the  famous  '  Stev- 
ens Battery,"  which  was  described  in  our 
April  number.  He  upheld,  from  the  begin- 
ning, the  principle  now  recognized,  ihat  a 
smaller  number  of  the  largest  guns  should  be 
employed,  rather  than  a  larger  number  of 
small  guns.  Acting  in  accordance  with  this 
principle,  he  provided,  on  his  iron  clad,  for 
the  mounting  of  the  largest  guns  that  could 
be  constructed  at  the  time,  to  be  worked  on 
turntables.  His  death  occurred  before  the 
vessel  could  be  finished,  in  the  year  1856. 

Edwin  A.  Stevens,  bom  in  1795,  atid  James 
C  Stevens,  who  had  taken  an  active  interest 
in  their  brother's  great  work,  attempted  to 
secure  from  the  government  authority  to  com- 
plete the  ship.  Mr.  Edwin  A.  Stevens,  died 
in  the  year  1868,  leaving  the  task  still  unac- 
complished. In  his  will  he  left  funds  to  finish 
the  work.  It  wa.s  decided  to  introduce  radi- 
cal changes  in  the  vessel,  and  to  rebuild  it 
into  the  monitor  pattern,  as  shown  in  the  illus- 
tration. The  funds,  however,  proved  insuffi- 
cient to  finish  it  on  the  elaborate  scale  pro- 
posed, and  so  the  work  stopped.  This  noble 
vessel,  with  its  possibility  of  becoming  the 
fastest  war  steamer  in  the  world,  the  most 
powerful  steam  ram,  the  fleetest  of  torpedo 
ships,  and  the  most  formidable  of  iron-clads, 
contrary  to  the  recommendations  of  Prof. 
Thurston  and  other  eminent  engineers,  was 
sold,  and  broken  up  in  tS8o,  as  before 
described.  By  far  the  greatest  work  of  Edwin 
A.  Stevens,  was  the  founding  of  an  "  Insti- 
tution of  Learning,  for  the  benefit,  tuition,  and 
advancement  in  learningof  the  youth  residing 
in  the  State  of  New  Jersey."  He  left,  in  his 
will,  funds  for  the  accomplishment  of  this 
design,  and  appointed  trustees  for  its  govern- 
ment. It  was  his  intention,  as  he  expressed 
it,  that  this  Institution  should  be  perpetual. 
The  first  catalogues  of  the  Institute  announced 
that  the  executors,  in  view  of  the  existing 
needs  of  the  country  at  large,  and  of  the  per- 
sonal interest  always  manifested  by  Mr. 
Stevens  in  the  development  of  the  mechanic 
arts,  had  determined  that  the  Institution  of 
Learning  should  be  a  school  of  Mechanical 
Engineering.  It  was  determined  to  make  this 
of  a  high  educational  order  and  to  involve  a 
general  and  not  a  merely  industrial  training  ; 
it  was  thought  best  also  in  memory  of  its 
munificent  founder,  to  call  the  new  school  the 
Stevens  Institute  of  Technology. 

Albitan. 


A  SHARP  RAILHOAD  CURVE.  ' 

The  sharpest  railroad  curve  in  the  world, 
for  standard  gauge  track,  has  lately  been  con- 
structed on  the  Providence,  Warren  and  Bris- 
tol R.R-  The  curve  was  constructed  to  do 
away  with  the  old  method  of  backing  out  of 
Providence  and  switching  on  to  the  main 
track.  Portions  of  this  description  are  quoted 
from  the  Railroad  Gazette. 

In  order  to  minimize  an  enormous  amount 
of  excavation,  necessitated  by  the  close  prox- 
imity of  a  steeply  sloping  bluff  130  feet  high, 
this  very  sharj)  curve  was  adopted.  Tht 
radius  of  curvature  decreases  every  fifty  feet 
untiltheminimum  radius  of  III  feet  is  reached, 
at  the  end  of  this  curve  the  radius  increases 
every  eleven  feet  until  the  tangent  is  reached. 
The  whole  curve  has  a  sweep  of  nearly  i8a 
degrees.  To  enable  the  eight  wheelers  to 
traverse  the  curve,  the  flanges  are  taken  off  the 
front  drivers,  and  the  width  of  tire  increased 
to  seven  inches.  A  third  and  fourth  rail  is 
laid  on  the  inside  of  the  curve  for  the  blank 
wheel  to  run  off  on.  The  locomotives  ride 
much  easier,  and  are  much  easier  on  track 
since  the  flanges  have  been  taken  off.  The 
weight  of  the  rails  is  seventy  lbs.  per  yard 
The  third  and  fourth  rails  are  bolted  to  the 
main  rails  with  braces  between.  The  two  rails 
thus  joined  are  laid  as  a  single  rail  and  furnish 
more  than  doubid  the  usual  bearing  upon  the 
sleepers,  thus  making  a  particularly  rigid 
curve.  The  road-bed  is  heavily  ballasted  with 
broken  stone.  Every  engine  of  the  road  his 
traversed  the  curve  with  perfect  ease,  and  a 
train  of  seven  empty  cars  has  been  backed 
around  it  by  an  engine  with  only  sixty-six  lbs. 
of  steam. 

An  engine  has  also  been  built  for  this  road, 
especially  adapted  for  such  curves.  It  is  of 
the  type  of  the  bogie  or  two  cylinder  Fairlie 
engine,  and  is  named  the  "Pokanokel."  In 
making  a  test  on  a  curve  roughly  laid  in  a 
ballast  hole,  the  "  Pokanoket"  passed  round  a 
curve  of  19^  feet  radius  (thirty  degrees)  with 
ease,  while  an  engine  of  the  usual  American 
type  spread  the  track  so  badly  thai  the  trial 
had  to  be  discontinued.  The  "Pokanokel" 
has,  strictly  speaking,  three  trucks.  The  fo'- 
wark  truck  has  two  wheels  only.  The  centre 
truck  has  four  wheels,  drivers,  and  carries  the 
cylinders.  The  hind  truck  has  six  wheels. 
The  forward  bogie  or  driving  truck  consists  of 
two  pairs  of  drivers  coupled  and  a  two-wheeleJ 
leading  truck,  the  latter  arranged  so  as  10  lif 
adjustable  to  any  desired  curvature  of  track 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


91 


eep  the  flanges  of  the  forward  drivers 
om  the  rail  as  may  be  considered  de- 
irhen  running  ahead.  The  rear  bode 
T  truck  is  made  centre-bearing,  with 
side  springs  to  prevent  rocking,  and 
:  springs  to  transmit  the  weight  to  the 
The  weak  point  of  the  Fairlie  engine 
lys  been  the  steam  pipe  joints.  As  the 
s  and  drivers  are  mounted  on  a  truck 
L  swiveling  motion  in  relation  to  the 
:  is  evident  that  the  steam  pipe  joints 
free  to  swivel,  and  that  they  will  have 

angular    motion  in  passing  around 

In  engines  built  under  Mr.  Fairlie's 
is,  these  joints  always  gave  more  or 
ble.  Mr.  Meats,  of  the  Mason  Machine 
the  designer  of  this  engine,  has  com- 
Dvercome  any  leakage  by  means  of 
ts,  of  somewhat  peculiar  construction, 
eam  pipe.  These  joints  possess,  to  a 
degree,  the  properties  of  a  ball  and 
oint,  and  are  held  together  by  two 
ts  diametrically  opposite  each  other, 
through  flanges  set  off  on  each  side  of 
5.  Spiral  springs  upon  the  bolts  be- 
e  nuts  and  the  flanges,  maintain  a  con- 
jssure  upon  the  joints  and  furnish  the 
elasticity.  As  the  steam  pipes  do  not 
3Ugh  the  centre  pin  of  the  truck,  they 
ectly  accessible  at  all  times,  and  the 
tion  of  the  truck  centre  is  much  sim- 

To  prevent  wear  of  the  main  driver 
irhen  running  tender  first,  a  heavy  ad- 
spring  lever  is  thrown  into  gear,  by 
f  which  the  tender  truck  guides  the 
in  a  manner  similar  to,  but  slightly 
5tic,  than  that  in  which  the  forward 

a  standard  engine  guides  its  drivers 
ining  ahead.  This  arrangement  makes 
ae  remarkably  steady  when  running  in 
rection,  as  compared  with  a  standard 
n  fact,  about  as  easy  as  a  passenger 

allowing  are  the  general  dimensions  : 

diameter  and  stroke 16  in.  X  24  in . 

iameter  on  tread ' 56  in . 

4  ft.  8>^  in. 

Soft  coal . 

ie,  total 35  ft.  o>^  in . 

steam  truck 14  ft.  o  in . 

driving 7  ft.  o  in . 

I  front  truck 12,500  lbs. 

drivers 61.800  lbs. 

hind  truck 52  000  lbs. 

Total  in  working  order 126,300  lbs. 

force   per  lb.   average  pressure  in 

lers 109.7  lbs . 

icity 2,000  gallons . 

A.  A.  F. 


REMARKABLE  SAWS. 


The  attentive  readers  of  the  Stevens  Indi- 
cator will  have  noticed,  in  its  April  number, 
an  interesting  article,  headed  "A  Saw  With- 
out Teeth."  In  addition  to  this  article  I  will 
state  a  few  facts,  which  bear  upon  the  same 
subject. 

Apparently  it  was  an  American  who  made 
the  discovery,  that  if  circular  saws  are  in- 
tended for  cutting  metals  or  other  hard  sub- 
stances, the  teeth  can  be  dispensed  with  if 
the  saw  runs   at  a  very  high   rate  of   speed. 

The  most  remarkable  feature  of  many  of 
this  kind  of  machines  is  that  the  cutting  sub- 
stance is  much  softer  than  the  substance  to  be 
cut;  e,  g.y  steel  may  be  very  easily  cut  by  means 
of  an  iron  saw.  This  fact  appears  to  have  been 
known  at  least  about  forty-five  years  ago.  At 
that  time  there  existed, in  London, an  institution 
whose  object  it  was  to  show  and  demonstrate 
to  the  public  new  inventions  and  scientific 
discoveries.  Its  name  was  "The  Adelaide 
Gallery,"  an  institution  similar  to  the  still  ex- 
isting Polytechnic  Institution.  Important  ex- 
periments were  often  made  there,  until  strong 
competition  compelled  its  managers  to  give  up 
the  business. 

The  experiment  in  question  was  announced 
as  "  Cutting  a  well  tempered  razor  blade  by  a 
piece  of  cardboard."  This  was  actually  done. 
A  disc  of  cardboard  of  about  26  inches  diam- 
eter was  made  to  revolve,  as  was  then  rudely 
estimated,  twenty  times  a  second.  It  cut  a 
groove  of  three  or  four  millimeters  into  the 
back  of  the  razor  blade;  glass  rods  and  pieces 
of  marble  were  also  cut  through.  Nothing  was 
done  in  regard  to  the  experiment  until  thirty 
years  afterwards,  when  an  American  invented 
a  saw  for  cutting  steel,  based  on  the  same  prin- 
ciple. 

A  few  years  later,  Mr.  Reese,  of  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  constructed  a  circular  saw  without  teeth, 
about  3-16  in.  thick,  and  42  in.  in  diameter. 
This  disc  made  230  revolutions  in  one  minute, 
while  the  thick  steel  rods  were  made  to  revolve 
200  times  per  minute  in  a  direction  similar  to 
that  in  which  the  disc  turned.  The  rods  be- 
came extremely  hot,  while  the  disc  rose  only  a 
few  degrees  in  temperature.  Moreover,  the 
cut  itself  was  5-16  inches  wide,  all  of  which 
tends  to  prove,  that  strictly  speaking,  it  is  not 
the  disc  itself,  which  cuts  the  steel,  but  the  air 
carried  along  on  account  of  its  rapid  rotation. 

Wat. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


laih   OF   E>CH   MONTH.   DURING   THE   COLLEGE   YEAR. 

INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 

%\i\i^  In^tiitate  a!  Tecgnolog^. 


~K  EDITORS.  H— 

HUBKKT  S.  WVNKOOP.  'Bg,  BJiUr-.m-tkitf. 

CURNSLIUS  ]   F(HLD,  'W,  Btuimti  Mamaerr. 

LUCIUS  T,  FIHCH.  '89,  Exikai^  EJiltr 
CARTER  B.  PAGE.  '87.  BURTON  P.  HALL.  '88. 

T  G,  SMITH.  'M.  ARTHUR  A,  FULLER,  '88, 


TERMS  t-tl-U  par  TMr.  In  Adnnc 


SIngIa  Copr-  ID  Cenli. 


rtgularfy. 

TAt  mrittt't  fuU  namt^ai  well  as  Aii  NOM  DB  pi.umr, 
mull  aaemtany  Iht  articlt,  at  aiiurnHct  of  goal  faith 
and  reHahiUty  ;  iitl  it  will  not  be  fubUihed,  uhUis  diiirrd, 

ExtkaHgti,  caMriinlifiiu.  suisfiipiism.  advtrtitemtHts 
atid  all  othir  lemmtaiicaHeHS  by  mail,  iMcmM  bf  addrtsstd 
/oTkeStkvbns  Indicator,  SUvmt  iHsHtuu.Hohaktn. 
N.J- 

Letter!  for  puhlieatien  ikeuld  ie  vmlten  Ugility  in  ink, 
upon  one  side  of  Iht  paper ;  urtUti  too  long,  they  will  be 
inserted  as  written. 

TAt  editors  do  not  hold  themselves  responiihle  for  opin- 
ions expressed  in  literary  articles  or  commnnieations. 


TT7HE  athletic  reporter  of  the  Tribune  is  in- 
'1  competent  and  malicious.  We  couple 
these  epithets,  because,  if  we  can  prove  the 
latter,  the  former  must  hold  true  as  a  natural 
inference.  A  few  weeks  ago  the  New  York 
University  played  Stevens  at  lacrosse.  A  dis- 
pute arising  during  the  game,  the  various  re- 
porters present  were  requested  in  a  gentlemanly 
way  not  to  say  more  than  was  necessary  to  a 
truthful  representation  of  the  game.  In  the 
same  gentlemanly  manner  the  reporters  ac- 
quiesced, with  the  exception  of  the  Tribune 
representative,  who  threatened  to  "fix  up"  one 
of  the  disputers  in  the  Sunday  Tribune.  Upon 
being  reminded  that  this  paper  had  always 
done  its  best  to  injure  foot-ball  the  reporter 
behaved  so  insolently  that  the  college  man  lost 


his  temper  and  offered  to  "  fix  up  "  the  repte- 
aentative  of  that  mud-slinging  sheet.  With 
the  sneaking  cowardice  characteristic  of  men 
of  his  type,  the  latter  hurriedly  declined  and 
went  his  way  unmolested,  muttering  all  sorts 
of  wild  threats. 

Wc  mention  this  incident  as  a  sample  of  the 
fairness  of  the  Tribune;  and  our  reason  for 
including  the  Editor  as  well  as  the  penny-a- 
liner  is  this  :  For  three  consecutive  years  i\\t 
Tribune  has  published  an  editorial  condemning 
the  rough  and  brutal  playing  of  the  college 
lacrosse  teams — that  of  Stevens  in  particular— 
and  slating  that  the  North  of  Ireland  nifn 
would  show  us  how  the  game  should  be 
played.  The  writer  of  that  editorial  knans 
nothing  whatever  of  lacrosse.  Follow  his  sug- 
gestions by  forbidding  body-checking,  and 
what  sort  of  a  game  would  we  have?  We 
pardon  the  editor's  pride  in  the  lady-like  play- 
ing of  his  countrymen  who,  he  hopes,  can 
teach  us  how  to  play;  but  a  pen  in  the  hands 
of  a  man  utterly  ignorant  of  his  subject  plays 
much  mischief  among  the  ignorant  and  holds 
the  writer  up  to  the  ridicule  of  the  initiated. 

We  feel  perfectly  free  to  say  all  this,  for  llie 
Tribune  has  spared  no  endeavor  lo  injutf 
athletics  at  Stevens  ;  and  it  is  only  fair  lu 
thosewho  are  unfortunate  enough  to  be  obliged 
to  read  such  reports  that  this  statemenl  ol 
facts  be  made. 


ri^0rG?]JnQR  garbs. 

Several  months  ago  we  took  occasion  10 
mention  the  dilapidated  condition  of  the 
blackboard  erasers  in  the  engineering  room 
At  present  we  call  attention  to  those  in  itif 
mathematics  room.  There  are,  perhaps,  l«o 
which  are  in  good  condition.  We  have  noi 
even  the  old  blocks  on  which  to  stretch  ou! 
handkerchiefs.  The  amount  of  time  wasieil 
while  waiting  for  a  chance  at  the  rubber  is 
enormous.  Now  that  the  spring  games  are 
passed,  perhaps  a  collection  might  be  laU" 
up  among  the  students  to  provide  a  new  1"' 
of  erasers.  If  not,  the  faculty  might  hireoi" 
the  campus  to  Buffalo  Bill  and  the  KickapM 
Indians  for  circus  performances.      By  il"' 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


93 


after  O.  W.  J.  had  been  properly  cared 
re  will  be  something  left  for  the  pur- 
f  supplies  for  next  year. 

ig  the  summer  the  Indicator  is  to  be 
part  and  thoroughly  cleaned.  Several 
ations    of    design    will    probably    be 

This  is  to  enable  it  to  work  more 
:ly  as  well  as  to  improve  the  appear- 
While  we  promise  no  great  change,  our 

may  rest  assured  that  we  will  use 
neans  in  our  power  to  increase  the 
ess  of  the  Indicator. 


<  ^  » » 


PBRSe^Bl^S- 


•83- 

s  E.  Sague  is  now  with  N.  Y.,  L.  E.  & 
..,  Dept.  of  Tests,  Susquehanna,  Pa. 

'84. 

ard  L.  Feam  is  reporter  for  the  "  Brook- 
jle,"  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

'85. 

s  Beatty,  Jr.,  may  now  be  addressed  at 
igan's  Wharf,  Baltimore,  Md. 

.  G.  Smith  is  with  Warden  &  Mitchell, 
lists,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

A.  Adriance,  with  Adriance,  Piatt  & 
•ughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 


SOCIAL. 

"S.  S.  S."  was  organized  in  1885,  and 
s  far  been  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
ers  for  the  season  of  '85-*86  :  W.  F. 
'86,  President ;  A.  Aguilera,  Jr.,  '86, 
;s  Manager ;  T.  Taylor,  Jr..  'Z2^,  Treas- 
l.  M.  Blankenship,  '88,  Secretary, 
bers  from  all  four  classes  : 

>tal  number 28 

first  dance  of  the  season  was  held  in 
lall,  February  24,  and  opened  a  suc- 
season.  The  second  was  a  German, 
[arch  8,  in  the  "Physical  Laboratory," 
was  kindly  granted  by  Pres.  Morton, 
y  for  this  particular  occasion  but  also 
>se  to  follow.  Dr.  Geyer  manifested 
erest  by  placing  eight  Weston  incan- 
:  lights  of  one  hundred  candle  power 


each,  to  illuminate  the  room.  The  effect  was 
brilliant  and  everybody  was  delighted.  Mr. 
Matthew  Lackland  superintended  the  engine 
and  dynamo,  which  proved  to  be  objects  of 
no  little  interest  to  the  participators  in  the 
dance.  The  third  dance  was  also  a  German, 
held  as  before,  in  the  Phys.  Lab.,  and  was 
of  about  the  same  character  and  general  in- 
terest as  the  second  dance,  about  sixty  being 
present.  The  fourth  and  last  dance  was  a 
Favor  German,  in  the  Phys.  Lab.,  and  was  the 
most  successful  of  the  season.  The  favors, 
furnished  by  the  chaperones,  were  numerous 
and  beautiful.  Refreshments,  as  usual,  added 
to  the  enjoyment  of  the  occasion.  The  stu- 
dents and  fair  maidens  glided  gracefully  o'er 
the  polished  floor  until  the  wee  small  hours  of 
the  morning,  and  thus  ends  the  second  season 
of  the  "  S.  S.  S."  The  Germans  were  led  by 
Mr.  J.  Day  Flack,  '87.  Mrs.  Morton,  Mrs. 
Stillman,  Mrs.  Elder,  Mrs.  Besson  and  Mrs. 
Waefelaer  have  kindly  acted  as  chaperones, 
and  have  added  much  to  the  enjoyment  of 
these  occasions.  The  "S.  S.  S."  would  again 
here  express  its  thanks  to  all  those  who  have 
lent  them  their  aid,  and  especially  to  Pres. 
Morton,  Prof.  Mayer  and  Prof.  Geyer,  for 
their  kindness  in  loaning  and  lighting  the 
Lab.  for  our  use. 

There  is  one  other  social  event,  which,  al- 
though not  connected  directly  with  "Stevens," 
is  nevertheless  of  much  interest  to  many  of 
the  students  residing  in  Hoboken.  This  is 
the  annual  entertainment  given  by  the  "  Help- 
ing Hand,"  a  society  composed  of  ladies  from 
every  church  in  Hoboken,  who,  as  the  name 
indicates,  do  indeed  extend  a  helping  hand  to 
the  poor  of  Hoboken.  Being  thus  a  society 
of  all  the  churches,  some  of  our  professors  and 
their  wives  are  much  interested,  as  should  also 
be  the  students  residing  here.  May  6th,  this 
society  gave  the  Japanese  Tea.  The  holder 
of  each  ticket  was  entitled  to  a  cup  and  sau- 
cer. The  German  Lutheran  Church  was  pro- 
fusely decorated  with  Japanese  lanterns,  ban- 
ners and  fans,  which,  with  many  other  beauti- 
ful articles  of  Japanese  origin,  were  on  sale. 
But  the  most  attractive  objects  of  the  evening 
were  the  delegations  from  each  church,  of  four 
or  five  young  ladies,  dressed  in  Japanese  cos- 
tumes. With  hair  dressed  high,  with  flowing 
skirts  and  sleeves  ornamented  with  brilliant 
colors,  quaint  figures,  cute  little  fans,  rats, 
mice,  etc.,  these  fair  damsels  flitted  to  and  fro 
serving  the  refreshments  and  selling  their 
wares.  Not  a  few  students  were  present,  and 
the  affair  was  a  complete  success. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


Say,   boys,   don't   Kegebehn's  beer  stands 

make  good  ash  receivers  ? 

It  has  just  been  developed  by  a  Soph,  that 
a  new  property  of  angels  is  phosphorescence. 

During  the  past  week  one  of  the  students 
made  a  very  interesting  discovery.  He  found 
that  mercury  is  in  the  solid  form  when  frozen. 

Some  startling  statements  in  chemistry  by 
"88 — Lead  acetate  =  acetic  acid.  While  lead 
is  most  largely  used  in  manufacture  of  face- 
powder. 

The  man  who  don't  know  all  about  Bible 
History  don't  get  along  very  smoothly  in 
Paradise  Lost.  That  means  the  class  don't 
get  along  smoothly. 

The  man  who  translates  the  German  word 
"  bald  "  as  having  the  meaning  of  the  same 
word  in  English,  is  very  likely  to  gel  what  the 
boys  call  "balled  up," 

"  Here's  to  Eighty-six,  drink  her  down  !" 
Why  doth  the  liltle  reckless  Prep. 

Delight  to  swear  and  chew  ? 
Why,  simply  'cause  he  wants  lo  act 
As  other  Mickie^  do. 

Logical  definition  of  chaii  by  Prof.  W— — 1  : 

Species. — Chair. 

Genus. — A  movable  seat. 

Difference. — A  seat  intended  for  one  person. 

Last  week  when  the  word  "  Zugabe"  was 
analyzed  and  found  to  mean  that  which  is 
given  in  addition,  one  of  the  class  suggested 
that  it  might  be  an  appropriate  name  for  free 
lunch. 

This  is  the  season  of  the  year  when  the  man 
in  Math,  stands  in  line  for  the  one  blackboard 
rubber  and  after  enjoying  one  rub  with  it, 
does  the  rest  of  his  erasing  with  his  coat  sleeve 
and  fingers. 

The  new  cherub  is  yet  young  and  inno- 
cent, and  totally  unused  to  things  generally. 
He  has  a  faculty  of  coming  into  Prof.  Kroeh's 
room  during  recitation  and  asking  for  Prof. 
Kiesenberger. 

Prof.  W 1  draws  the  line  of  distinction 

between    literary    and    non-liter:iry    language 


when  a  student  uses  such  expressions  as 
"  Well,  Milton  had  been  pntty  rough  on  the 
Royalists,  etc." 

in  chemistry  lectures  Prof.  Leeds  is  worn 
lo  hold  up  precipitates  thai  no  one  in  the  claw 
ever  saw  before,  and  sayr  "  Now  you  see,  1 
have  obtained  the  substance,  the  appearsDce 
of  which  is  so  familiar  lo  you." 

Deak  is  very  homesick.  That  is,  he  pmc- 
tised  a  Dutch  swear-word  until  he  had  iht 
toothache,  and  then  he  applied  for  leave  of 
absence  to  go  South  and  recuperate.  Huw- 
ever,  one  bottle  of  St.  Jacob's  Oil  has  braciil 
him  all  up  again. 

A  short  lime  since  the  New  Jersey  came 
within  an  ace  of  running  down  the  Weehawkcn. 
If  the  New  Jersey  only  knew  what  a  favor  slit 
would  have  conferred  on  suffering  humanit), 
she  certainly  wouldn't  have  missed  such  a 
valuable  opportunity  to  benefit  the  race. 

The  City  of  Hoboken  ought  to  have  one 
decent  city  appurtenance  for  a  short  while  and 
then  go  into  hopeless  bankruptcy.  At  a  li't 
which  occurred  recently  in  Hoboken,  one  ol 
the  '86  men  who  happened  to  be  on  hand,  had 
to  show  the  firemen  how  lo  couple  the  hose  lu 
the  engine. 

The  Preps,  appear  to  be  well  supplied  with 
money.  The  other  day  two  baby  Preps,  »we 
indulging  in  a  sparring  match,  to  the  greai 
delight  of  their  overgrown  brothers,  who  wert 
making  beis  in  ihe  mosi  reckless  way.  The 
Prep,  will  be  pretty  "  lough  "  by  the  time  he's 
a  freshman. 

"  Strayed  off  "  has  signified  his  intention  ol 
joining  Buffalo  Bill's  parly.  He  has  pairaed 
his  walch  and  all  his  clothing,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  lacrosse  jersey  and  a  pair  ol 
trousers,  and  has  given  his  Indicator  sub- 
scription {with  the  bill)  to  the  librarv  of  the 
Y.  M,  C.  A, 

"  They  are  as  sick  that  surfeit  with  iw 
much  as  they  that  starve  with  nothing,"  i* 
one  of  Shakespeare's  wise  sayings  and  will  lie 
illustrated  by  '88  at  the  end  of  the  present 
term.  The  term  being  very  short,  some  of  ihe 
professors  have  given  the  class,  about  four 
times  as  much  work  as  it  can  do  comforiahly, 
so  if  the  class  don't  know  much  about  wha* 
they  have  been  over  during  the  term,  <Jon  * 
blame  the  class, 

'88   is    entertained  every    week  by   one  *-^' 
mure  nightingales   {?J  who  stand  out  in  tl"*' 


THE   STEVENS   INDICA  TOR. 


95 


ing  chemistry  recitation  and  lecture 
ke  the  surrounding  country  very 
2  indeed,  as  well  as  all  the  inhabitants 
including,  of  course,  *88.  A  very 
he  music  in  question  goes  a  very  great 
.  the  class  has  already  had  enough  to 
itil  1900,  so  the  producers  need  not 
hemselves  to  furnish  any  more  during 
:ration. 


&EORGE  CRICKET  GROUNDS. 


ent  requests  from  the  students  have 

D  publish  a  copy  of  the  agreement  be- 

evens  and  the  St.  George's.    It  should 

it  and  preserved  for  future  reference. 

\NDiiM  OF  Agreenent,  made  this  first  day 
in  the  year  1866,  between 
'EVENS  Institute  Athletic  Association, 
m,  New  Jersey,  party  of  the  first  part,  and 
•.   George  Cricket  Club,   of  the  City  of 
:,  party  of  the  second  part, 
SETH,  That  the  party  of  the  first  part,  in  con- 
of  the  covenants  hereinafter  contained,  and 
of  five  hundred  (500)  dollars,  to  be  paid  by 
of  the  second  part,  as  herinafter  mentioned, 
bllows  : 

le  party  of  the  second  part  shall  have  ex- 
\  of  the  grounds,  situated  at  the  foot  of  Ninth 
oboken,  known  as  the  St.  Geoi^e's  Cricket 
s  follows : 

Mondays  and  Wednesdays  of  each  week  from 
ercof  to  May  i,  1887. 

I  Fridays  and  Saturdays  of  each  week  from 
ereof  to  September  i,  1886. 
>n  Tuesdays  and  Thursdays  of  each  week  from 
0  October  15,  1866,  it  being  agreed  that  the 
tiall  revert  to  the  party  of  the  first  part  from 
f  October  to  the  1st  of  January  following, 
he  exclusive  use  of  the  building  on  the  south- 
f  said  grounds,  and  the  right  to  use  all  oul- 
ar  the  aforesaid  southerly  building. 
rty  of  the  second  part  covenants  to  pay  for 
leges  the  sum  of  five  hundred  (500)  dollars,  as 
Two  hundred  {200)  dollars  on  the  first  day  of 
three  hundred  (300)  dollars  on  the  first  day  of 
1886. 

rty  of  the  second  part  agrees  further  to  keep 
aid  buildings  and  grounds  in  repair ;  to  keep 
ice  to  said  grounds  unobstructed  ;  to  cut  the 
remove  all  rubbish  which  may  obstruct  the 
oot-ball  or  interfere  with  any  athletic  sport. 
VLso  AGREED,  that  the  keeper  employed  by 
of  the  second  part  shall  have  the  right  to  ex- 
persons  from  the  ground,  except  the  members 
ub  and  their  introduced  friends. 
ITNESS    WHEREOF,    thc    parties   hereto    have 
leir  respective  committees  to  sign  these  presents 
ly  and  year  first  above  written. 
•TEVENS  Inst.  Athletic  Association, 

By  Henry  K.   MORRISON,  Pres. 
5T.  George's  Cricket  Club, 

By  a.  H.  MORAN,  Director. 
isence  of 
•  Bromley. 


THE    "ECCENTRIC." 

The  long  awaited  Eccentric  is  at  last  before  us. 
As  regards  the  cover,  we  candidly  state  that 
it  is  not  up  to  our  expectations,  and  yet,  had 
we  considered  a  moment,  we  would  have  seen 
that  the  choice  of  cover  was  the  most  sensible 
that  the  editors  could  possibly  have  made.  For, 
the  tendency  on  the  part  of  college  annuals  for 
the  past  few  years  has  been  toward  great  out- 
ward adorning  and  little  substance  within,  fol- 
lowing the  old  adage,  "beauty  is  only  skin 
deep."  The  choosing  of  this  modest  cover  is 
a  token  of  rare  forethought  on  the  part  of  the 
editors  of  the  Eccentric,  The  heights  of  gaudi- 
ness  and  attractiveness  will  presently  be 
reached,  and  then  the  former  will  give  way  to 
extreme  plainness,  which  serves  only  to  set  in 
relief  the  reading  matter  within.  If  for  no 
other  reason  the  Eccentric  should  gain  friends 
on  account  of  its  modest  appearance — but 
this  is  only  one  recommendation. 

"  The  Steps,"  as  a  frontispiece,  is  particu- 
larly taking,  from  the  fact  that  this  spot  is  the 
favorite  place  of  resort  for  all  the  students, 
taking  the  place  of  a  "  class  fence."  It  would 
appear  from  a  glance  at  the  class  history  of  '89 
that  this  most  enterprising  class  has  adopted 
the  plan  of  giving  away  a  chromo  of  the  his- 
torian with  every  history.  'Sq's  anthropologi- 
cal researches  are  worthy  of  note.  Pausing 
for  a  moment  to  note  the  events  of  the  year, 
the  wish  arises  that  these  records  might  in- 
deed be  "chronical." 

But  what  shall  we  say  concerning  "  the  Al- 
umni and  Undergraduate  Enterprise  ? "  Only 
this  :  that  it  evinces  an  interest  on  the  part  of 
the  alumni  which  we  had  hardly  been  led  to 
expect — but  more  of  this  subject  elsewhere. 
The  next  cut  to  attract  our  continued  atten- 
tion is  the  "Strain  Diagram."  It  cannot  be 
described  ;  it  must  be  seen.  In  the  same  cat- 
egory of  things  which,  in  order  to  be  appreci- 
ated, must  be  seen,  we  mention  "  Surveyors* 
Notes"  and  "The  End  of  the  Book." 
"  Don't  "  should  receive  the  careful  attention 
of  all  alumni,  real  and  prospective.  It  gives 
good  counsel  to  the  undecided,  and  acts  as  a 
check  upon  the  boundless  spirits  of  the  newly 
fledged  M.  E. 

In  summing  up  this  brief  review,  we  men- 
tion the  distinguishing  features  o(  the  book  : 
a  very  plain  cover;  unexcelled  printing,  with 
slightly  too  numerous  panellings  ;  an  unusual 
amount  of  literary  matter  of  good  quality ;  paper 
of  fine  texture  but  not  quite  thick  enough. 
Such  is  the  Eccentric^  kind  reader.  We  place 
it  commendingly  in  your  hands. 


96 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Stevens  Institute 
Athletic  Association,  a  committee  on  the  con- 
stitution was  called  upon  to  report.  This 
committee  was  appointed  at  the  regular  meet- 
ing in  February  for  the  purpose  of  collecting 
the  various  amendments  of  the  constitution 
which  had  been  adopted  from  time  to  time 
and  inserting  them  in  their  proper  places  ;  at 
the  same  time  to  copy  it  so  it  could  be  printed 
if  desirable,  or  at  least,  to  get  it  in  the  proper 
shape  for  reference. 

This  committee  failed  to  do  anything  what- 
ever, claiming  that  the  matter  they  had  to 
work  upon  was  far  loo  meagre  or  too  badly 
mixed  up  and  that  they  were  consequently  un- 
able to  do  anything  at  all. 
■  This  report  was  accepted  and  the  committee 
discharged  and  the  prospects  are  that  the  con- 
stitution will  remain  as  it  is  at  present  in  such 
form  that  not  even  the  executive  head  of  the 
association  can  flounder  through  its  labyrinth. 

Will  not  some  enterprising  persons  under- 
take a  difficult  piece  of  work,  of  either 
straightening  the  constitution  as  it  is  now  so 
that  it  can  be  followed,  or  draft  something 
that  will  put  our  association  on  a  firmer  basis 
than  that  on  which  it  now  stands. 

It  seems  absolutely  absurd  to  think  of  ap- 
pointing any  more  committees  to  do  the  work, 
for  several  have  undertaken  it  and  ail  have 
signally  failed. 

One  radical  defect  is  the  method  of  arrang- 
ing games  with  other  colleges,  etc.  All  cor- 
respondence is  supposed  lo  pass  through  the 
hands  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  who 
has  absolutely  no  authority  to  make  any 
arrangement  without  first  consulting  the  Cap- 
tain of  the  team  in  question  and  Board  of 
Directors,  which  always  occasions  more  or 
less  delay,  especially  if  this  Secretary  should 
receive  a  telegram  to  fix  a  date,  and  the 
Captain  with  whom  he  would  have  to  con- 
sult should  be  a  man  who  lives  out  of  town 
and  cannot  possibly  be  seen  until    the   next 

Either  the  Corresponding  Secretary's  office 
should  be  abolished  or  should  be  given 
the  authority  to  arrange  all  dates. 


A  great  deal  more  could  be  said  on  this 
subject,  but  a  lack  of  space  prevents. 


ball 


BASE-BALL. 

If  there  is  not  more  interest  taken  in  base- 
year  than  there  has  been    this 


would  recommend  that  it  be  allowed  to  die,  as 
it  is  useless  to  attempt  to  support  a  learn  when 
the  interest  of  the  college  is  centred  on  some 
other  sport.  The  only  match  games  played 
were  with  the  Brooklyn  Polytechnic  Institute. 
Score  4  to  3  in  favor  of  Polytechnics,  and  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania — score  iz  to  a  iafavoi 
of  University, 

SPItUTG  GAHES. 

The  spring  games  were  held  on  June  isl 
and  were  successful  in  every  respect  save  one 
which  we  will  leave  to  the  imagination  of  the 
readers  te  find  out.     The  records  are  given 


l1 

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THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR, 


97 


LACROSSE. 

:n  the  last  lacrosse  season  closed,  great 
were  expected  from  the  Institute  team 
jar,  judging  from  the  fine  record  they 
ade  for  themselves  in  the  Oelrich  cup 
ment,  but  alas  !  the  team  was  fated  to 
le  valuable  assistance  of  seven  of  its 
2st  players.  Thus  weakened,  the  chances 
ccess  were  greatly  lessened.  Twelve 
k^ere,  however,  gotten  together  and  had 
jnced  to  play  a  very  good  game  when 
Lson  closed.  The  outlook  for  the  com- 
ir  is  very  bright,  and  if  regular  training 
am  practice  can  be  successfully  inaugu- 
there  is  no  reason  why  Stevens  should 
ce  a  high  stand  in  the  lacrosse  world, 
joined  is  the  record  for  the  season: 

,  Princeton  vs.  Stevens,  at  Princeton, 5-0 

,  Lehigh  vs.  Stevens,  at  Bethlehem o-i 

,  Harvard  vs.  Stevens,  Hoboken 4-0 

N.Y.  Lacrosse  Club  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken. 6-0 
,  N.  Y.  University  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken.. 3-1 

FOOT-BALL. 

accounts  of  the  different  games  played 
11  were  given  in  the  October  and  No- 
r  numbers  of  the  Indicator.  A  further 
sal  of  the  reasons  why  they  were  won 
St  is  unnecessary.  We  would  only  re- 
ind  that  the  foot-ball  Captain,  for  the 
5  year,  pick  out  the  team  as  early  as 
le,  then  select  another  to  play  against 
gular  team.  By  so  doing  the  team  will 
e  somewhat  familiar  with  their  positions 
ill  not  act  like  total  strangers  to  the 
ivhen  they  go  into  the  field.  Appended 
I  scores  of  the  different  games : 

Yale  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken 55-    o 

Princeton  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken 94-    O 

Princeton  vs.  Stevens,  at  Princeton 72-    o 

Lafayette  vs.  Stevens,  at  Easton 16-  12 

Graduates  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken. ...  4-    o 
Univ.  of  Penn.  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken,  22-    9 

Lafayette  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken 22-  18 

Lehigh  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken 4-  20 

C.  C.  N.  Y.  vs.  Stevens,  at  Hoboken. . .  0-162 
Brooklyn's  vs.  Stevens,  at  Brooklyn. ...  o-  14 

1  ♦  »  I 


he  last  regular  meeting  of  the  Indicator 
2  following  officers  were  elected  for  the 


gyear 


.  .Page,  '87. 
's Reid,  '88. 


Sec Fuller,  '88. 

Treas Finch,  '89. 


Members Moller,  '87  ;  Mack,  '89. 


COMMENCEMENT  WEEK. 


PROGRAMME. 


Sunday,  June  13. — Baccalaureate  Sermon.  Rev.  J.  E. 
Rankine,  D.D.,  of  the  Orange  Valley  Congregational 
Church,  1st  Presbyterian  Church,  cor  6th  and  Hudson 
Streets,  at  4  p.  m. 

Tuesday,  June  15. — Class  Supper.  Hotel  Bruns- 
wick, at  II  p.  m. 

Wednesday,  Tune  16. — Dr.  and  Mrs.  Leeds'  Recep- 
tion to  Senior  Class. 

Thursday,  June  17. — Alumni  Meeting  at  2  p.  m. 
President  and  Mrs.  Morton^s  Reception  at  4  p.  m. 
Commencement  Exercises,  German  Club,  cor.  6th  and 
Hudson  Streets,  at  8  p.  m.  Senior  Promenade  at 
Institute,  at  11  p.  m. 

class  supper. 

Toast  Master Edwin  P.  Mowton. 

toasts. 

The  Faculty C.  Russell  Collins. 

Alma  Mater Wm.  W.  Randolph. 

Athletics Emile  M.  Cotiart. 

Mechanical  Engineer Edward  J.  Cook. 

Class  '87 J.  Day  Flack. 

Our  Prospects Edward  T.  Birdsall. 

The  College  Press Wm.  Fuchs. 

Panoramas John  R.  Slack. 

The  Ladies Cornelius  J.  Field. 

reception  committee. 

Norman  St.  G.  Campbell,    J.  Day  Flack. 
Robert  N.  Bayles,  Carter  H.  Page,  Jr,. 

Ma3^.  C.  Beard.  Wm.  E.  Quimby, 

Hermann  F.  T.  Erbbit,        Lemuel  W.  Serrell,  Jr 

COMMENCEMENT  EVENING. 

order  of  exercises. 

Overture "  Aradella  " Flotaw, 

PRAYER. 

Introductory  Remarks Ppresident  Morton 

Selection "  Gypsy  Baron  '* Strauss.' 

Salutatory  Address Henry  B.  Everhart. 

Aria "  Flying  Dutchman  " fVagmr. 

Review  of  Theses Prof.  De  Volson  Wood. 

conferring   of   degrees   and    announcement    of 

PRIZES. 

Valse "  Amorita" Czibulka, 

Valedictory  Address C.  Russell  Collins. 

College  Airs Selected Dilltr. 

Francis  X  Diller Director  of  Orchestra. 

THESES  SUBJECTS. 

Antonio  Aguilera,  Jr. 
Sugar  Manufacture. 

John  T.  Arnold. 
Design  of  Railway  Deck  Bridge. 


9» 


THE    STEVESS    INDICATOK. 


tujtnacau  m  ric  Fiea^  U  E3cc«r:i  ■rtiw  Fane  <rf 

U«Aa£K^  OxjtrK-VA  of  the  Oqfia- 

C.  k.  Cf/LU*y 
Oii^'l^  Al'.aciBeB'.l  for  CiUc  IUilw*r>. 

E.  J-  O-'/t 
I:.i}«nB«Bla:  De-.eTB>BKyju  '>(  Malleable  Can  Ins. 

E.  M,  O/TWM, 
Mssvlu^sre  'rf  Vdlr'W  Oniaed  SofU. 

ri.  h.  EvtaHACT. 
AulrM>  "<    CtuBiflnau   ILulniM}    tSodcc  Jenc^ 

C.   J.   flMJ*. 
I*nifn  f'jr  Pfur  TnM  Kailnw]  Bridge 

Wm.  F'XMt 
kcrie*  'j(  tlx:  nuliiBCfy  rn  the  Efjuiublc  Bail(liB(, 
New  \-iA  fi'itj. 

Ovllil'^  fJtBttCA. 

Kcview  lA  Itivignig  Macbtnn^  ia  aw  on  ihc  I'liun 
fMuL 

Wn.  L.  llAyxu. 

Same  u  kUavcIl. 

J  Mr.K   IIkiueuj- 
Sunc  «*  rocht- 

F.  E.   jACE»0!t. 

Sireu  'in  ihe  Crank  I'in. 

W.  K.   KlKr^ 
I'cU'ileuni  Illuaiinuiufi. 

Fkamcii.  La  Iv.iktl 
Kcvurw  Iff  ItnmhUD't  AaloDiUic  Enpne. 

M-  G.  Llu-V. 
Samv  »■  Ij  t'',inle. 


J-i 


MEi 


ie<l  I, 


J-un.|.  »i  v«ryir-B '•I*"' 

(;m.k(:b  K,  Mbtamk 

T>:>.l  <>r  lirice  \V.,tihii>|><..n  |>i.m|.  nnd  iH.ili-r 
S.:>.iM:  I-m„|.i'ii:  Walion.  Ne*  V.,tk. 

F.  N.  M'.Rii.N. 
Saiiic  as  Metcalfe 

K.  !■.  MowjoN. 
I)«<ii)rn  an'l  Omsi ruction  of  4'i  ft.  Launch. 

II.    K.    M'JKKIiMIN. 

Sniiif-  n.  McCuIlifcIi. 

.Mri.li.in  lent  Ke)inrBlion  of  Ore>. 

W.C.  I'ftsi. 
i<<-vi<-w  of  'I'nisE.  over  .Skatin(r   kink  and   i 

L.  G.  I'AISE, 

Siimra^CoUini. 

W.  W.  KANIUIMlf. 

( 'i>iii|Mvriviii  of  the  <:oKl  of  ranning  the  cal> 
on  ilic  clrvalecl  nivl  in  llolxiken  lor  three 
lyiiesofcncinei. 


E.  F.  wmxa. 


TxitKHs-    fMi-h^iJT— ini^ra^l  _ 


111  iiaiillliiliiail  if  Biafca     Ihi 
Wbu  does  a  eai  CO  a>der  the  hM«  fci? 
It  ooM  S4-XX1  to  pMKai  i&e  Cecek  fl^  m 

fdtjyoaa^  bdie*  «efe  icoeMlf  ■ 
BoMca  College. — £s. 

TIic  picscnl  Hairaid  ocw  ■  de^^aA  Iw 
be  one  of  the  tncM  uoUtge  e^tiwr 

A  poem  of  one  haadicd  Dacs  !■ 
«T«r7  SenioTof  Tiimtj  CoO^a,  E^ 

Presidenl  McCoih.  of  PriDcetoa.  ii  ocd 
(talemenl  that  he  has  aTCnfed  m  ba«n  « 
during  the  wbcric  of  bU  proicssiaBal  life. 

The  graduating  cUn  at  Wctt  Poini  aaHbas  ««^ 
eight,  which  U  said  lo  be  no)  ool;  the  laixett,  h«  a 
highe^l  in  efiiciency.  ctci  gndoaled  fn«)  that  iaifh 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  ihc  IntenoIIegiatc  Fool  tt 
A^Hiciation.  the  following  changes  ia  the  iilijif  nl 
were  made  :  The  opposing  cenue  raih  —  — "^  WM 
the  ball  until  ii  has  been  pnt  io  pl^;  a  kiek-oM  anM  I 
by  a  drop  or  a  place  kick. 

The  instantaneous  photosraphs,  lakm  at  IhcfilU 
ahiiw  Sherrill  of  Vate  in  the  lead  in  the  hnndreri  jh< 
da'h  in  the  Inter-coUegiatc  game*.  The  refctce  hnvt 
ackn»wledgcd  that  the  Yale  man  woo  the  nc^  brti 
lipH^hl  ihdl  il  kaJ  Mtrr  go  to  Harrar^.  This  k  M*d 
a  l)ad  showing  for  the  referee's  sense  of  jaitics. 

The  prizes  won  at  the  last  intercollegiate  fidd  MM 
ing  were  distributed  as  follows: 

Harvard s  ' 

Vale 4  4 

University  uf  rennsjlvanta 3  o 

Columbia 3  o 

Amherst o  ■ 

Harvard  thus  took  the  cup  for  Ibe  sercDlh  time,«> 
will  now  hold  it  permanently. 


iNbinUit  Of  ihUHNOU 


JUNIOK  DEP*RTMEr<  r 

sehioii  pepartmeht 


\Ml  l»t.LEl<Fj| 

S7S.0O  PER  ANHUM> 
-       ■        -    SISO.OO  P€R  ANNUM. 


1         V_-'  ^-^    L_,    J 


.UNT. 


nfliug^  [fullrijs  nub  ^niirters,  jShtioimri^  ^him)  JEn^hits  ntib  ^^ol 

The  P.iolB  ^t  Hunt  Leffel  Turl^Juif   \Vuti?r-W'h.3»*L, 

iUFCRIOR  MACHINE  MOLDED  GEAR1N( 

spur,  Bevel,  Angle,  Morliss,  Hellcsl,  Double  Helieal  and  Worm, 

ORrVINC  PLANT  FOR  CABLE   RAJJ-WAYS, 


|UM!)IIKKRV  TOR  71.0SR  KILLS    3BAIH   ELEVATOBS    larDITIJ  LtllD  ' 


-comtespoNQEHci 


r 


THS 


jQ[let/ef|S  jBdiGalSF. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  OCTOBER,  i8S6. 


No.  7. 


SONG  OF  THE  MOSQUITO. 

I  never  drink  behind  [he  bar, 
I  seldom  quafT  Apotlinar, 
Red  blood  is  good  cnoueh  fir  me  ; 
Who  cares,  for  naught  alone  is  free  ! 

Soon  Bs  the  evening  star  prevsil. 
I  lake  and  barb  tny  wondrous  lail. 
Add  choir  aw«y  »5  loud  and  prim 
As  any  young-eyed  cherubim  I 

I  tan  the  Lady  of  ihe  Lnke ; 

1  am  a  liger  in  the  brake  ; 

I  am  B  ghoul  from  Jersey  fens ; 

M]f  point  Is  migtiUer  than  the  pen's, 

^Philadtlfhia  NfzL 


It  is  a  preva]ent  opinion  in  our  civilization, 

nceable  back  to  some  ardent  lover  of  savage 

tfe,  some   hunter,  some    person    whose  plain 

ticality  and   roughness  found  no  recog- 

^tion  in  more  cultivated  surroundings,  that 

■i  North   American  Indian,  and,  indeed,  the 

bvage  in  general,  is  more  acute  in  discerning 

l^tural  phenomena  than  his  more  highly-civil- 

led  brother;  that  his  simplicity,  his  disregard 

F  the  psychical  elements  of  existence  tits  htm 

r  a  more  thorough  enjoyment  of  the  present 

te;  and  that  the  heaJthful  exercise  of  the 

e^'entually    brings   him    into  a  close, 

j^   simple,  relation   to    the    Deity,    that 

l^auufest  unknown  which  all  peoples  reverence. 

a  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the  comprehen- 

ios  of  the  savage  is  comparatively  dull ;  his 

iDge  of  discernment  by  means  of  the  senses 

B  limited  ;  and,  above  all,  gifted  with  a  vivid, 

tbeit  rude  imagination,  he  misinterprets  that 

■bich  he  does  discern  most  wofully. 

in  the  first  place,  his  plan  of  philosophy  is 

"|i  error.     He  places  implicit  confidencein  the 

truthfulness    of    his     senses,    and 

latever  is  lacking  to  his  sense  of  complete- 

S  is  supplied  from  the  fertility  of  his  own 

In  other  words,   his    philosophy    is 

Ibythologic  ;  it  is  a  series  of  events  explained 

lalogies  from  his  own  experiences.     In 


accordance  with  this  method  he  observes  that 
he  has  volition  and  the  power  to  execute  it  ; 
therefore  any  manifestation  of  power  implies 
a  person  exercising  volition.  In  case  he  can 
discern  no  such  person  he  invokes  the  aid  of 
his  imagination.  Thus  the  Deity  of  the  sav- 
age is  a  creation  of  his  own  mind,  and,  since 
no  two  minds  run  in  exactly  the  same  chan- 
nel, the  result  of  this  process  is  the  building  up 
of  a  vast  and  mysterious  pantheon,  which  be- 
wilders the  searcher  after  truth  and  leads  him 
to  say,  "  Everything  is  God  !  "  This  is  the 
first  and  natural  stage  of  theology  or  philoso- 
phy, whichever  one  may  choose  to  call  it. 

In  this  first  stage,  liecasMhHsm,  as  J,  W. 
Powell  prefers  to  call  it,  everything  has  life, 
everything  is  endowed  with  personality,  will 
and  design  ;  animals,  trees,  rocks,  rivers,  stars, 
all  things  inanimate  think  and  speak,  love  and 
hate.  The  Indian  gives  to  all  material  objects 
the  attributes  which  he  himself  possesses,  and 
thus  endowed  they  ever  conduct  themselves 
so  as  to  "point  a  moral  or  adorn  a  tale."  The 
folk-lore  of  the  Indian  is  almost  entirely  made 
up  of  these  solutions  of  natural  phenomena, 
repeated  during  the  long  wintry  evening  to 
the  eager  group  about  the  uamp-fire.  The  aged 
narrator  receives  all  the  veneration  and  respect 
due  to  one  of  his  age  and  wisdom,  and  as  he  thus 
reads  from  the  unwritten  Bible,  his  stories  re- 
mind one  strangely  of  the  myths  of  Hindoo 
philosophy  or  the  less  mythical  accounts  of  the 
Hebrew  chroniclers.  In  the  philosophy  of  the 
Indian,  everything  is  known  ;  in  that  of  civi- 
lization, nothing.  For  the  former  it  is  enough 
to  know  that  all  mysteries  are  the  whims  and 
fancies  of  the  gods — gods  whose  attributes 
are  human  ;  for  the  latter  to  know  that  any 
effect  has  been  traced  back  to  its  first  cause 
is  matter  of  profound  congratulation. 

But,  if  we  are  desirous  of  tracing  the 
growth  of  the  pantheistic  theory  from  its  first 
stage,  we  shall  find  that  in  the  last  analysis  it 
leads  the  student  into  monotheism.  Let  us 
trace  the  path  of  progress.  Adopting  the 
names  suggested  by  Powell,  we  consider  the 
next  stage,  soOtAfism,  which  differs  from  the 
first  in  the  exclusion  of  inanimate  objects. 
Here,  however,  men  and  animals  are  placed  on 


a  footing  of  equality.  Marvellous  tales  are 
spun  out  in  regard  to  the  adventures  of  cer- 
tain animals,  and  some  peculiarities  of  these 
creatures  are  adduced  as  lending  sufficient 
authenticity  to  the  account. 

The  next  stage,  pfty si  theism,  is  that  in  which 
the  powers  and  phenomena  of  nature,  instead 
of  being  considered  as  manifestations  of  Deity, 
are  themselves  personified  and  deified.  This 
stage  appears  in  great  prominence  in  the 
Greelc  and  Roman  mythology,  in  which  the 
winds,  the  rainbow  and  the  dawn  were  per- 
sonified. Closely  related  to  this  period  and 
shading  into  it  is  the  fourth  stage,  that  of 
psyckolhchm,  in  which  mental,  moral  and  social 
characteristics  are  represented  by  deities. 
These  two  classes  constituted  the  larger  part 
of  the  Greek  mythology,  and  also,  though  to 
less  extent,  of  that  of  the  Indian. 

We  have  briefly  traced  the  growth  of  myth- 
ological (as  distinguished  from  scientific) 
philosophy.  Let  us  see  what  it  all  leads  to. 
In  the  first  place  the  tendency  is  to  limit 
the  number  of  deities.  Beginning  with  the 
doctrine  of  pantheism,  the  lesser  gods  were 
successively  dropped  out  until  the  philoso- 
phy reached  a  point  which  is  best  explained 
by  comparing  it  with  the  mythology  of  Greece 
and  Rome.  As  a  result  those  deities  remain- 
ing take  on  new  attributes.  After  a  time  it 
becomes  necessary  that  these  deities,  in  form 
and  characteristics  like  men,  should  appoint  a 
chief  to  govern  them.  Thus  there  is  at  least 
one  supreme  god  presiding  over  the  court  of 
lesser  gods.  Continuing  the  sorting  process 
still  further,atimewillcoiiie  when  the  Manitou 
will  preside  over  empty  benches;  and  when 
that  time  shall  have  arrived,  the  Indian  will 
have  reached  the  true  conception  of  the  mono- 
theistic idea.  At  present  he  is  busily  engaged 
in  dismissing  gods  by  whom  his  father  swore; 
he  is  elevating  the  characters  of  the  remaining 
gods;  he  is  drifting  slowly  toward  monotheism. 
It  cannot  be  denied,  however,  in  spile  of  this 
progress,  that  the  Indian  is  much  more  in- 
teresting and  instructive  in  his  polytheism 
than  he  ever  can  be  in  monotheism.     Chic. 


PERSIAN  SPORTS. 

At  the  present  time  of  the  year,  when  all 
athletics  are  so  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  pro- 
fessionals and  amateurs  alike,  one  is  likely 
to  inijiiire  whether  or  not  such  a  multiplicity 
of  delightful  and  amusing  sports  has  always 
been  enjoyed.  We  will  find  in  the  histories 
,   that  each  one  has  sports 


peculiar  to  itself,  and  without  a  very  vhii 
imagination  can  almost  picture  to  oureelves 
Adam  and  Eve  disporting  themselves  in  the 
entrancing  garden  of  Eden. 

Sports,  of  course,  like  all  other  things,  ad- 
vance with  the  centuries,  and  where  we  now 
have  the  most  ingenious  and  elegant  con- 
trivances for  muscular  culture,  in  former  days 
the  simplest  and  most  primitive  appliances 
were  used,  but  notwithstanding  our  advan- 
tages, one  very  rarely  if  efer  sees  such  speci- 
mens of  magnificent  developement  as  we  read 
of  in  the  early  stages  of  mankind. 

Among  the  earliest  nations  of  which  we 
have  any  reliable  records,  are  the  Persians, 
whom  we  will  find  to  be  rather  indolent  with 
regard  to  field  sports,  and,  in  fact,  to  anything 
which  requires  more  than  ordinary  exertion. 
They  were  a  people  easily  amused  \twK  posi- 
tively averse  to  amusing.  Their  principal 
amusement  was  "the  hunt,"  and  so  we  find 
that  the  three  things  taught  to  the  Persian 
youth  were,  "to  ride,  to  shoot,  and  to  speak 
the  truth."  The  writer  has  before  him  at  the 
present  time,  a  "cut"  taken  from  a  piece  of 
rock  sculpture  at  Takt-i-Bostan,  representing 
a  hunting  scene,  in  which  the  "king"  is  the 
central  figure;  he  is  surrounded  by  a  host  of 
retainers,  both  men  and  women,  the  men  to  do 
the  hunting  and  the  women  to  follow  in  the 
path  of  the  hunters  to  make  music  for  the 
king,  who  is  mounted  on  a  noble  steed  and 
attended  by  a  slave  holding  an  umbrella-like 
shield  over  him,  presumably  to  protect  his 
majesty  from  the  sun.  To  aid  in  the  antelope 
hunt  falcons  and  greyhounds  are  made  use  of, 
the  former  to  harass  and  the  latter  to  chase 
the  prey.  Besides  the  antelope  and  innumer- 
able other  small  game,  the  sportsman  will  find 
tigers,  leopards,  and  panthers  in  the  Mazan- 
deran  forests. 

If  one  wishes  though  to  recall  a  thoroughly 
Persian  sport,  let  him  imagine  himself  to  be 
wandering  along  one  of  the  isolated  Teheran 
streets — in  the  distance  he  is  likely  to  hear  a 
merry  jingling  of  bells,  and  if  he  stops  to 
ascertain  the  cause,  he  will  soon  see  a  typical 
"  sport  "  wandering  along  with  languid  steps, 
leading  after  him  by  a  small  cord,  a  fighting 
ram  ;  this  man  will  meet  another  and  after 
bets,  anything  from  a  dinner  up,  have  been 
made  on  the  powers  of  the  two  rams  by  the 
owners,  the  animals  are  made  to  fight ;  a  great 
number  of  people  make  their  living  entirely 
by  these  fighting  rams. 

Although  the  youths  are  brought  up  "to 
speak   the  (ruth  "  they  do  not  seem  to  think 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


i6i 


iing  the  truth  has  any  connection  with 
y  whatever,  for  while  engaged  in  **  fly- 
pigeons,  the  one  aim  is  not  in  the  ex- 
'  of  dirds  but  in  the  cunning  of  the 
s,"  who,  by  various  means,  try  to  confuse 
3onents  birds  so  that  the  two  flocks  get 
to  such  a  degree  that  when  they  return 
one  or  the  other  of  the  owners  is  likely 
e  gained  a  few,  because  the  poor  birds 
r  confusion  go  to  the  wrong  home.  This 
f  of  pigeons  is  considered  honorable, 

order  to  regain  the  lost  birds,  the  owner 

pay  a  great  price  to  the  fortunate  thief, 
ther  sport  is  horse  racing,  carried  on 
)ally  in  the  large  cities,  a  race  course 
;  been  constructed — that  is,  the  largest 

have  been  removed — ^just  outside  of 
an  ;  in  these  races  you  will  generally 
at  the  Shah  of  Persia  has  entered  about 
lird  of  the  horses. 

withstanding  the  great  interest  taken  in 
ree  or  four  kinds  of  sports  just  men- 
,  the  Persians  think  more  of  their  indoor 
ments  than  of  their  outdoor  exercises  ; 
luently  you  will  find  in  every  home  of 
onsequence,   a   gymnasium,    where   the 

are  taught  to  leap  and  wrestle,  and  in 
lost  other  things  calculated  to  strengthen 
n  life,  for  when  they  become  of  age  it 
?  their  turn  to  be  amused  by  the  youths, 
5  now  their  elders  time  to  be  amused  by 
In  addition  to  the  gymnasium,  the 
ns  employ  boy  dancers  and  singers,  who 
not  a  little  to  the  amusement  of  the 
j1  people.  'J'he  games  of  chess,  checkers, 
ammon,  cards,  and  "  last  but  not  least," 
le  played  with  nuts,  which  very  nearly 
ponds   to  our  games  of  marbles,  com- 

the  list  of  Persian  sports,  in  all  of  which 
o  cheats  the  most  is  considered  not  only 
ghly  honesty  but  also  the  best  player, 
cen  all  in  all,  the  Persians  have  no  games 
:an  be  compared  to  ours,  and  an  old 
sh  resident  of  Persia  has  laughingly  said 
*  attempting  to  pen  anything  about  the 
les  of    the    Shah's  subjects  would   be 

a  good  deal  like  trying  to  manufacture 
hing  out  of  nothing."  C.  E.  H. 


«^  » » 


APPEARANCE  IN  MACHINERY. 


I. — Shape. 


nachine  is  a  construction  consisting  of  a 

ination  of  moving  parts  with  their  sup- 

and  connecting  frame-work,  calculated 

:eive  force  and  motion  and  apply  them 


to  the  production  of  some  desired  mechanical 
effect  or  work.  Since  the  entire  object  of  a 
machine  is  to  do  work,  the  consideration  of 
prime  importance  is  that  it  should  be  strong 
enough  to  do  its  work  well.  The  next  requi- 
site is,  that  economy  of  material  and  fitness  of 
position  should  be  observed  in  the  construc- 
tion. These  two  points  are  generally  con- 
sidered ;  when  they  are  not,  the  machine  fails 
in  some  way  and  becomes  worthless.  But 
these  two  requirements  should  be  inseparable, 
and  when  regarded  as  such,  the  shape  of  the 
machine  assumes  exactly  the  correct  propor- 
tions and  presents  an  appearance  pleasing  to 
the  eye,  and  we  call  it  beautiful. 

Beauty  is  an  assemblage  of  graces  or  prop- 
erties which  pleases  the  sight.  The  old  Roman 
school  used,  with  great  precision,  to  define 
beauty  as  "multitude  in  unity."  All  men 
really  desire  that  a  thing  should  look  beau- 
tiful, but  in  their  laziness,  prejudice,  or  un- 
willingness to  admit  their  false  ideas,  they  so 
twist  and  distort  the  notion  of  beauty,  that 
the  result  is  dire  confusion.  Now  it  is  not 
beautiful  to  have  an  assemblage  of  graces 
indiscriminately  placed  together  ;  it  is  the 
assemblage  that  should  please  the  sight.  If 
the  work  itself  is  not  beautiful,  it  cannot  be 
made  so  by  heaping  on  ornaments,  and  trying 
to  call  the  eye  away  from  the  defects  of  the 
machine,  to  rest  upon  its  decorations.  In  re- 
gard to  shape  we  must  consider  three  points. 
If,  without  offending  the  eye,  we  can  take 
away  anything,  add  anything  or  substitute 
something  else  in  place  of  some  parts,  then 
the  machine  is  not  properly  shaped.  A  cor- 
rect interpretation  and  a  strict  obedience  of 
the  laws  in  regard  to  strength  and  economy  of 
material  and  fitness  of  position  will  result  in  a 
well-shaped  machine.  This  necessitates  sim- 
plicity of  beauty,  not  extravagance  of  design. 
The  introduction  of  superfluous  lumps  and 
knobs,  far  from  being  ornamental,  serves  only 
as  a  means  for  catching  and  retaining  dirt, 
and  making  it  almost  impossible  to  keep  a 
machine  clean. 

It  is  the  genergj  plan  to  introduce  into 
machine  construction,  the  principles  and  em- 
bellishments used  in  architecture.  We  must 
draw  the  line  somewhere  between  architecture 
and  machinery.  The  principles  of  architec- 
ture, as  far  as  they  are  the  underlying  princi- 
ples of  strength  and  correct  disposal  of  material 
for  supporting  weight,  should  be  rigorously 
adhered  to.  Buildings  and  machinery,  how- 
ever, are  distinctly  separated  from  each  other 
in  further  respects.     The  principles  of  beauty 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


call  for  widely  different  designs  in  shape, 
because  the  appropriateness  differs.  A 
machine  is  not  a  mere  passive  structure  like  a 
building ;  it  must  do  work,  and,  therefore, 
must  involve  different  principles.  , 

If  we  turn  to  nature,  we  can,  as  in  every 
other  case,  find  an  embodiment  of  the  very 
principles  which  we  are  investigating.  Take 
for  a  model,  one  of  nature's  machines,  that 
noblest  of  the  lower  animals,  the  horse.  The 
horse  moves  and  does  work,  machines  move 
and  do  work  ;  the  horse  is  just  strong  enough 
for  his  work,  machines  should  be  the  same  ; 
the  horse  possesses  perfect  beauty  and  sym- 
metry, so  should  machines.  But  in  the  horse 
we  find  all  these  combined  in  an  essential 
whole,  and  in  our  machinery  we  should  strive 
to  follow  the  same  plan  of  perfection.  If  we 
are  to  use  the  force  and  material  furnished  by 
nature,  we  must  also  follow  the  plan  of  con- 
struction and  shape  supplied  to  us.  Did  you 
ever  notice  the  neck  of  a  fine  draught  horse? 
It  is  a  maenificent  model  ;  a  strong,  firm,  and 
graceful  taper,  starting  from  the  shoulders 
with  the  evident  of  reaching  and  supporting 
the  head.  Not  only  is  his  neck  strong  enough 
for  the  intended  use,  but  it  looks  so.  We  find 
no  beading,  no  scroll  work  about  it,  and  yet 
the  perfect  shape  is  beautiful. 

Every  support  and  part  of  a  machine 
should  not  only  be  ample,  but  must  appear 
ample.  All  the  parts  should  constructively 
grow  out  of  its  one  central  body  or  frame,  and 
so  fill  out  the  complete  idea  of  usefulness, 
strength  and  beauty.  We  are  fond  of  confin- 
ing ourselves  to  "  arcs  of  circles  and  straight 
lines,"  but  we  see  in  nature  that  where  one 
line  or  curve  is  better  in  a  certain  place  than 
any  other,  that  will  be  used  and  no  other  will 
do.  Everything  is  in  perfect  symmetry,  and 
everywhere  is  the  material  used  to  the  greatest 
possible  advantage,  showing  simplicity,  unity, 
and  grace  of  outline.  Then  let  us  do  away 
with  cornice-work,  beading,  and  bracketing  in 
our  machines.  Mouldings  must  give  way  and 
clean,  graceful  curves  take  their  place,  for 
only  such  are  appropriate. 

When  we  introduce  these  rules  into  our  art 
of  machine  making,  aijd  observe  purity,  pro- 
priety, and  precision  in  all  parts,  then  and  not 
until  then,  will  we  have  machinery  whose 
shape  will  reflect  credit  upon  us,  and  the  laws 
of  nature,  so  pure  and  perfect,  will  not  be  so 
set  at  defiance. 

Al.BlTAN. 


DEFINITIONS. 

The  word  definition  may  be  said  to  have  a 
double  usage.  Without  attempting  to  give  the 
exact  meaning  of  the  word  I  will  try  to  indi- 
cate briefly  its  two  uses.  Of  these  one  maj 
be  called  its  scientific  or  logical  use,  the 
other  its  vulgar  or  common  use.  By  the  first 
a  word  Is  defined,  according  to  logic,  by  giv- 
ing the  distinguishing  marks  of  its  proximate 
genus  and  its  specific  difference.  Of  neces- 
sity this  implies  a  definition  of  the  next  proxi- 
mate genus,  and  so  on  up  through  the  s}'s- 
tem  to  broader  generalizations,  till  we  reach 
intuitive  ideas  which  are  indefinable. 

The  indefinability  of  these  ideas,  however, 
does  not  necessitate  indehniieness,  but  sim- 
ply implies  that  there  is  no  higher  genus  to 
which  to  refer  them.  If,  for  instance,  we  at- 
tempt scientifically  to  define  ''thing,"  we  will 
find  it  rather  difficult,  if  not  impossible, 
"Space"  is  another  intuitive  idea.  But  yet 
every  one  knows  what  a  thing  is  and  what 
space  is. 

The  common  or  dictionary  definition,  on 
the  other  hand,  simply  gives  another  word  for 
the  same  thing,  or  describes  it  by  a  number  of 
words,  the  meaning  of  which,  it  is  presumed, 
is  known  to  the  reader.  Such  definitions 
serve  their  purpose  in  giving  a  person  an  idea 
of  what  is  meant  by  the  word,  but,  if  examined 
scientifically,  most  of  them  would  not  stand  the 
teat.  The  importance  of  perfect  definitions  in 
science  can  scarcely  be  overrated.  I  have 
heard  one  of  the  most  eminent  physicists  ol 
this  country  say  that  he  was  almost  tempted 
to  believe  that  the  whole  end  of  science  was 
the  obtaining  oi perfect  definitions.  The  his- 
tory of  the  growth  of  the  science  of  heal  will 
furnish  a  very  good  illustration  of  this  facl. 
Hypqthesis  after  hypothesis  as  to  what  heat 
is  has  been  set  up,  only  to  be  demolished  lo 
make  way  for  newer  and  belter  ones,  each 
succeeding  definition  being  wider  in  its  gen- 
eralizations and  more  comprehensive  in  the 
deductions  to  be  made  from  it,  till  now  we 
have  a  definition,  which  seems  to  be  as  wide 
as  the  universe  in  its  generalizations,  and  cap- 
able of  being  applied  to  every  individual  plie- 
nomenon,  the  modem  scienceof  astronomy  was 
founded.  When  Newton  made  his  great  ad- 
dition lo  the  definition  of  gravitation,  or  rather 
used  the  definition,  as  it  was  then  known  to 
him,  amplified  it,  so  as  to  take  in  the  whole 
universe  and  every  individual    particle    in  it. 

The  old  philosophers,  working  on  the  wrong 
idea  of  the  nature  of  a  vacuum,  came  to  some 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


103 


Dsurd  conclusions,  till  Torricelli  set  them 
►y  giving  it  a  true  definition,  and  by  de- 
the  force  which  is  developed  when  a 
n  is  made.  These  illustrations  might 
Itiplied  indefinitely,  but  enough  have 
dduced  to  show,  in  some  measure,  the 
ance  of  2l  perfect  definition, 
re  are  several  rules  which  it  is  necessary 
2rve  in  defining.  The  first  I  will  men- 
),  that  the  definition  must  not  contain 
ng  defined.  This  is  radical,  and  if  not 
ed  ruins  a  definition  as  such.  .  As  an 
:e,  one  of  our  professors  defined  "  force  '* 
lumber  of  pounds;"  "pounds  **  as  "  units 
:e,"  and  thus  we  have  **  Force  is  a  num- 

units  of  forced  One  of  the  students 
1  it  as  that  which  causes  change  of  mo- 
'hich  is  much  more  nearly  correct.  The 
ion,  which  is  now  pretty  generally  ac- 

by  philosophers,  is,  "  Force  is  cause  of 
;."  The  idea  is  so  nearly  intuitional 
is  exceedingly  hard  to  define.  Another 
f  defining  is,  that  the  definition  must 
:lude  anything  that  does  not  rightfully 
under  the  meaning  of  the  word,  nor 
e  anything  that  does.  This  is  the  most 
t  part  of  defining,  and  at  the  same  time 
►St  important.  Another  of  our  profes- 
efined  matter  as  anything  that  affects 
ises.  As  a  dictionary  definition,  this  is 
i  criticism,  and  probably  answers  the 
es    for  which  it  was  given,  but  as  a 

one  it  is  open  to  objection  on  the  plea 
ig  too  narrow.  I  will  take  the  illustra- 
lich  was  given. 

e  look  at  a  table,  we  can  see  it ;  if  we 
it,  we  can  feel  it ;  if  we  strike  it,  we  can 

;  and  there  is  also  an  odor  emanating 
t  which  we  can  smell.  Now,  what  we 
en  we  look  at  a  table  is  reflected  light, 
ffused  light  of  the  sun  is  reflected  from 
)le,  and,  entering  our  eyes,  causes  the 
on  of  sight.  By  this  sensation  we  know 
le  table  is  there  ;  but  that  is  all.  We 
rtain  colors,  alternations  of  light  and 

and  we  infer  that  the  object  which 
this  is  a  table.  Again,  when  we  strike 
)le,  we  do  not  hear  the  table,  but  the 
caused  by  the  blow.  Again,  we  do  not 
the  table,  but  the  odor  emitted  by  the 

Another  requirement  of  a  definition  is 
should  not  be  negative.     Telling  us 

thing  is  not,  does  not  tell  us  what  it  is. 

so  evident  as  not  to  need  an  illustra- 
5ome  ideas  can,  however,  with  difficulty 
ned  in  any  other  way  ;  as,  for  instance, 
ss  is  absence  of  light.     It  is  a  question 


among  philosophers  whether  such  ideas  can 
be  defined  at  all.  Darkness  is  not  a  real 
thing,  but  only  the  absence  of  something. 

DiER    BURNROTH. 


« ^  » * 


NEW  DEPARTURE   IN  CHEMISTRY. 


Changes  in  the  curriculum  of  our .  college 
are  generally  looked  at  askance,  but  the  one 
that  has  been  made  in  the  Department  of 
Chemistry  at  the  beginning  of  the  new  year  is 
a  decided  exception.  It  is  a  step  in  the  right 
direction,  and  one  that  will  not  only  have  the 
approval  of  all  those  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  the  Institute,  but  will  give  great  satisfac- 
tion to  those  whom  it  more  nearly  affects. 

The  change  is  a  two-fold  one.  In  the  first 
place  a  separate  depratment,  to  be  known  as 
that  of  Analytical  Chemistry,  has  been  formed 
with  Dr.  Stillman  at  its  head.  By  this 
means  the  departments  of  Practical  and  Theo- 
retical Chemistry  are  separated,  and  each, 
having  a  head  of  its  owa,  can  be  more  thor- 
oughly carried  on  than  as  heretofore,  when 
both  were  under  the  guidance  of  one  man.  It 
allows  each  professor  to  give  his  whole  time 
and  undivided  attention  to  his  department, 
and  the  benefits  resulting  from  such  a  course 
must  and  will  speak  for  themselves. 

The  second,  and  by  far  the  more  important 
change,  is  that  of  giving  the  seniors  an  addi- 
tional and  optional  course  in  laboratory 
work.  After  practical  engineering,  probably 
the  most  important  factor  in  the  education  of 
a  mechanical  engineer  is  a  good  knowledge  of 
analytical  chemistry.  It  is  of  use  to  him  in 
a  variety  of  ways.  It  will  enable  him  to  grasp 
problems  that  come  up,  in  the  study  of  the 
metallurgy  of  iron  more  readily,  and  which  he 
would  otherwise  have  to  drop,  and  it  will  give 
him  a  decided  advantage  over  those  ignorant 
of  the  methods  of  chemistry.  It  will  help  him 
to  lay  a  solid  foundation  upon  which  to  build 
up  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  the  subject, 
and  should  he  ever  find  himself  better  fitted 
for  other  work  in  later  years,  he  could  turn 
more  readily  to  the  new  profession. 

More  than  that,  engineering  has  long  been 
considered  a  practical  profession,  but  it  is 
now  very  rapidly  becoming  a  truly  scientific 
study.  The  problems  that  comes  up  at  the 
present  time  in  engineering  require  solutions 
which  go  hand  in  hand  with  physics  and  chem- 
istry, and  the  deeper  an  insight  one  has  in 
these  sciences  the  better  able  will  one  be  to  • 
cope  with  such  problems. 


IQ4 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


Perhaps  the  best  test  of  the  value  of  the 
change  is  the  fact  that  more  than  one-third  of 
die  present  senior  class  have  signified  their 
intention  of  taking  the  course.  That  this  is 
no  small  sacrifice  on  their  part  will  be  better 
understood  when  one  recollects  th^t  the 
seniors  not  only  have  as  many  afternoons  oc- 
cupied now  as  the  other  classes,  but  that  their 
studies  include  the  most  difiicult  of  the  whole 
course — those  on  heat,  and  more  especially  on 
dienno-dynamics. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  change  will  be 
3ude  permanent.  Those  classes  which,  under 
die  new  arrangement  in  mathematics  have  sur- 
veying in  the  first  year,  will  have  the  time  now 
devoted  to  surveying  in  senior  year  to  devote 
CO  chemistry. 

May  the  good  work  continue.  A.  B. 


■«  ^»» 


«•  No.  X,  C.  &  A.  R.  R." 

At  the  end  of  the  entrance  hall  of  the  Na- 
cionol  Museum  at  Washington  stands  the 
venerable  locomotive  "  John  Bull."  It  is  very 
qutet«  taking  no  part  in  the  curiosity  and 
bustle  of  the  sightseers  constantly  passing  and 
repassing,  and  hearing  the  uncomplimentary 
remarks  on  its  antiquated  appearance  and  pe- 
culiar construction  with  utter  indifference. 
It  does  not  belong  to  this  age,  mechanically 
speaking,  and  evidently  looks  upon  the  men 
,UKi  things  of  the  age  as  upstarts  and  un- 
worthy of  its  notice. 

A^  it  stands  on  the  section  of  the  track  on 
which  it  once  ran,  who  knows  but  that  its 
ihoukihts  go  back  to  the  time  that  it  was 
xuch  a  wonder  to  all.  To  the  autumn  day, 
titl\  'live  years  ago,  when  it  made  its  first  trip; 
lo  the  gentlemen  of  the  State  Legislature  and 
•hs'  throng  of  people  to  whom  it  was  the 
vcJ>tvc  of  interest  ;  to  the  two  coaches,  that  it 
^licw  with  such  ease,  and  the  whiskey  barrel, 
w»ih  Us  piece  of  leather  hose  for  a  connecting 
pipe,  whirh  did  duty  as  a  tank  on  that  mem- 
oi.iMc  lurasion.  Who  knows  but  that  its 
tu^tv  old  mind  is  still  occupied  with  these  and 
vvlhk^r  reminiscences  of  youth,  and  that  some- 
where in  its  worn-out  frame,  from  which  all 
lufcce  i>f  ft  re  has  long  since  vanished,  a  heart, 
v^  A  primitive  and  peculiar  pattern  perhaps, 
^\^wetimcH  (juickens  with  mortification  at  be- 
m^  rtnUu-ed  to  the  position  of  a  mere  curiosity. 

Vtintened  on  the  forward  end  of  the  boiler 

^  %  eard  with  the  following  inscription  :  "Lo- 

Mkwiotive  '  Tohn  Bull,'  or  No.  i,  Camden  and 

Railroad.  Built  in  the  spring  of  1831, 

ison  &  Son,  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne, 


under  orders  from  Robert  L.  Stephens,  Pres. 
C.  &  A.  R.  R.  Shipped  to  the  United  States  in 
June,  1831 ;  received  at  Borden  town,  N.  J., 
in  August,  and  run  early  in  September." 

As  the  people  pass,  some  stop  and  read,  dis- 
playing by  their  remarks  such  dire  ignorance 
of  the  railroad  architecture  of  half  a  century 
ago,  that  the  old  engine  shudders,  and  devout- 
ly wishes  it  had  been  left  to  end  its  days  in 
the  round  house  on  the  New  Jersey  meadows, 
which  sheltered  it  so  long. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  interested  a  second 
card,  bearing  a  description  of  its  construction, 
is  hung  in  a  conspicuous  place,  and  reads  as 
follows:  "  First  one  used  on  C.  &  A.  R.  R.  On 
November  12th,  183 1,  in  the  presence   of  the 
State  Legislature,  with   Isaac    Dripps,  engi- 
neer, and  Benj.  Higgins,  fireman,  it  was  run 
with  a  train  of  two  cars  on  a  track  similar  to 
that  on  which  it  now  stands,  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  in  length,  near  Bordentown,  N.  J.    In 
use  from  1 831  to  1865.     Altered  and  added  to 
in  many  ways.  Original  dimensions :  Weight, 
22,425  lbs.;  boiler,  13   ft.  long,  3J4  ft.  diam.  ; 
cylinder,  9  x  20  in;  4  drivers,  4J^  ft.  diam., 
with  outside  cranks  for  connecting  parallel 
rods  ;  cast  iron  hubs,   locust   spokes,  tire  of 
wrought  iron  shrunk  on,    ^   in-   thick,  5  in 
tread,  flange,    i}    in.   deep  ;  62   flues,  7)  ft. 
long,  2  in.  diam  ;  furnace,  3   ft.  7  in.  square 
by  3  ft.   2  in.  high ;  steam  ports,   i><  by  6J 
in.  ;  exhaust  ports,  i}  by   6^  in. ;  throw  of 
eccentric,  3  J  in. ;  grate  surface,  10.08  sq.  ft.;  fire 
box  surface,  36  sq.  ft.;  flue  surface,  213  sq.  ft" 

Those  who  succeed  in  reading  all  this  an- 
nouncement probably  fare  better  than  the 
rest  of  their  kind  in  the  estimation  of  the  lo- 
comotive, as  they,  at  any  rate,  show  an  interest 
that  cannot  be  mere  curiosity  ;  but  if  it  feels 
any  less  disdain  for  these  few  persons  it  does 
not  show  it.  It  remains  as  silent  and  un- 
moved as  ever,  dreaming  of  other  times  and 
other  men. 

And  so   the  day   wears  away  and   evening 

comes  on,   and  the  grey-bearded  checker  of 

canes  and  umbrellas   puts  on  his  hat  and  goes 

slowly    homeward,  and  the  great    doors  are 

locked,  and    the  night  watchman  begins  his 

rounds,  and    still  the  old  locomotive  dreams 

on.  G.  B.  M. 

» <♦»< 

A  WINTER  NIGHT  EPISODE. 


Night  was  coming  on  rapidly,  and  the  up- 
train  on  the  New  York  Central  had  just 
started  from  the  little  station.  Slowly  the 
bright   patches  of  light  moved  up  the  track, 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


'05 


apparently  sliding  along  the  frosty  and  glisten 
ing  rails.  It  was  a  bitter  cold  night  in  mid- 
winter. The  ice  had  formed  a  thin  crust  over 
the  water  in  the  long  narrow  tanks  which,  be- 
ginning just  above  the  station,  stretched  away 
for  a  thousand  feet  up  the  tracks,  between  the 
rails. 

As  the  local  was  rounding  the  curve  half  a 
mile  north  of  the  station,  the  agent  closed  his 
telegraph  key  with  a  sharp  click  and  joined 
the  shivering  group  about  the  red-hot  stove, 
remarking :  **  The  Western  Express,  due  at 
Poughkeepsie  at  6:41,  passed  there  at  7:43. 
She  was  due  here  ten  minutes  ago.  She'll  be 
along  here  a  humming  pretty  quick."  As  he 
uttered  these  words  a  prolonged  whistle,  borne 
on  the  north  wind,  reached  their  ears.  "  She's 
passing  Peekskill  now,"  said  the  agent  as  he 
rose  and  went  out.  The  others  quietly  drew 
their  wraps  about  them  and  followed  him  out 
to  the  platform.  A  minute  later  the  head- 
light burst  into  view  around  the  curve,  giving 
to  the  ice  coated  troughs  and  rails  the  appear- 
ance of  a  perspective  drawing  in  silver. 

Directly  below  the  curve  was  a  down-track 
signal  post  operated  by  a  flagman  stationed  at 
a  second  curve,  south  of  the  station.  The 
en^ne  had  just  passed  that  post  when  the 
purple  signal  light  flickered,  and  changed  to 
green.  This  the  watchers  saw  ;  and  they  knew 
that  in  place  of  the  clear  white  star,  which  a 
moment  previous  had  gleamed  northward,  a 
blood-red  signal  sent  forth  its  warning  glare. 
But  the  engine  of  the  fated  train  had  passed 
the  light  five  seconds  too  soon  ! 

What  was  the  danger  ?  None,  save  the 
solitary  faithful  flagman,  knew.  A  sudden 
hope  rises  in  the  breasts  of  the  watching  group  : 
Will  the  engineer  slow  down  and  scoop  water  ? 
The  agent  alone  knows  better  No.  39  never 
takes  water  between  stops,  and  her  famous 
camel-like  quality  is  hurling  her  on  to  de- 
struction at  the  rate  of  sixty  miles  an  hour. 

Up  from  the  south,  between  the  rails,  rushes 
a  lad.  Now,  as  he  passes,  the  agent  sees  him 
and  cheers  him  on,  at  the  same  time  shouting 
warnings  to  him.  On,  on  conies  the  rumbling 
whizzing  line  of  brilliantly  lighted,  elegant  cars. 
The  youth  falls  on  his  knees  beside  the  rail 
and  bends  low  over  it.  The  engine  is  almost 
upon  him  !  Will  he  never  cease  his  fumbling  ! 
Instantly  the  engine  reaches  him.  There  is  a 
flash  and  a  loud  report,  and  a  limp  and  bleed- 
ing form  sinks  into  the  hollow  between  the 
tracks.  Then  comes  a  short,  sharp  blast  of 
the  whistle.  No.  39  shakes  and  throbs  under 
a  reversed  lever.     The  car  wheels  are  held  in 


the  grasp  of  an  iron  hand,  and  from  them  the 
sparks  fly  as  from  the  revolving  stone  of  a 
scissors-grinder. 

After  sliding  a  short  distance  the  train  stops 
and  the  train  officials  and  the  terrified  spec- 
tators hasten  to  the  aid  of  the  brave  youth. 
Carefully  they  carry  him  into  the  warm  room 
and  examine  his  wounds.  He  has  fainted  from 
excitement.  A  deep  gash  in  his  forehead  and 
the  singed  hair  and  eyebrows  betoken  the 
work  of  a  railroad  torpedo,  and  his  left  hand 
is  bruised  by  contact  with  the  pilot  of  the 
locomotive. 

All  this  occurred  eight  years  ago.  To-day 
if  you  were  to  enter  the  private  office  of  the 
general  superintendent  of  transportation  of  a 
railroad  having  its  centre  in  Western  New 
York,  you  would  see  a  young  man  whose  hair, 
brushed  over  his  forehead,  conceals  a  deep 
scar,  and  whose  left  hand  is  a  trifle  misshapen. 
If  you  were  to  become  at  all  intimate  with  this 
gentleman,  and  accept  an  invitation  to  visit 
him  at  his  home,'  you  would  see  upon  the 
parlor  table  an  ornament  in  the  shape  of  a 
section  of  a  rail  of  silver,  upon  which  rests  a 
signal  torpedo  of  satin  and  gold.  He  will  tell 
you  that  this  ornament  is  the  symbol  of  his 
success  in  life.  The  story  he  told  is  fresh  in 
my  memory,  and  it  is  this. 

Eight  years  ago  he  was  studying  mechanics 
in  the  evenings,  after  his  machine  shop  work 
was  done.  The  night  in  question  he  had  run 
down  to  the  flagman's  shanty  to  make  some 
inquiries  in  regard  to  certain  engines.  Walk- 
ing homeward  up  the  track,  he  paused  to 
examine  a  switch  recently  put  on  the  line  for 
trial.  With  his  limited  knowledge  of  engineer- 
ing, he  detected  one  or  two  points  where 
improvements  might  be  made.  Stooping  closer 
to  examine,  he  noticed  to  his  surprise  that  a 
bolt  had  in  some  way  become  detached  from 
its  place,  leaving  a  short  rail  free  to  spread 
when  the  next  train  came  along.  Just  then  he 
heard  the  whistle  of  No.  39.  He  ran  back  to 
the  shanty  and  fearing  he  was  too  late,  seized 
a  torpedo  and  started  up  the  track,  with  the 
results  above  mentioned.  The  railroad  authori- 
ties inquired  concerning  him,  and  they,  with 
the  aid  of  the  passengers  he  had  so  daringly 
rescued  from  death,  enabled  him  to  pass 
the  next  four  years  at  one  of  the  finest  techni- 
cal colleges  in  the  country.  Upon  graduation 
the  New  York  Central  took  him  into  its  em- 
ploy. Now,  he  is  the  superintendent  of  con- 
struction of  a  road  under  the  control  of  the 
Central.  • 

Taking  the  rail  tenderly  in  his  hands,  he 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


showed  me,  as  be  would  show  you,  the  gold 
plate  upon  one  end,  reading : 

Presented  to-  by 

the  passengers  of  the  Chicago  Ex- 
press, as  a  testimonial  of  their 
apprteioHon  of  his  bravery,  in 
risking  his  life  f opiate  a  torpedo 
on  the  troth,  that  he  might  save 
the  lives  of  others. 
And  on  the  other  end,  inscribed  with  sunken 
gold  letters : 

January  nth,  i8y8.  Chic. 


OUR  GLEE  CLUB. 


Whether  or  not  there  is  in  existence  a  S.  I. 
T.  Glee  Club  would  be  a  subject  for  some 
sharp  New  York  detective.  There  may  be 
found,  peradventure,  some  few  traces  of  its 
existence  and  perchance  a  record  of  some  of 
its  few  proceedings  during  the  last  collegiate 
year.  But  where  are  the  results  ?  Using  the 
favorite  formula  of  one  of  our  professors, 
we  might  express  it  ^  |  P  ^  O,  or  the  sum- 
mation of  ununited  effort  equals  a  complete 
fizzle.  The  forces  were  all  weak  and  all  pull- 
ing against  each  other.  We  have  had  a  glee 
club  once  and  a  good  one  ;  it  seems  a  pity 
that  it  cannot  be  kept  up.  There  is  no  other 
phase  of  college  life  that  the  public  at  large 
takes  so  much  interest  in  as  college  music  and 
songs.  Those  of  our  number  who  are  fond  of 
singing  miss  very  much  this  only  opportunity 
for  the  enjoyment  of  the  pleasure  in  college. 
The  man  who  has  music  in  him  needs  practice 
just  as  much  as  his  athletic  fellow  student 
needs  training  for  our  foot-ball  and  lacrosse. 
These  exercises  may  make  us  healthy,  strong 
and  manly,  but  singing,  in  addition  to  the 
benefit  derived  from  the  cultivation  of  the 
vocal  organs,  leads  us  into  the  art  of  music, 
where  we  feel  the  influence  of  the  great  mas- 
ters who  have  gone  before  us,  by  coming  into 
a  fuller  realization  of  the  more  delicate  shades 
of  feeling  and  a  keener  appreciation  of  all  the 
nobleness  and  beauty  which  the  art  possesses. 
But  more  than  this,  when  rightly  experienced, 
it  casts  an  inexpressible  influence  over  our  lives 
and  thoughts,  toning  down  the  discords  and 
lifting  us  up  out  of  ourselves,  as  it  were,  into 
-ome  higher  realm  of  nature,  nearer  to  the 
^Ot,  Even  in  the  rollicking  strains  of  our 
i  songs  we  experience  more  fully  a 
college  spirit,  and  seem  to  find  in  their 
an  expression  for  the  good  fellowship 


and  fun-loving  disposition  which  so  charactn- 
ise  college  life.    When  we  take  away  our  glee 
club  we  take  all  this  and  much  more,  whidi    . 
nothing  can  replace. 

Our  Institute  is  small  compared  with  mu; 
other  colleges,  still  we  run  foot-ball,  lacrosse 
and  base  ball  teams,  have  college  societiK, 
two  annuals  and  a  monthly  periodical,  and  at 
one  time  supported  a  glee  club.  On  account 
of  our  small  numbers  heavy  duties  often  tall 
to  the  lot  of  an  individual  man,  and  it 
becomes  necessary  that  one  person  has  to  en- 
gage in  all  of  these  things.  Now  to  attend  to 
them  all  properly  and  not  neglect  one's 
studies  is  sometimes  an  impossibility.  So 
lack  of  time  has  been  in  some  cases  a  well 
grounded  reason  for  absence  from  rehearsals 
and  lack  of  interest.  It  seems,  nevertheless, 
that  we  should  be  able  to  find  a  few  interested 
men  who  cin  ^jiare  the  time  to  keep  up  this 
deserving  enierpnse.  Perhaps,  a  less  number 
of  men  would  be  easier  to  handle.  We  lack 
a  leader  who  is  interested  ;  we  remember  with 
pleasure  and  satisfaction  the  proficiency  ac- 
quired under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Brainard, 
and  cspfcijily  of  Mr.  Camp,  and  there  seems 
to  be  no  good  reason  why  we  may  not  find 
another  leader  who  will  wake  us  up  and 
thoroughly  drill  us.  More  important  than  all 
is  the  well  grounded  necessity  of  havinf  the 
parts  properly  balanced.  Because  we  hive 
six  good  heavy  second  bases  it  is  not  neces- 
sary that  we  try  to  support  a  club  of  twenty- 
four  members,  but  if  on  the  contrary  we  have 
only  two  or  three  good  first  tenors,  there 
should  only  be  on  the  other  parts  just  enough 
men  to  balance  them.  The  leader  should  have 
the  choice  of  all  (he  members  so  that  no 
member  of  the  club  will  feel  obliged  to  vote  for 
this  or  that  man  because  he  is  his  friend. 

There  is  certainly  material  enough  in  out 
college  for  a  good  medium  sized  glee  club, 
and    we   hope   those  who  are  interested  wil^ 
make  strenuous  efforts  and  will  receive  every 
encouragement  from  the  college  at  large,  to 
proceed  with  preparations  for  a  concert.  Ou* 
concert  year  before  last  was  a  great  success 
and  if  some  one  who  plays  the  banjo  will  ir^ 
terest    himself,    organize    and    drill    a    go(7 
banjo  club,  we  can  have   a   greater    succe^ 
than  ever  this  season.  A.  .^. 


The  University  of  Egypt,  at  Cairo,  in  98— 
had    an    attendance  of   over  4,000   studen 
Ten  years  ago  it  had  a  faculty  of  231  [ir— 
fessors. 


THE  STEV^ENS   INDICATOR. 


107 


THE  NEW  THEATRE. 


THE  DIRECT  PRODUCTION  OF  STEEL, 


\cw  theatre  recently  opened  in  Ho- 
by  Mr.   Robert  Wareing^  satisfies  a 

want. 

ront  is  in  brick  and  terra  cotta,  and 
f  ornamented.  On  entering  the  audi- 
he  incline  of  the  floor  strikes  us  as 
usually  steep.  This  arrangement  has 
ntage  of  enabling  the  spectators  to  see 
er  the  heads  of  their  neighbors,  and 
lem  an  opportunity  to  riew  the  stage 

performing  the   gymnastics   usually 

y  to  one  sitting  in  the  rear. 

Irop  curtain  represents  an  Oriental 
indsomely  painted  in  dark  and  deli- 
».  There  are  four  prosctrnium  boxes, 
IT  one,  being  divided  by  a  screen  of 
:s  interlacing.  There  is  but  one  bal- 
It  this  extends  some  distance  back, 
berefore  very  roomy.  The  ceiling  is 
lely  painted,  with  a  large  and  beauti- 
;tal  chandelier  in  the  centre.  The 
re  papered  to  correspond  with  the 
;s  of  the  ceiling.  The  colors  are  very 
I  subdued,  the  whole  interior  decora- 
hibiting  taste  and  artistic  arrangement, 
ts  are  upholstered  with  red  plush,  and 
ly  and  comfortable.  The  building  is 
throughout  with  electricity,  and  the 
of  good  size. 

milding  is  certainly  well  calculated,  by 
f  its  many  excellent  appointments,  to 
1  an  assemblage  of  the  elite.  It  de- 
much  favor,  and  will  undoubtedly 
much.  The  music  is  good,  and  the 
plays  selected  is  good.  It  thus  fulfills 
Liirements  of  a  first-class  play-house, 
•ut  before  the  public  as  such.  When 
he  students  are  desirous  of  being  en- 
i  for  an  evening,  they  can  do  no  better 
itronize  the  new  theatre,  where  they 
I  to  be  entertained,  and  entertained 

K.  D.  T. 
■»  #  »  « 

Troy  Polytechnic  contains  the  follow- 

Mow  doth  the  Freshmen  student, 
Improve  each  shining  minute ; 
He  goes  prowling  round  the  town, 
To  see  what  fun  there's  in  it. 

Then  wlien  exams  have  come  to  pass, 
On  a  soiled  card  he  sees  his  name. 
And  he  wonders  how  it  happened — 
He  didn't  come  to  do  the  same. 


The  latest  proposition  in  this  connection  is 
that  of  Mr.  James  J.  Shcdlock  of  London* 
The  principals  involved  in  Mr.  Shcdlock's 
process  consist  in  the  use  of  reducing  gasc* 
produced  by  the  decomposition  of  steam  in 
conjunction  with  a  bath  of  molten  metal,  which 
he  employs  to  take  up  the  metals  as  they  arc 
reduced  from  their  combinations.  For  demon- 
stration on  a  practical  commercial  scale,  ex- 
tensive premises  have  been  taken  at  Blackwall, 
and  machinery  and  smelting  apparatus  put  up 
there  for  carrying  out  the  process, 

Mr.  Shedlock's  method  of  treating  ores  for 
the  separation  of  their  metals,  is  carried  into 
effect  by  passing  the  ore  in  a  finely  divided 
state  through  a  bath  of  molten  metal  main- 
tained at  a  temperature  necessary  to  insure  its 
combination  with  any  free  metal  contained  in 
the  ore.  But  as  most  ores  contain  metals 
associated  or  in  combination  with  the  metal- 
loids, it  is  necessary  to  decompose  such  com- 
pounds in  order  that  the  metals  may  be  freed 
and  in  such  a  condition  as  to  readily  combine 
with  the  metallic  bath. 

This  is  accomplished  by  forcing  streams  of 
reducing  gases  through  the  bath  of  molten 
metal  simultaneously  with  the  pulverized  ore. 
For  the  production  of  these  gases  steam  is 
passed  through  super-heaters,  the  outlets  of 
which  communicate  with  gas  producers,  which 
produce  carbonic  oxide  and  hydrogen  gases, 
which  are  conveyed  from  the  producers  by 
tubes  into  the  bath  of  molten  metal  at  the 
point  of  entry  of  the  powdered  ore. 

In  consequence  of  the  affinity  possessed  by 
these  gases  for  the  metalloids,  and  also  by 
reason  of  their  high  temperatures,  the  metallic 
compounds  are  decomposed  and  the  volatile 
constituents  of  the  ores  are  vaporized,  which, 
with  the  earthy  portions,  rise  to  the  surface  of 
the  bath  of  molten  metal.  The  gases  and 
vapors  are  conveyed  through  flues  into 
chambers  where  those  that  are  condensable 
are  thrown  down,  the  permanent  gases  escaping 
into  the  chimney  shaft.  The  metals,  as  they 
accumulate  in  the  bath,  overflow  into  receivers 
through  spouts,  and  as  they  collect  are  run 
into  ingot  or  bars.  The  ores  of  iron  are 
stated  to  be  most  readily  reduced,  and  its 
direct  conversion  at  one  operation  into  the 
different  carbides  of  iron,  varying  from  the 
softest  cast  iron  to  the  mildest  steel,  is  easily 
accomplished. — Iron, 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


IBtk  OP   EUCH   MONTH.   DURING    IHE   COLLEGE   YEHR, 

INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVBD^  In^titiatsB  of  Tecjoologj. 


CARTER  K.  PAGF.,J«..  -Bj,  E.m^->n-^lu(f. 

LUCIUS  T,  FINCH.  "90.  Baiiiua Mamngir. 

ARTHUR  A.  FULLER,  '83,  Exckarngt  BJilar. 
BURTON  P.  HALL.  ■!». 

HUOKRTS.  WVNKOUP, 'SB. 

WILLIAM  W.  SCHENCK. '88. 

THOS.  A.  VAN  DER  WILLIGEN,  "SB. 

TERMS: — II.H  par  YMr,  In  Admnca.      SIngIg  Ci)p)r,  SO  Cenll. 


Extra  eepits  lan  ie  dlaituJ  al  LHliin'i  ieelt  stert, 
Het9ien,N.J. 

Sn^ierihers  mil  pleast  immtdialfly  notify  m  0/  any 
tMantt  in  ihtir  addnitu  or  failun  to  nctii'i  tAt  paptr 
rrgularfy. 

Tkt  viler'i  full  namt,  ai  null  as  iii  NOM  DK  plume, 
muit  aecmfuHf  lit  article,  as  assurtuuf  of  xood  faith 
and  rtUaHbty ;  but  U  U'ill  not  be  puitijhal,  unltsf  dt tired. 

Exchang/s,  coHtrihtdietu,  saiicriflifHi,  adt-rrliiemtnti 
and  all  elfurmmmuakatiaHi  by  mail,  skoutd  tt  addratat 
to  The  Stevens  Indicator,  Sieveni  InstitHle,  Hobolun, 
N.f 

LttUrt  far  ptthluatian  should  h/  wrillm  legiily  in  inh, 
Hpett  Bttt  lidt  of  the  paftr  ;  uhUss  loo  long,  thry  mill  tt 
initrled  01  ivritttn. 

The  edilori  do  not  hold  thrmielvei  reifoHsHle  far  ofin- 
ient  exprissed  in  literary  articles  gr  (ommunieatieHs. 


rN  consequence  of  the  confusion  attending 
the  removal  of  the  effects  of  the  Indicator 
from  the  Institute,  the  books  were  more  or  less 
misplaced,  and  we  fear  that  our  exchanges 
and  some  of  the  subscribers  have  suffered. 
We  will  be  h.-ippy  to  supply* those  with  the 
June  issue  who  have  failed  to  get  them.  Com- 
munications addressed  to  the  exchange  Editor 
will  receive  immediate  attention. 


fiCCORDlNG  to  a  prediction  in  the  June 
number,  the  Indicator  was  to  be  taken 
apart  during  the  summer,  and  thoroughly 
cleansed.  Such  has  aclually  been  the  case, 
but   the   "  several   modifications  of  design  " 


have  not  yet  been  perfected.  That  these 
modifications  of  design  ttnll  enable  it  to  work 
more  efficiently  when  they  are  carried  nut, 
can  only  be  ascertained  by  experiment.  We 
can,  however,  assure  our  readers  of  a  vety 
great  change,  and  that  at  no  distant  date,  de- 
tails of  which  will  possibly  be  made  public  in 
the  next  issue. 

TIT  the  last  regular  meeting  of  the  com- 
J*  pany,  held  on  May  s8th.  a  resolution 
was  adopted  to  the  effect  that  two  vacan- 
cies were  to  be  left  in  the  ranks  of  the 
company,  providing  that  such  were  made 
by  resignation  or  graduation,  to  fill  which  the 
Freshman  class  were  to  elect  two  of  their 
number  before  Oct.  15th  following.  Bui  they 
have  shown  no  desire  whatever  to  comply  with 
this  resolution.  What  is  the  matter  ?  Is  the 
class  of  '90  behind  the  class  of  '89  in  this 
respect  ?  Last  year  there  was  a  great  deal  of 
complaint  among  the  Freshmen,  because  they 
were  not  represented  on  the  Indicator  board, 
and  now  that  provision  has  been  made  foi 
such  from  the  very  beginning  of  the  term, 
they  do  not  take  the  trouble  to  chose  their 
representatives.  Perhaps  they  regard  the  h- 
DICATOR  in  the  same  light  as  the  Athletic 
Association.  ; 


IT  has  been  rumored  about  College  that  iht 
Freshmen  are  going  to  boycott  the  Ath- 
letic Association  because  they  think  they  have 
been  badly  treated  by  being  the  first  class  W 
incur  the  trebled  initiation  fee  and  the  doubted 
yearly  dues.  Let  the  Board  of  Directors  lii 
a  day  on  or  before  which  the  dues  and  initia- 
tions must  be  paid  to  even  gain  admission  id 
the  grounds  to  lake  part  in  a  practice  game- 
This  would  undoubtedly  bring  members  to 
their  senses.  That  the  method  of  chans^S 
the  initiation  fee  and  yearly  dues  was  irregub', 
no  one  will  deny  ;  but  it  was  allowed  by  the 
presiding  officer  at  the  regular  meeting  of  the 
association,  and  what  can  be  done  abonl  J' 
now? 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


109 


;ome  one  would  examine  the  Constitution 
;  Athletic  Association  they  would  find  no 
lent  about  yearly  dues.  Any  student 
as  been  duly  elected  can,  upon  the  pay- 
of  $1.00  initiation  fee,  be  entitled  to  all 
ghts  and  privileges  of  membership,  is  the 
f  the  article  relating  thereto.  There  is 
itely  no  provision  made  for  charging 
'  dues.  What  a  sad  mess  this  Constitu- 
lust  be  anyhow  ! 


[ONG  the  contributions  to  this  issue  was 
one  entitled  "  What  to  Say,  and  How 
^  It."  The  whole  line  of  argument  hinged 
2  fact  that  no  provision  is  made  in  the 
ute  course  for  training  the  students  in 
mation,  and  suggested  as  a  remedy  that 

course  of  Belles  Lettres  be  extended 
:he  Junior  year,  and  that  certain  hours 
d  be  set  aside  not  only  for  declaiming 
eciting  the  writings  of  others,  but  also 
laking  impromptu  speeches  on  subjects 
lated  by  the  professor."  It  was  decided 
e  Board  not  to  publish  this,  as  sufficient 
Iready  been  said  about  this  department. 
:  do  not,  however,  consider  this  propo- 

at  all  practicable,  partly  because  there 
olutely  no  time  in  the  Junior  year  to  be 
ed  to  such,  and  partly  because  the  stu- 

should  have  had  such  training  before 
ing  the  Institute  in  the  preparatory 
lis,  where  ample  provision  could  be  made, 
efficient  time  devoted  to  such  as  would 
it  of  material  advantage, 
e  tendency  is  to  raise  the  requirements 
dmission,  which  should  tend  to  increase 
/erage  age  of  the  Freshman  class.  This 
d  keep  the  prospective  Freshman  longer 
hool,  where  sufficient  time  could  be  de- 

to  declamation  to  make  it  of  use  to  him. 
mpossible  to  crowd  all  the  requirements 
good  academic  and  scientific  education 
a  four  years'  college  course,  especially 

the  preparation  for  college  has  been 
;d  to  what  is  actually  necessary  for  the 
nee  examinations. 


To  the  Editors  of  the  Indicator  : 

It  seems  that  Professor  Leeds  has  decided 
to  continue  that  very  excellent  method  of  rec- 
itation in  chemistry  by  means  of  set  ques- 
tions. Although  this  plan  is  so  popular  among 
the  students,  and  is  productive  of  such  good 
results,  yet  a  great  deal  of  time  is  lost  in  rec- 
itation hours  by  the  dictation  and  copying  of 
the  questions. 

I  suggest  that  the  sets  of  questions  for  the 
Junior  and  Sophomore  classes  be  printed  and 
supplied  to  each  class  at  the  beginning  of 
each  year's  work  ;  no  student  could  object  to 
being  charged  a  sum  sufficient  to  pay  for  the 
cost  of  printing. 

This  plan  would  assuredly  meet  with   the 
approval  of  all,  and  would  be  eminently  suc- 
cessful. **  Junior." 
<  4  » « 

'75- 
Theo.  F.  Koezley  is  draughtsman  for  A. 

Schweizer,  Architectural  Iron  Works,  N.  Y.  C. 

•78. 

A.  De  Bonneville,  formerly  in  the  draught- 
ing room  of  Delamater  Iron  Works,  is  now 
salesman  for  the  works. 

'80. 
Theo.  A.  Elliott  has  established  himself 
as  Consulting  Engineer,  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

'84. 
G.  J.  Roberts  is  with  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton and  Quincy  R.  R.,  at  Aurora,  111. 

'86. 

E.  T.  Birdsall  is  with  the  Manhattan  Ele- 
vated R,  R.,  N.  Y.  City. 

E.  F.  White  is  Superintendent  of  the  Ber- 
gen Point  Sulphur  Works,  at  Constables' 
Hook,  N.  J. 

C.  R.  Collins,  United  Gas  Improvement 
Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Cornelius  J.  Field,  with  Edison  Electric 
Light  Co.,  N.  Y.  C. 

Francis  E.  Jackson,  with  Edison  Lamp 
Co.,  Harrison,  N.  J. 

Fred.  N.  Morton,  with  United  Gas  Im- 
provement Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Otto  F.  Pordte,  with  Johnson  Foundry 
and  Machine  Co.,  Harlem,  N.  Y. 

William  F.  White,  with  Ames  Iron  Co., 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


BRErfiEBRIRG    RGITES. 

The  Brooklyn  Union  states  that  Chicago  is 
to-day  manufacturing  more  Bessemer  steel 
than  any  other  city  in  the  world.  The  North 
Chicago  Rolling  Mills  are  turning  out  175,000 
torts  of  finished  steel  rails  every  year ;  the 
Union  Steel  and  Iron  Company,  1^0,000  tons 
a  year,  and  the  JoHct  Steel  Company,  which 
is  virtually  of  Chicago,  115,000  tons.  Chicago 
is  some  450  or  500  miles  nearer  than  Pittsburg 
to  the  great  Western  market,  Crom  whence 
comes  an  ever  increasing  demand  for  the 
product  of  furnaces  and  rolling  mills. 

Messrs.  Oldham  &  Richards,  of  Man- 
chester, have  patented  a  new  pulley  for 
driving  planing  machines,  which  requires  no 
Strap  fork,  and  takes  the  place  of  the  three 
pulleys,  usually  required  for  driving,  reversing, 
and  loose  turning.  This  is  effected  by  carry- 
ing within  the  pulley  a  couple  of  friction  cones 
actuated  by  a  lever  from  the  machine.  The 
pulley  itself  constantly  runs  loose,  and  as  the 
machine  has  either  to  be  driven  or  reversed, 
one  or  other  of  the  friction  cones  is  brought 
into  action.  By  this  arrangement  the  driving 
strap  constantly  remains  on  the  one  pulley, 
and  a  considerable  saving  of  wear  and  tear  is 
effected,  whilst  there  is  no  loss  of  time  in 
Stopping  the  machine  for  changing  the  strap 
from  one  pulley  to  another,  and  the  driving 
gear  is  brought  within  smaller  compass.^  Van 
Noitrand' s  Engineering  Magatine. 

According  to  the  Electrical  World,  Professor 
EUhu  Thomson,  of  the  Thomson-Houston 
Electric  Company,  has  invented  a  method  by 
which  metal  wires  can  be  welded  together 
without  the  application  of  external  heat,  but 
simply  by  passing  strong  currents  of  electticity 
between  the  joint  of  the  two  pieces  to  be 
welded. 

The  advantage  of  electrically  welding  joints 
is,  that  the  joints  are  homogeneous  and  of  the 
same  thickness  as  the  rest  of  the  wire.  When 
large  conductors  are  to  be  soldered,  one  of  the 
main  difficulties  has  been,  that  the  external 
heat  applied  to  the  joint  runs  back  along  the 
conductor  and  into  the  protecting  tube.  With 
Professor  Thomson's  apparatus  no  such  diffi- 
culty need  be  expected,  as  tlie  heat  is  localized 
to  the  fraction  of  an  inch  on  either  .side  of  the 
joint.  For  this  reason  the  invention  should 
also  he  very  valuable  in  joining  the  ends  of 
steel  band  saws. — Seieatifie  American. 


A  New  Process  of  Round  Fobcikgs.— 
Mr,  George  H.  Simoods,  of  Fitchburg,  has 
invented  a  machine  for  the  purpose  of  forging 
iron  or  steel  in  any  form  which  can  be  turned. 
This  involves  an  entirely  new  method  of  work- 
ing iron.  Instead  of  being  hammered  01 
rolled  to  the  desired  form,  the  mass  of  red  hot 
metal  is  placed  in  a  groove  in  two  plates  which 
are  moved  in  reverse  directions  ;  the  grooves 
are  in  primitive  form  at  the  places  where  liie 
iron  first  enters  between  the  plates,  and  along 
its  course  these  grooves  become  more  closely 
in  conformity  to  the  shape  which  is  given  to 
the  finished  piece,  which  is  twisted  into  shape. 
The  process  is  apphed  with  success  to  the 
manufacture  of  conical  shot,  forged  out  of 
steel,  the  British  Government  having  given  an 
order  for  500,000  shot,  which  are  being  made 
by  the  English  representative.  This  process 
is  applied  to  the  manufacture  of  any  small 
iron  or  steel  pieces  of  turned  form. —  Van 
Nostranits  Engineering  Magazine. 

Calorifec  Power  or  Coal  Gas.  —  The 
AnnaUs  de  Chimie  et  de  Physique  recently  con- 
tained a  description,  by  M.  Witi,  of  his  ex- 
periments for  determining  the  calorific  power 
of  coal  gas.  The  method  pursued  was  that  of 
Berthelol,  and  consisted  in  the  instantaneous 
combustion  of  an  explosive  mixture  in  a  shell 
plunged  in  the  water  of  a  calorimeter,  the  ele- 
vation of  the  temperature  of  which  could  be 
exactly  measured.  A  number  of  trials  led  to 
the  determination,  for  a  well-purified  gas.ofa 
calorific  power  of  5,200  calories  per  cubic 
meter  of  gas  at  o"  temperature  and  760  milli- 
meters pressure,  saturated  with  aqueous  vapor. 
This  result  was  obtained  from  a  gas  mixed 
with  six  times  its  volume  of  air.  Before  pas- 
sing through  the  scrubber  and  purifier,  the 
same  gas  had  a  calorific  value  of  5,600  calor- 
ies, so  that  it  lost  something  by  purifying.  If 
the  heat  developed  by  the  explosive  mixture 
of  one  volume  of  gas  and  six  volumes  of  air 
is  taken  as  the  standard  for  comparison,  it  is 
found  that  the  same  gas  gives  5  per  cent,  more 
heat  when  fired  with  1.25  volumes  of  oxygen. 
With  II  volumes  of  oxygen,  on  the  contrar)-, 
the  calorific  power  is  less  by  4.6  per  cent,  h, 
therefore,  decreases  with  dilution  in  oxygen. 
It  is  not  so  when  gas  is  mixed  with  air.  When 
diluted  with  11  volumes  of  air,  the  calorific 
value  is  greater  by  2.5  per  cent,  than  when 
the  gas  is^ixed  with  only  six  volumes  of  air. 
Thus  the  effect  of  the  extra  dilution  is  in- 
versely to  what  might  have  been  expected 
upon  genera]  principles. 


THE     S  TE  VENS    IMDICA  TOR. 


kable  feat  of  tracklaying  was  per- 
cently  on  the  New  York  Elevated 
perhaps  not  more  remarkable  than 
rs  which  have  not  been  reported, 
'  of  note  as  showing  what  can  be 
practice  and  will.  Tracklaying  on 
s  carried  on  under  difficulties,  since 
at  1%  to  5  minutes'  intervals  at  all 
le  day  and  most  of  the  hours  of  the 
at  15  minutes'  interval  throughout 
naining  hours. 

/  to  what  might  be  expected,  it  has 
I  preferable  to  doall  ordinary  track- 
.aylight,  despite  the  more  frequent 
■obably  the  very  best  trackmen  on 
oads  would  think  they  could  do 
latever  in  the  way  of  changing  raits 
;nger  trains  running  five  minutes 
on  a  continuous  bridge  affording 
irrowest  and  most  precarious  foot- 
rains  are  passing  ;  but  this  is  what 

y-five  minutes  on  the  morning  of 
ih,  a  gang  of  eighteen  men  changed 
1  1,000  feet  of  track  by  taking  out 
Id  50-poiind  rails  and  putting  m  as 
ound  rails  in  their  place,  completely 
.'m  and  inserting  Bush  interlocking 
;  joints,  a]l  without  delaying  a  train. 
3  an  average  of  forty-three  seconds 

out,  and  forty-three  seconds  for 
I  rail,  including  all  delays  ;  but  ten 
taken  out  and  replaced  in  three  and 
utes,  or  ten  and  a  half  seconds  for 

and  as  much  for  replacing  ;  and 
ils  were  taken  out,  replaced  by  five 

and  the  latter  fastened,  all  in  fifty- 
Is. — Railroad  Gazette. 


pretender  is  well-known  as  "  SliK*"*  ;" 
seer  should  now  be  called  "  Wiggins." 
religion,  the  first  is  a  schemer; 
;  to  soothsay,  (he  last  is  a  dreamer. 

it-fingered  persuasion  is  still  among 
ly  one  could  succeed  in  detecting 
of  its  representatives,  if.  there  be 
one,  his  name  would  be  put  down 
lis  of  the  Institute,  in  boldest  type, 
:  benefactor. 


It  will  be  well  for  the  members  of  '90  to 

familiarize  themselves  with  such  expressions 
as  "Von  lathe  ;"  "  Look  you  ;"  "  Turn  it  this 
road,"  and  a  few  others  of  a  similar  character, 
as  they  comprise  the  peculiar  technicalities  of 
the  S.  I.  T.  Machine  Shop,  and  a  full  under- 
derstanding  of  them  is  essential  to  a  success- 
ful shop  course. 

It  was  highly  entertaining  to  observe  the 
capers  of  the  Freshmen  on  seeing  their  names 
posted  as  admitted.  Many  were  intoxicated 
with  delight,  and  went  around  congratulating 
Seniors  and  Juniors  indiscriminately.  One 
particularly  effusive  Freshman  slapped  a 
Junior  on  the  back,  and  exclaimed  :  "  Hooray, 
old  boy  !  I'm  admitted  on  trial,  too  !"  The 
Junior  crawled  under  the  library  table,  and 
tried  to  think  of  the  innocence  of  the  Freshc- 
man. 

Now  is  the  time  when  the  Freshmen  should 
brace  up  and  join  the  Athletic  Association. 
They  all  enjoy  using  the  grounds,  and  it  is  no 
more  than  fair  that  they  should  assist  in  keep- 
ing the  same  in  order  by  joining  the  Associa- 
tion. The  dues  are  small  in  comparison  with 
the  privileges  received,  and  are  within  the 
limits  of  every  one's  pocket.  The  same  ap- 
plies to  upper  class  men  as  well,  only  it  is  di- 
rected to  the  Freshmen^  because  they  are  as 
yet  unacquainted  with  the  various  institutions 
of  the  college. 

An  '88  man  came  very  near  fainting  dead 
away  a  short  time  since.  It  seems  that  be 
brought  an  umbrella  one  morning,  and  forgot 
to  take  it  in  the  afternoon.  It  consequently 
remained  in  the  hat-room  over  night.  The 
next  morning,  before  coming  to  the  Institute, 
he  remembered  his  umbrella,  and  began  to 
consider  what  color  his  new  one  should  be. 
On  eptering  the  class-room,  however,  he  was 
almost  horrified  to  find  his  umbrella  where  he 
had  left  it.  It  so  unnerved  him  that  he  fell 
down  in  an  epileptic  fit,  and  would  have  gone 
in  a  fainting  fit  if  O,  W.  J.  hadn't  been  handy 
with  a  little  stimulant. 

It  has  always  been  a  source  of  unalloyed 
pleasure  to  the  students  to  buy  lathe  exercises 
weighing  eight  or  ten  pounds,  at  rates  that 
almost  give  a  man  the  heart  disease,  and  then 
to  scrape  off  about  four  ounces  in  completing 
the  exercise,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  pieces 
lying  around  to  be  sold  over  again.  Our  un- 
alloyed pleasure  would  be  changed  to  pure 
delight  if  they  would  only  get  in  a  few  "  point- 
ing" exercises.    When   such  an   exercise  is 


mennoned  in  the  schedule,  the  student  is  taken 

to  the  tool-room,  and  allowed  to  point  his 
finger  at  a  casting  of  the  desired  shape,  (or 
which  he  is  charged  two  dollars  and  a  half. 
If  every  third  exercise  could  be  made  a 
"[loint"  exercise,  the  lathe  course  would  be 
sufficiently  joyful. 

Professor  W.  was  discussing  couples  a 
few  days  since.  He  said  a  couple  was  a  twist, 
and  very  shortly  became  enthusiastic,  and  ad- 
vised the  class  to  "  try  it  on  somebody," 
whereupon  the  class  interpreted  him  rather 
too  literally,  and  began  lo  twist  each  others 
ears  to  such  an  extent  that  it  almost  caused  a 

The  roster  of  the  Junior  class  has  been 
changed  somewhat  from  that  of  last  year. 
The  work  is  distributed  a  little  more  evenly 
than  previously,  and  gives  about  the  same 
amount  of  work  to  be  done  each  day;  which 
is  mwre  desirable  than  taking  but  a  little  one 
day  and  a  tremendous  amount  the  next.  The 
change  of  shop-work  from  Saturday  morning 
to  Friday  afternoon  is  a  very  agreeable  one  to 
the  whole  class.  It  gives  those  living  out  of 
town  the  privilege  of  having  Saturday  lo 
Ihemselves  ;  whereas,  if  they  are  obliged  to  be 
in  on  Saturday  morning,  what  would  be  left 
of  the  day  would   not   be  of  much  service. 

The  optional  course  in  cheraistrj'  for  the 
Seniors  has  necessitated  the  discardmg  of  di- 
visions  in  the  Junior  class,  as  the  two  after- 
noons thus  left  open  are  needed  for  the 
Seniors.  Outside  of  a  little  crowding,  how- 
ever, there  is  no  disadvantage  in  this  ar- 
rangement over  the  old  one. 

We  are  indeed  much  flattered  to  have  the 
Freshmen  send  us  contributions  and  take  a 
kindly  interest  in  our  welfare.  We  feel  the 
deepest  gratitude  for  such  well-meant  endeav- 
ors, but  we  fear  there  will  be  a  great  loss  of 
life  in  the  Freshman  class  if  we  receive  any- 
thing more  like  the  following  : 

Said  S.  Chester  de  Lyon  ■■  Oh  dettr  !" 

I'm  gelling  c]uile  reckless  I  fear  ; 

I've  revelled  as  late 

As  quarter  pisl  eight 

A.ii<I  drank  a.  whole  glass  ofbirch  beer. 

Said  Sheeny  Foster  vas  der  cosla 

To  go  into  dal  vorler, 
'Twill  cost  you,  sir,  to  lake  a  bath. 

A  little  silver  quarter. 
So  bellup  me  !  by  Gosh,  said  he, 

I  really  vas  loo  poorer  ; 
I  keep  my  little  kvohtet,  sir, 

Und  svim  me  in  der  sewer. 


The  annual  class  elections  have  taken  place, 
with  the  following  results  : 

■87- 

President,  Bayles;  Vice-President,  McElroy; 

Secretary,    Flack  ;  Treasurer,    Moeller ;  His- 


torian, Page. 


•88. 


President,  Whigham  ;  Vice-President,  Tay- 
lor ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Lopez  ;  His- 
torian, Hall  ;  Foot  Ball  Captain,  Uhlenhaut; 
Chaplain,  Rev.  A.  A.  Fuller. 


President,  Hoxie;  Vice-President,  Ohphant; 
Secretary,  Hiiler;  Treasurer,  Peck;  Foot  Ball 
Captain,  Stevens. 

'90. 

President,  Finch  ;  Vice-President,  McCul- 
lough  ;  Secretary,  Whitlock  ;  Treasurer, 
Torrance  ;  Foot  Ball  Captain,  Moinan  ;  Base 
Ball  Captain,  Marshall. 


During  the  early  part  of  the  fall  term  there 
is  always  much  speculation  about  the  football 
team  that  will  be  put  in  the  field,  and  a  good 
deal  is  always  said  about  the  prospects  of  the 
present  compared  with  that  of  the  preceeding 
year.  It  is  to  be  greatly  regretted  that  4 
suitable  person  has  not  been  provided  to  cMch 
the  team,  which  is  generally  acknowledged  lo 
be  the  only  way  of  getting  a  team  of  any  de- 
scription in  working  order.  The  effect  of  baving 
no  such  person  was  very  decided  in  the  caseof 
the  Glee  Club  last  year,  its  utter  collapse  be- 
ing the  result,  but  this  in  the  case  of  lootball 
is  an  extravagance  not  to  be  dreamt  of  ai 
Stevens.  1-ast  year  the  team  started  out  with 
every  encouragement,  but  they  soon  lost  heart, 
and  in  ten  matches  only  three  were  won.  The 
cause  of  this  discouragement  was  heightened 
in  no  small  degree  by  the  unfortunate  choice 
of  referees  and  the  failure  of  the  captain,  on 
one  occasion  at  least,  to  remove  such— this 
however  has  been  discussed  enough — it  ougM 
to  be  a  lesson  to  prevent  hereafter  the  choice 
of  one  who  Is  not  known  to  be  acquainted  willi 
the  rules  in  vogue  at  the  time.  This  year's  pios- 


The  stmvMns  indicator. 


>I3 


undoubtedly  not  as  good  as  last,  but 
)leiity  of  good  material  at  hand  if  it  is 
ized.  The  plan  of  forming  a  second 
;ive  the  regular  College  team  practice 
excellent  one,  only  let  the  principle 
d  out  so  that  each  man  on  the  regular 
be  accustomed  to  his  place  and  know 
vhat  is  expected  of  him.  It  has  been 
about  college  that  a  series  of  matches 
:  played  for  a  pennant,  open  to  teams 
various  classes,  this  would  certainly 
in  interest  in  the  game,  heretofore  un- 
by  arousing  class  feeling,  which  is 
xtinct,  a  moderate  amount  of  which 
)e  far  from  objectionable.  By  all 
st  the  Board  of  Directors  take  the 
1  hand  without  delay,  provide  a  pen- 
.  officially  announce  the  fact  that  there 
pennant  to  be  won  by  the  lucky  team, 
ipetition  between  the  teams  of  '87  and 
lisesto  be  sharp  enough  to  be  exceed- 
e  resting. 

roposed  change  in  the  Constitution  of 
?iation  was  well  put,  i.e.,  "  that  the  Cor- 
ng  Secretary  be  one  of  the  Board  of 
s,"  only  it  should  have  gone  further 
uded  from  the  Board  the  captains  of 

football,  and  lacrosse.  Where  can 
association  be  found  that  the  baseball 
osse  captains  have  a  say  in  choosing 
ball  team  and  vice  versa?  These 
are  field  captains,  and  their  authority 
)e  limited  to  such,  and  not  extend  to 
inistration  of  the  affairs  of  the  associa- 
•oes  an  occasion  ever  come  up  on 
Board  composed  of  three,  cannot  act  ? 
le  the  case,  five  would  hardly  be  better, 

chances  are  that  the  whole  Board 
)t  be  gotten  together  ;  the  inevitable 
either  case  would  be  the  calling  of  a 
aeeting  of  the  association.  That  the 
inding  Secretary  should  be  on  the 
s  very  evident  to  any  one  who  is  ac- 
1  with  the  delays  that  are  necessarily 
ed  by  some  one  of  the  Board  having 

up  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  in 
inform  him  of  the  action  of  the  Board, 
authorize  him  to  make  this  and  that 
ication. 

eorganization  of  the  Board  can  be  ac- 
led  in  several  ways,  either  limit  the 
:o  the  President  Vice  President  and 
•nding  secretary,  or  abolish  the  office 
sponding  secretary,  letting  the  duties 
devolve  on  the  vice  president  as  clerk 
oard,  and  include  the  treasurer  ;  or,  if 
onsidered  necessary,  let  the  board  be 


composed  of  the  president  vice  president  treas- 
urer and  two  directors,  to  be  elected  at  large  as 
of  old.  The  change  in  the  amount  charged 
for  the  initiation  fee  and  yearly  dues  was  un- 
doubtedly the  best  action  that  could  have  been 
taken.  The  regular  fall  election  resulted 
in  the  following: 

Firestone,  '87,  President. 

Bayles,  '87,  Vice  President. 

Crisfield,  '87,  Recording  Secretary. 

L.  W.  Anderson,  '88,  Cor.  Sec'y. 

B.  P.  Hall,  '88,  Treasurer. 

The  captains  chosen  last  year  for  the  com- 
ing season,  were  : 

Hart,  '87,  Football. 

Flack,  '87  Lacrosse. 

Drummond,  '88,  Baseball. 

Princeton  vs.  Stevens.— October  9th, 
1886,  at  Princeton.  Princeton  Rushers — 
Spalding,  Moore,  Cowan,  George,  Irvine, 
Cook,  Wagenhurst;  quarter  •  back,  Sloan; 
half-backs,  Ames  and  Price  ;  back,  Savage 
(Captain).  Stevens'  Rushers — Flack,  Drum- 
mond, Hart  (Captain),  Ferris,  Firestone, 
Phelps,  Coker ;  quarter-back,  Lopez ;  half- 
backs, Cuntz  and  Taylor  ;  back,  Uhlenhaut. 
On  account  of  the  excessive  heat  it  was  de- 
cided to  play  half  hour  innings  instead  of 
three-quarters. 

In  the  first  half  Princeton  made  9  touch- 
downs, one  of  which  resulted  in  a  goal,  scor- 
ing 38  points  ;  Stevens  o.  During  the  second 
half  Princeton  scored  so  points  more,  making 
a  total  of 

Princeton  .- 58 

Stevens o 

During  the  second  half.  Flack  had  his  eye 
injured  to  such  an  extent  that  he  had  to  leave 
the  field  ;  his  place  was  taken  by  Erben. 
Hodge,  of  Princeton,  was  referee,  and  was 
very  satisfactory. 

Princeton  vs.  Stevens. — October  13th,  at 
Hoboken. 

Princeton.  —  Rushers  —  W.  Spalding, 
Moore,  Cowan,  George,  Irvine,  Cooke,  Wagen- 
hurst ;  quarter-back,  Sloan  ;  half-backs.  Price 
and  Ames;  back,  Savage  (Captain). 

Stevens. ^Rushers — Coker,  Phelps,  Clark, 
Firestone,  Hart  (Captain),  Moinan,  Crisfield; 
quarter-back,  Lopez ;  half-backs,  Campbell 
and  Cuntz;  back,  Uhlenhaut.  Referee,  R.  P. 
Bradford,  of  Princeton. 

Princeton -59 

Stevens. ~ o 


"4 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


The  general  playing  of  the  team  was  a  de- 
cided improvement  over  that  of  ihe  Saturday 
before ;  the  quarter-back,  however,  showed  a 
decided  lack  of  cool-headedness,  which  is  so 
essentia)  to  the  position. 

The  most  exciting  event  of  the  game  was  a 
run  by  Campbell,  who  carried  the  ball  within 
a  very  few  feet  of  Princeton's  goal  line  ;  the 
ball  was  fumbled,  however,  when  put  into 
play,  to  such  an  extent  that  Princeton  got  it. 
As  usual  there  was  the  same  trouble  about 
the  referee,  who,  although  it  .was  Stevens' 
choice,  was  a  Princetown  undergraduate. 

On  Saturday,  October  gih,  the  "  Crickets" 
of  Stevens  played  a  game  at  Prospect  Park 
with  the  Brooklyn  Hills,  with  the  following 
result : 

Crickets as 

Brooklyn  Hills 6 

The  Crickets,  last  year,  were  composed  en- 
tirely of  fellows  from  the  Stevens  High  School. 
This  year  they  are  the  same  with  one  exception, 
some  of  whom  are  now  in  the  class  of  '90. 


m^m 


The  Mechaiikal  Engineer  has  many  pieces 
of  interest,  but  we  think  an  article  like  the 
'■  Steam  Yacht  Races"  rather  detracts  from 
the  standard  of  the  paper. 

The  NorthweiUrn  has  a  well  written  article 
headed  "  Anti-Fraternity."  The  writer's 
points  arc  ivel!  taken  and  his  arguments  valid. 
It  is  hoped  that  it  may  slimulale  fraternity 
men  to  root  out  some  existing  evils. 

The  collegiate  periodicals  are  all  full  of  life 
and  interest  as  they  begin  a  new  year.  We 
hope  that  this  energy  will  not  be  dissapated 
but  that  it  may  be  a  stimulus  to  good  work, 
both  in  study  and  sport,  to  all  our  fellow 
students. 

Van  Nostrana's  Engineering  Magazine  for 
August,  has  an  interesting  article  on  "  Flame 
Contact,"  by  Thomas  Fletcher,  F.  C.  S., 
which  is  as  sensible  as  it  is  ingenious.  The 
October  number  has  a  discussion  on  thermo- 
dynamics, by  our  worthy  Professor  De  Vol- 
son  Wood,  M.  A.,  C.  E.,  which  it  would  be 
well  for  all  who  have  some  knowledge  of   the 


subject  to  follow.  An  address  by 
Professor,  R,  H.  Thurston,  delivered  at 
Rose  Polytechnic  Institute,  June  z3d,  is  an  able 
discussion  of  the  "  Nation's  Great  Problem." 
It  appears  in  Van  Neslran^s  for  October. 

The  Eleefrician  and  Eleetrieal  Engineer  for 
October  is  full  of  good  reading  for  ail  those, 
interested  is  electricity,  Wc  note  in  particu. 
lar  an  article  describing  a  novel  arrangeineQl 
for  regulating  a  number  of  pendulum  clocks 
placed  upon  a  circuit,  by  means  of  a  currcot; 
from  a  standard  timepiecie,  which  curreoX: 
changes  the  centre  of  oscillation  of  the  pea-i 
dulum  in  the  secondry  clocks,  if  they  are  fait: 
or  slow.  This  rectification  is  just  what  any 
expert  would  do  to  a  timepiece,  but  it  is  per* 
formed  upon  a  number  of  clocks  without  the 
necessity  of  their  being  opened.  It  is  being' 
introduced  by  the  Synchronous  Time  CoiB' 
pany,  of  Boston. 


Professor :  "  Some  plants   grow  better 
night.     Can  you  name  any  ? " 

Student:  ''Hops." — Ex.  "*| 

Prof,  (to  Sub.  Fresh.);  "Can  you  tell  I 
from  what  race  Napoleon  came  !" 

S.  F.:  "Of  Corsican." 

"  What  is  it  you  like  about  that  girl  ?"  aik 
one  young  man  of  another. 

"  My  arm,"  was  the  brief  reply. 

The  highest  chimney  yet  built  was  com- 
pleted a  short  time  ago  at  the  Mechemich, 
Lead  Works,  in  Germany.  The  entire  hei^t; 
of  the  structure  is  approximately  440  feet,  tl 
feet  of  which  is  under  ground. 

Professor  in  Physics  :  "  What  would 
do  before  it  could  be  drawn  perfectly  Jw\ 
tal  by  means  of  two  forces  acting  on  the 
extremities  of  the  rope,  at  the  same  level  and 
in  opposite  directions?" 

Bright  junior:  "Sag." 

An  alloy  obtained  by  melting    10  parts 
tin  with  100  parts  of  aluminum  is  said  to 
more  easily  fusible  and  to  be  less  affected  by 
re-agents  than  pure  aluminum.     Moreover  it 
can  be  soldered  as  easily  as  brass  without  aaji-' 
special  preparation.  Its  specific  gravity  is  1^. ' 


^^^^^H                                                   ^^M 

tiei/e^^s  J[Rdi(iati©p. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  NOVEMBER, 


THE  EYES  AS  INDICES. 

Tbe  eyes,  like  an  index,  are  changeful  wiih  thoughl, 
Emotioos  are  lihawn.  and  their  impulse  i;  caiiglit, 

If  the  owner  be  wilting  or  no ; 
They  are  chestnul,  or  grey,  or  haicl,  or  blue, 
Also  bUck,  some  insist,  but  that  is  not  Irue, 

Or,  at  most,  accidentally  so. 

The  eyes  tinted  brown  are  lively  and  fmnk. 
They  indicate  forces  of  very  high  rank, 

•Of  emotion,  and  intellect,  too; 
They  draw  from  deep  founlains  of  feeling  anrl  ^ense 
In  fondness  and  purpose  Ihey  're  always  inlenst, 

■Tliey  are  stable  and  lovely  and  true 

The  eyes  colored  bine  have  sweetness  and  calm, 
They  drop  at  your  glances,  and  bear  off  the  palm. 

With  the  mass  of  infatuate  youth. 
They  are  liquid,  and  clear,  with  mildness  of  ga/e, 
And,  if  Ihey  have  anger,  they  smother  the  blaze, 

And  gel  credit  for  patience  and  truth. 

Tbe  gray  are  reierved,  whatever  llie  thought, 
If  Ihe  will  be  to  hide  it,  in  vain  it  is  sought, 

For  'tis  hid  'neath  insciutable  mask  ; 
Beware  of  the  gray,  or  lake  n  deep  draught. 
If  yon  trifle,  we  warn  yon,  in  spile  of  your  craft, 

Vour  adventure  will  prove  a  lost  Insi:, 

At.IQUIS, 


APPEARANCE    IN  MACHINERY. 


'   we   have  designed    a   machine,  and 

I!  taken  care  that    its  shape  is  everything 

lean  be  desired,  both  for  utility  and  ap- 

ince,  we  must  be  just  as  careful  in  the 

i  of  our  work.     Being  dependent  upon 

B  the  machine  is  to  stand,  and  what  are 

e  its  surroundings,  linish  must  vary  great- 

t  different   machines.     Finish    is    inde- 

mt  of  the  shape  and  is  added   to  fill  out 

uaty  to  completeness,  but  we  must  not 

Btdiange  the  shape  or  interfere  with  utility, 

'i  here    that  bare  utility  may  be  adorned 

^the  machine  made  bright  and  chcL-rfu! 

^•i  and   if  judgment  is   used  it   can  be 

$  without  spoiling  the  original  shape. 


That  we  may  not  be  loo  hasty  in  our  con- 
clusions, let  us  turn  again  to  our  model  in 
nature.  We  have  notit:ed  the  neck  of  a  fine 
draught  horse  and  have  seen  how  free  from 
ornamentation  is  the' simple  shape.  Now, 
however,  in  looking  at  the  finish,  as  we  may 
call  it,  we  see  a  smooth  coat  of  hair,  in  some 
horses  it  is  a  bay  color,  in  others  black,  gray, 
efc,  with  a  flowing  mane  falling  to  one  side. 
But  we  will  observe  that  the  hair  is  finer  and 
more  glossy  in  some  places  than  in  others  ;  in 
our  machinery  we  may  follow  this  disposal  of 
smooth  surfaces  and  of  color.  The  mane  of 
the  horsv,  however,  is  to  ^ive  living  i-\|]rL-ssion 
to  the  animal,  and  when  we  t:ome  tif  such  a 
feature  in  nature,  whose  existence  is  explained 
by  the  word,  life,  we  can  proceed  no  further 
in  our  adaptation  to  machinery. 

Fini.sh  may  be  given  to  a  machine  in  two 
ways  :  by  removing  a  film  from  the  rough  sur- 
face, or  hy  adding  a  film  or  coating.  The  one 
is  generally  dnne  in  the  manufacture  of  the 
parts,  while  the  other,  in  the  form  of  paint, 
lactiuer,  etc.,  is  put  on  after  the  whole  is  put 
together.  In  employing  the  first  process,  it  is 
positively  wrong  to  turn  useless  grooves  and 
ridges  on  simple  parts  finished  in  the  lathe. 
Unless  it  is  necessary  to  turn  off  or  polish 
any  part,  it  should  stay  in  the  rough  ;  where 
there  is  to  be  no  contact,  a  smooth,  painted 
casting  is  in  better  taste  than  a  polished  sur- 
face, for  it  shows  that  there  has  been  no  ex- 
travagance of  labor.  The  same  style  of  finish 
should  prevail  in  all  parts  having  the  same 
character,  so  that  if  we  usu  rounded  corners 
in  one  place,  such  should  be  the  finish 
throughout. 

In  painting,  there  is  no  reason  for  confining 
ourselves  to  sombre  black  ;  it  makes  our 
machinery  look  so  dingy  and  so  void  of  inter- 
est, that  it  is  enough  to  make  us  feel  gloomy 
ourselves.  Occasionally  we  are  startled  by  a 
glaring  green  color  or  a  bright  red  staring  out 
with  ugly  inconsistency  among  our  machines. 
A  happy  medium  would  suggest  various  un- 
obtrusive colors  that  could  be  used  to  advan- 
tage ;  for  instance,  what  could  be  more  hand- 
some than  a  deep  olive,  a  rich  chocolate,  or  a 
very  dark  red  ?     in  regard  to  embellishments 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


a  clear,  untarnished  background  is  never  im- 
proved by  covering  with  an  elaborate  sprawl 
of  yellow  paint  or  gilt.  A  machine,  with 
spider  webs  or  cbromos  painted  on  it  is  far 
from  beamifiii.  A  neat  and  plain  device  in 
gold  leaf  is  the  purest  style  thai  can  be  used, 
and  it  will  have  a  finer  elTecl,  and  cost  but 
little  more  than  the  extravagant  display  of 
bright  paint.  In  the  finish  that  we  give  lo  our 
machines,  let  us  have  quiet,  clean  elegance, 
rather  than  loud,  wasteful  display. 

\Vhen  men  are  to  pass  the  best  part  of  their 
time  among  machines,  they  onght  to  get  both 
work  and  pleasure  from  them.  Beautiful 
things  make  all  who  come  in  contact  with 
them  happier  and  better,  so  that  beauty  in  the 
end  becomes  useful.  The  order,  system,  and 
neatness  of  symmetrical  and  beautiful  ma- 
chinery has  a  good  mora!  effect  upon  those 
whose  work  is  connected  with  it  ;  it  will  edu- 
cate them,  elevating  their  tastes  and  con- 
ditions. Men  under  these  circumstances  can 
produce  belter  work  ;  to  come  down  lo  a 
practical  point  of  view,  this  product  will 
command  a  better  price  in  the  market,  and 
the  extra  outlay  that  we  have  made  will  result 
in  a  larger  income.  These  are  the  only 
logical  conclusions  at  which  we  can  arrive. 
Albitan. 


MICHAEL  FARADAY. 

Michael  Faraday  was  born  at  Newinglon, 
Surrey,  on  the  aad  of  September,  1791.  His 
father,  a  very  poor  blacksmith  in  feeble  health, 
lived  in  London  not  far  from  the  shop  of 
George  Riebau,  bookbinder  and  bookseller, 
and  into  this  shop  Michael  went  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  as  errand  hoy.  At  the  expiration  of 
a  year,  in  consideration  of  his  faithful  ser- 
vices, he  was  made  an  apprentice,  no  premium 
being  required  by  Riebau.  During  the 
seven  years  of  his  apprenticeship,  he  read  with 
much  pleasure  the  scientific  works  that  came 
into  his  hands,  notably  "  Conversations  on 
Chemistry"  by  Marcet,  and  the  electrical 
treatises  in  the  Eocyclopaedia  Britannica, 
performing  what  experiments  he  could  with 
his  extremely  small  means.  He  also  made  an 
electric  machine,  using  first  a  glass  bottle, 
and  afterward  a  cylinder  of  glass,  as  well  as 
some  other  electrical  apparatus. 

He  frequently  attended  lectures  on  natural 
philosophy,  in  the  evenings,  and,  in  order  lo 
be  able  to  illustrate  his  notes,  took  drawing 
lessons.     Toward  the  end  of  his  apprentice- 


ship, he  was  enabled,  by  the  kindness  of  one 
of  his  master's  customers,  to  hear  four  lectures 
by  Sir  Humphry  Davy.  Upon  these  he  took 
notes  which  he  afterward  wrote  out  as  fully 
as  possible,  illustrating  them  with  drawings  of 
apparatus,  etc.  These  notes  he  sent  lo  Sir 
Humphry  Davy,  together  with  a  letter  asking 
for  some  kind  of  employment  in  the  labora- 
tory. The  result  of  this  was  that  he  was  in- 
vited to  call,  and  was  appointed  assistant  in 
the  laboratory  of  the  Royal  Institution.  He 
began  his  new  duties  in  March,  1813,  and  in 
October  of  the  same  year  went  abroad  with 
Davy,  acting  as  his  amanuensis  and  assistant 
in  experiments.  Two  years  later  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  in  the  mineralogical  collec- 
tion, and  superintendent  of  the  apparatus  at 
a  salary  of  30  shillings  a  week.  In  the  year 
following  he  delivered  seven  lectures  before 
the  "City  Philosophical  Society." 

On  June  12th,  1S21,  he  was  married  to  a 
Miss  Sarah  Bernard  and  took  her  to  live  in 
the  Royal  Institution,  until  1858,  when  the 
queen  assigned  him  a  house  in  Hampton 
Court. 

In  1822,  he  began  investigating  the  liqui- 
factlon  of  gases.  He  first  succeeded  in  reduc- 
ing chlorine  to  a  liquid  state  by  subjecting  it 
to  the  pressure  of  its  own  expansion,  when 
heated  in  a  strong  sealed  tube.  Afterward 
he  succeeded  in  liquefying  several  other  gases. 
In  1827  he  delivered  his  first  counse  of  lectures 
before  the  Royal  Institution,  and  in  December 
of  the  snme  year  he  commenced  the  first  of  a 
series  of  courses  of  juvenile  lectures,  which 
were  given  for  several  succeeding  years.  In 
addition  to  this,  he  gave  Friday  evening 
popular  lectures  during  nearly  the  whole  of 
his  professional  life.  In  1831  he  began  his 
investigations  of  the  induction  of  the  electric 
current,  and  the  evolution  of  electricity  from 
magnetism,  which  resulted  in  practically 
making  the  science  of  magneto -electricity 
what  it  is  at  present.  His  first  great  paper  on 
frictional  electricity  was  sent  to  the  Royal 
Society  in  November,  1837.  In  1854,  he 
closed  his  electrical  researches  which  he  had 
continued,  together  with  other  investigations 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

Dr.  Bence  Jones,  Faraday's  biographer, 
says  :  "  The  record  of  this  work  which  he  has 
left  in  his  manuscripts,  and  republished  in  his 
three  volumes  of  "  Electrical  Researches," 
will  ever  remain  as  his  noblest  monument  ; 
full  of  genius  in  the  conception  ;  full  of 
finished  and  most  accurate  work  in  the  execu- 
tion ;  in  quantity  so  vast  that  it  seems  impos- 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


that  the  man  contained  i  jwund  la  ounces  of 
phosphorus  and  3.5  ounces  of  sulphur. 

After  all  the  above  mentioned  gases  and 
solids  have  been  obtained,  we  have  left  only 
a  few  metals  with  which  to  finish  our  man. 
They  are  so  few  and  in  such  small  rjuantities 
that  to  form  a  mining  company  and  try  to 
work  them  would  be  hazardous.  Iron  is 
found  to  the  amount  of  1-10  ounces  per  man, 
and  is  represented  in  the  form  of  an  iron 
wire.  The  largest  metal  constituent  is  cal- 
cium, which  forms  the  basis  of  lime,  and  is 
found  to  the  amount  of  3  pounds  13  ounces 
in  the  analyzed  victim,  this  being  represented 
by  a  cube  about  3  inches  high.  The  con- 
tinuation of  the  analysis  will  give  in  conclu- 
sion a  little  block  of  magnesium  weighing  1.8 
ounces,  a  quantity  of  potassium  weighing  2.8 
ounces,  and  then  -i.b  ounces  of  sodium. 

The  only  metal  omitted  from  the  collection 
in  the  National  Museum  is  brass,  but  this  is 
such  a  variable  quantity  even  in  men  weigh- 
ing 154  pounds,  that  to  give  any  definite 
measure  or  uniform  quantity  would  be  im- 
possible. Again,  the  "breath  of  life"  has 
been  omitted,  because  of  the  impracticability 
of  bottling  it.  So  the  chemist  is  forced  to 
satisfy  himself  with  the  resulting  thirteen  ele- 
ments without  any  regard  for  these  last  two 
named  properties. 

C.  E.  H. 


STEVENS'  SHARE  IN  BARTHOLDI  DAY. 

Cold  and  damp  on  the  Institute  steps  at 
eight  A.  M.  on  Barlholdi  Day.  At  that  hour 
the  patriotism  of  the  students  was  indicated 
by  five  men;  at  8:30  by  twenty-five.  Then 
Capt.  Hart,  with  a  gradually  clearing  counte- 
nance as  the  number  rose  to  thirty,  formed  his 
men  in  column  of  twos  and  gave  the  command 
to  march.  The  somewhat  monotonous  trip  to 
42d  Street  was  enlivened  by  an  encounter  with 
"  loaded  "  volunteer  firemen  on  the  L-train, 
and  at  9:15  Capt.  Hart  sent  his  lieutenant  to 
report  to  Col.  Ketchum — an  old  college  man, 
a  most  finished  gentleman — marshal  of  the 
Educational  Division. 

"O,  the  long  and  dreary  waiting!  O,  the 
wet  and  muddy  waiting  !  from  quarter  past 
nine  until  twelve  o'clock.  During  this  inter- 
val the  Columbia  boys  took  up  their  position 
at  the  head  of  the  column  with  the  C.  C.  N.  Y. 
boys  in  iheir  rear.  Then  came  Stevens,  and 
after  them  the  N.  Y,  Dental  College  men. 
Each  battalion  cheered  the  others,  and  Stevens 
cheered  one  of  her  boys  who  sat  with  a  party 


of  ladies  in  a  balcony  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street.  In  return  he  threw  us  bon-bons. 
N.  Y.  D.  C.  couldn't  stand  that,  so  they  pelted 
each  other  with  apples.  Suddenly  our  popu- 
lar professor  of  chemistry  and  his  wife  ap- 
peared. They  bowed  and  smiled  at  the  greet- 
ing cheer,  and  willingly  wore  the  Stevens 
badges  offered  them. 

So  we  whiled  away  the  time  until  noon, 
when  Colonel  Ketchum  ordered  a  march. 
All  the  college  boys  seemed  to  take  pride  in 
marching  well,  and,  without  any  preliminary 
drilling,  succeeded  remarkably  well.  Even 
the  most  awkward  man  presented  quite  a 
soldierly  appearance  by  the  lime  the  grand 
stand  was  reached.  But  how  the  ladies  stim- 
ulated us  to  cheer  by  their  waving  handker- 
chiefs, and  how  the  President  smiled  when  we 
cheered  him,  and  how  the  French  insitors 
wondered  to  hear  us  uttfr  our  peculiar  yells 
are  matters  of  interest  to  us  only. 

Down  Fifth  avenue,  down  Broadway  to  the 
City  Hall,  through  Park  Row  and  on  down 
to  Wall  Street  we  marched.  At  Wall  and 
William  Streets  we  were  dismissed.  Then 
was  the  opportunity  of  the  favored  few.  The 
five  delegates  from  Stevens  together  with  the 
four  from  C.  C.  N.  V.,  set  out  for  the  Barge 
Office  armed  with  a  telegram  from  Gen.  Stone. 
The  purport  of  the  telegram  was  that  "  a  small 
deputation  would  be  allowed  to  go  on  Liberty 
Island."  At  this  stage  a  funny  incident  oc- 
curred. Capt.  Hart  had  received  the  tele- 
gram the  day  before,  and,  expecting  to  re- 
ceive passes,  had  deemed  it  of  no  value  ;  so 
he  has  used  the  back  of  it  for  notes  on  Ther- 
modynamics. When  the  policeman  took  this 
telegram  to  Gen.  Stone  he  delivered  it  wrong 
side  up,  much  to  the  perplexity  of  the  general, 
who  could  neither  understand  the  confused 
mass  of  mathematics  nor  see  its  apphcation  to 
this  particular  occasion.  When,  however,  one 
of  our  men  was  admitted  and  explained 
matters,  an  aid  was  instantly  sent  out  to  the 
lines  to  admit  us.  As  we  filed  in  past  the 
general  and  his  staff  the  former  roused  all  our 
latent  pride  and  self -consciousness  by  raising 
his  chapeau  and  saying  :  "  I  am  glad  to  meet 
you,  gentlemen  ;  it  pleased  me  greatly  to  see 
you  in  the  parade  to-day." 

Then  came  the  tug-of-war.  Nothing  to  eat 
since  six  o'clock,  and  before  our  famished 
eyes  the  entire  engineer  corps  eating  their  two 
o'olock  lunch.  The  nine  of  us,  huddled  to- 
gether in  a  corner,  watched  the  officers  care- 
lessly munching  sandwiches,  and  from  the 
same  corner  arose  a  general  groan  whenever 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


119 


a  crust  fell  upon  the  floor.  But  otherwise  it 
seemed  we  were  under  Gen.  Stone's  especial 
care.  When  it  came  time  to  embark  a  captain 
of  artillery  called  out  to  the  hundred  or  more 
invited  guests  that  only  Gen.  Stone  and  his 
staff  were  to  go  on  board  at  first,  but  no 
sooner  had  the  general  reached  the  deck  than 
he  called  out  that  his  staff  "  and  the  delega- 
tion from  Stevens'  Institute  of  Hoboken  " 
would  go  on  board.  So  on  board  we  went,  in 
advance  of  those  bearing  special  invitations. 
The  incidents  on  board  can  be  briefly  summed 
up  by  saying  we  had  all  the  whistling,  all  the 
cannonading,  and  all  the  sociability  that  we 
desired  ;  and  when  we  thanked  the  general 
for  the  remarkable  favor  he  had  shown  us,  he 
answered  that  he  was  *'  pleased  to  be  of  ser- 
vice to  us,  and  our  college  cheers  had  taken 
him  back  to  his  own  college  days,  which  with 
these  gray  hairs  were  something  to  look  back 
to." 

To  those  who  enjoyed  the  general's  kind- 
ness this  day  will  be  ever  memorable.  Had 
it  not  been  for  him  we  would  have  missed  the 
best  part  of  the  day's  ceremonies.  We  cannot 
speak  highly  enough  of  him  or  his  staff,  or 
Col.  Ketchum,  either  as  soldiers  or  as  gentle- 
men. Chic. 


THE  STONE  SAWS  IN  USE  AT  NORTH 
BELLEVILLE,  N.  J. 


There  are  two  works  located  at  North 
Belleville,  using  different  methods  for  sawing 
stone,  and  at  each  place  the  foreman  claims 
that  his  machine  gives  more  satisfactory  re- 
sults than  his  neighbor's. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  river  the  red  sand- 
stone is  sawed  with  diamonds  ;  four  of  the 
precious  stones  are  set  in  a  small  steel  plate 
which  is  fastened  to  the  lower  edge  of  an  iron 
blade,  18  ft.  long,  10  in.  deep  and  \  in.  thick. 
The  blade  is  attached  to  the  bottom  of  a  stout 
wooden  frame  and  carries  sixteen  sets  of  dia- 
monds, spaced  a  foot  apart. 

The  frame  received  a  horizontal  reciprocat- 
ing motion  from  a  crank  of  21  in.  throw, 
driven  by  a  30  horse  power  engine.  Four 
vertical  screws,  two  at  each  end  of  the  frame, 
are  connected  by  means  of  bevel  gear  with  a 
click  and  racket.  The  click  is  moved  by  an 
adjustable  lever  connected  with  an  eccentric 
on  the  engine  shaft.  The  lever  is  adjusted  to 
feed  16  inches  an  hour  when  the  diamonds  in 
the  saw  are  new  and  sharp,  but  after  five  or 
six  weeks  only  a  7  in.  feed  is  used. 


The  complete  set  of  64  diamonds  lasts 
about  ten  months  and  costs  $200. 

The  stone  to  be  cut  is  placed  on  a  hand 
car,  and  run  under  the  saw  on  a  track. 
Blocks  12  ft.  long  and  6  ft.  high  can  be  cut 
here. 

This  saw  has  been  running  thirteen  years,  and 
besides  the  slow  feed,  it  has  a  belt  connection 
which  raises  or  lowers  it  rapidly  when  a  new 
cut  is  to  be  made.  An  abundance  of  water  is 
run  continually  into  the  cut,  and  the  work  is 
left  with  a  fine  finish  which  needs  no  dressing. 

On  the  east  bank  of  the  Passaic  there  are 
two  saws  which  have  wrought  iron  blades  like 
the  other,  but  are  fed  with  a  mixture  of  sand, 
water,  and  small  shot  made  of  chilled  iron. 
The  shot  do  the  cutting  and  are  used  several 
times  over  ;  they  cost  $15  a  cwt.,  and  are 
used,  I  am  told,  in  many  stone  sawing 
yards. 

These  saws  are  run  by  a  crank  and  con- 
necting rod,  but  instead  of  moving  on 
horizontal  guides  they  are  hung  from  a  cross- 
head  at  each  end  by  six  foot  rods.  The 
cross-heads  run  in  vertical  guides,  and  are 
both  lowered  together  by  unwinding  two 
steel  ropes,  wound  in  opposite  directions 
around  a  drum.  The  drum  is  driven  by  a 
chain  belt  which  receives  its  motion  from  a 
shaft  driven  by  a  worm  gear,  which  in  turn 
receives  its  motion  by  means  of  bevel  gear, 
from  a  belt  driving  a  cone  pulley. 

These  saws  cut  14  inches  an  hour  with  new 
shot,  and  8  inches  with  shot  which  have  be- 
come worn  ;  the  blades  are  -^  in.  thick,  8  in. 
deep  and  12  ft.  long,  they  seldom  last  longer 
than  ten  days,  although  one  had  a  life  of 
seventeen  days. 

One  saw  has  16  inches  travel  and  makes 
eight  throws,  while  the  other  with  a  12  in. 
travel  makes  ten ;  while  the  slower  moving 
one  can  never  be  fed  more  than  8  inches  an 
hour,  the  swift  one  cuts  14  inches  an  hour 
with  new  shot. 

A  45  horse  power  engine  runs  both  saws 
and  each  is  capable  of  cutting  a  block  12  ft. 
long  by  10  ft.  high.  When  either  of  these 
saws  is  to  be  reset  it  is  raised  by  a  crank 
turned  by  hand.  The  surface  of  stone  cut  by 
this  method  is  not  smoothly  finished,  being 
scored  at  the  ends  by  curved  lines  a  sixteenth 
of  an  inch  deep,  while  in  the  middle  the  lines 
are  nearly  straight  and  not  quite  so  deep  ; 
thus  the  work  always  requires  dressing  by 
hand. 

Pi. 


]^1^^ 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


THE  ARTESIAN   WELL  PHENOMENA. 


Belle  Plaine,  Iowa,  has  a  sensation  scarcely 
less  surprising  than  the  earthquake  at  Charles- 
ion.  It  is  worthy  the  attention  of  educators 
that  so  many  startling  phenomena  have  oc- 
curred about  the  same  time.  The  seismic  move- 
ment in  South  Carolina  and  on  the  Eastern 
hemisphere  ;  the  renewed  activity  in  the  Vel- 
lowstone  Park,  and  this  Iowa  artesian  overflow. 
In  early  spring  it  was  discovered  that  flowing 
wells  could  be  secured  in  Belle  Plaine,  and  six 
were  driven  to  a  depth  of  from  siotojoi 
feet,  wholly  in  drift,  and  without  reaching  its 
bottom  in  any  instance.  Five  flowed,  and  in 
the  sixth  it  came  to  within  three  feet  of  the 
surface.  The  seventh  well  was  started  about 
fifteen  feel  below  the  next  lowest.  A  two 
inch  well  was  sunk.  It  went  through  four 
feet  of  soil,  ten  feet  of  yellow  clay,  sixteen 
feet  of  fine  sand,  eighteen  feet  of  gravel  and 
145  feel  of  blue,  stony  clay.  The  flow  was 
struck  in  a  lower  fathomless  strata  of  sand  and 
gravel.  Pieces  of  wood  and  other  substances 
were  brought  uji  by  the  flow  from  this  depth, 
indicating  the  presence  of  one  of  the  "old 
forest "  beds. 

The  flow  struck  did  not  differ  materially 
from  the  others.  While  trying  to  force  a 
three  inch  pipe,  the  water  broke  outside  of  it, 
rapidly  enlarging  the  well  until  a  vast  volume 
of  waterpoured  forth,  inundating  thestreetsand 
adjoining  lots,  bearing  with  it  much  sand  and 
some  pebbles,  with  a  great  variety  of  northern 
rocks.  The  volume  was  more  surprising  than 
the  height,  as  it  did  not  rise  more  than  five 
feet.  Its  diameter  was  about  three  feet  ;  it 
flowed  nearly  five  million  gallons  per  day,  by 
estimate. 

The  other  wells  gradually  declined,  ceasing 
to  flow  after  a  few  days.  The  head  lowered 
about  five  inches  a  day  It  is  estimated  that 
the  source  is  an  underground  reservoir  of  from 
forty  to  four  hundred  acres.  There  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  it  has  no  connection  with 
the  seismic  movement. — Science  Monthly. 


BFierREBRrFiS   ReiJBS. 


A  Russian  commission  appointed  to  test 
rails  and  tires  found  :  i.  Tircsfrom  soft  steel 
are  more  brittle,  liable  to  break,  than  hard 
steel  ones.  3.  Tires  from  soft  steel  wear  much 
more  rapidly  than  hard  ones,  and  are  not  to 


be  recommended.  3,  Very  hard  sted  is  bad 
in  use  and  requires  frequent  turning  up.  4 
The  best  tires  contained  more  carbon  and 
much  less  manganese  than  ihe  less  excellent, 
0,5  per  cent,  against  0,37  per  cent,  for  carbon, 
and  o,j7  per  cent,  against  0.76  per  cent,  for 
manganese.  The  proportion  of  silicon  to 
phosphorous  is  pretty  constant  in  the  be^l 
tires.  The  commission  recommended  changes 
in  the  imperi.il  regulations  for  rail  testing, 
looking  to  the  retention  of  the  bending  and 
drop  tests,  the  former  only  within  the  elastic 
limit,  the  latter  to  be  tried  both  with  chilled- 
reduced  to  freezing  temperature — rails  and 
warm  ones,  with  a  reduction  of  the  height  of 
fall  and  omission  of  a  second  drop.  Each 
charge  to  be  tested  for  the  above  by  taking 
one  rail  out  and  testing  it  in  three  pieces 
separately.  In  addition,  tensile  and  chemical 
tests  are  to  be  made  periodically  during  deliv- 
ery, for  which  limiting  figures  are  set  for 
strength  and  amount  of  injurious  elements, 
silicon,  manganese  and  sulphur.  For  tires 
the  drop  test  is  to  be  reduced  and  the  tensile 
test  retained. —  Van  NoslrancTs  Engineering 
Magaiine. 


A  useful  alloy  of  aluminum  and  tin  has 
been  obtained  by  M.  Bourbouse,  by  melting 
together  100  partsof  the  former  metal  with  10 
parts  of  the  latter.  This  alloy  is  whiter  than 
aluminum,  and  has  a  density  of  2,85,  a  little 
greater  than  that  of  the  pure  metal  \which  is 
2,56),  so  thai  it  is  not  too  heavy  to  replace 
aluminum  in  instruments  requiring  great  light- 
ness of  their  parts.  It  is  less  affected  by  re- 
agents, etc.,  than  aluminum,  and  also  is  more 
easily  worked.  Another  of  its  merits  is  thai  il 
can  be  soldered  as  easily  as  brass  without 
any  special  preparation. — Scientific  Americas. 


The  Electrical  Rej'ieiv  states  that,  Hartman 
&  Braun,  of  Frankfort,  have  put  upon  the 
market  a  very  compact  and  complete  Rheostat, 
the  invention  of  Prof.  Kohlrausch.  This  in- 
strument furnishes  a  direct  reading  of  Ihe  re- 
sistances of  conductors,  and  is,  consequently 
of  great  value  in  laboratory  experiments,  but 
especially  so  in  practical  applications.  The 
apparatus  comprises  a  Wheat  stone  bridgt 
made  with  a  silver  wire  2$  "  centimeters"  (10 
inches)  long  and  wound  in  comparative  resist- 
ances of  I.  10,  100  and  1,000  ohms,  and  is 
enclosed  in  a  box.     • 


THE  STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


121 


The  contact  sliding  back  and  forward  on  a 
metallic  strip  serves  as  indicator  for  the 
different  resistances  of  the  bridge,  which  is  so 
arranged  as  to  allow  of  a  direct  reading  with- 
out calculation  of  the  resistance  to  be  deter- 
mined. The  instrument  is  made  complete  by 
an  induction  coil  which  serves  as  an  excitant 
of  alternating  currents  to  prevent  polarization 
when  the  resistance  of  currents  is  to  be  meas- 
ured. 


Effect  of  overblowing  steel  upon  the  elimi- 
nation of  phosphorus.  A.  Tarum  describes, 
in  the  Zernkontorets  Annaler^  a  somewhat  curi- 
ous experiment  made  at  the  Vestanfoers 
Bessemer  Works.  A  charge  of  1,850  kilo- 
grammes of  pig  iron  was  blown  until  it  was 
reduced  to  only  400  killogrammes.  The  fol- 
lowing analyses  show  the  composition  of  pig  : 
(A);  the  composition  of  the  steel  when  the 
flame  becomes  short.  (B);  its  constituents,  an 
hour  later  (C);  and  the  final  product  (D)  : 


The  Scientific  American  estimates  the  rela- 
tive value  of  natural  gas  and  coal  in  this  way. 
Of  Pittsburgh  coal  55.4  pounds  contain  the 
same  number  of  heat  units  as  1,000  cubic  feet 
of  natural  gas.  With  coal  at  $1.20  per  ton, 
1,000  feet  of  natural  gas  would  then  be  worth 
3i  cents.  But  by  tests  made  by  the  West- 
inghouse  Air  Brake  Company,  1.18  cubic 
feet  of  natural  gas  evaporated  one  pound  of 
water  from  190°  F.,  with  the  same  boiler 
under  which  one  pound  of  the  best  coal 
evaporated  10.38  pounds  of  water.  That  is, 
one  pound  of  coal  equals  12.25  cubic  feet  of 
gas,  or  1,000  feet  gas  equal  8if |  pounds  coal. 
This  difference  results  from  the  expenditure 
of  heat  necessary  to  raise  solid  fuel  to  the 
gaseous  state,  which  must  be  done  before 
combustion  can  take  place.  In  a  house  grate 
the  loss  on  this  score  from  using  coal  would 
be  more  than  in  a  large  furnace  of  a  factory. 
Hence,  the  greater  economy  in  the  use  of 
natural  gas  is  in  houses  and  small  establish- 
ments. 


A  method  of  sending  a  picture  by  telegraph 
has  been  invented  by  a  Scotchman,  W.  Gem- 
mill,  by  which  a  photograph  taken  at  one  end 
of  a  wire  is  transmitted  and  reproduced  at 
the  other.     The  picture  is  primarily  projected 
on  a  selenium  cell  placed  in  the  telegraphic 
circuit,  which,  according  to  the  degree  of  in- 
tensity of  the  light  received,  acts  upon  the 
current,  and  through  it  a  number  of  subsidiary 
currents  connected  with  an  incandescent  lamp, 
illuminating  it  with  varied  degrees  of  intensity 
consonant  with  the  strength   of  the  current. 
"These  successive  illuminations,"  according 
to    the    Photographic    Times,    "would    give 
images   of  corresponding  brightness   to   the 
points  in  the  picture  thrown  upon  the  selenium 
cell,  and  the  final  picture,  of  course,  would 
consist  of  a  series  of  these  points  in  various 
depths  of  shade." 


A. 

Pig. 


Carbon '      4.05 

Silicon I-I25 

Phosphorus 0.024 

Sulphur 

Manganese   ....       4.50 


B. 

Flame 
Short. 

C. 

One 
Hour 
Later. 

D. 

Final 

Product. 

0.03 

0.025 

0.02 

0.025 
0.029 

0040 
0.046 

0.014 
0066 

Trace 

•    •    •    • 

•    •    •    • 

O.IO 

0.03 

0.03 

This  proves  that,  even  if  overblowing  is 
carried  to  an  extreme,  on  an  acid  bottom,  the 
phosphorous  is  not  eliminated.  The  in- 
crease, of  course,  is  due  to  concentration  in  a 
smaller  quantity  of  metal. —  Van  Nostrand's 
Engineering  Magazine, 

It  is  estimated  that  not  less  than  14,000 
horse-power,  derived  from  river  falls,  is  to-day 
in  use  in  the  United  States  and  Canada  for 
electrical  purposes — mostly  for  electric  lights. 
— Electrical  Review, 


The  cross  sights  of  surveyors  instruments 
are  now  largely  made  of  platinum  wire.  The 
wire  used  for  the  purpose  is  drawn  to  a  dia- 
meter of  about  one  twelve-thousandths  of  an 
inch.  To  accomplish  this  fine  drawing 
platinum  wire  three  one-thousandths  of  an 
inch  is  covered  with  silver  bringing  the  dia- 
meter to  one-tenth  of  an  inch.  This  is  then 
drawn  so  as  to  give  the  diameter  of  platinum 
core  required,  then  the  silver  is  eaten  off  with 
acid  leaving  the  platinum  wire. — American 
Machinist, 


« ^  » »' 


The  Eighty- Four  for  July  has  just  appeared 
upon  the  scene,  with  a  characteristic  lateness 
which  we  fear  belongs  to  the  majority  of 
**  Stevens  "  publications.  As  it  is  only  for  the 
reading  of  the  Class  of  '84,  we  will  refrain 
from  criticism. 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


sphe  SteTCRS  IndiGatep. 


\    MONTH,   OURIMG   THE   COLLEGE   Y 


INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^tBVen^  Institute  of  TBGijiioIogi|. 


— K.  EDIXORB-M— 

CARTER  H.  PAGE,J».,  '87.  BdUrr-m-iMy. 

A.  A.  FCLLEB,  -BB,  fl«j.«H.  Xr^nv"-. 

JOHN  V.  L.  PIERSON.  "SS.  KnUig^  Sdiltr. 
BURTON  P.  HALL,  '88. 


TIRHS:-tt.Be  fw  TMr.  In  Mitnee.     SInal*  Can.  »  CtsU. 


Extra  (tpUs  fan  ii  ohiitintd  al  Lulkirt'i  tori  ihrr, 
Hebektn,N.J. 

Suhsfriben  will  flroit  immn/itiltl/  notify  hi  of  nnjr 
ckanet  in  Huir  aiiilrtutt  sr  failHrt  lit  rtirivt  tAt  fafer 

Tht  mrittr'sfutlHame.atwrllashit  nom  dk  PLUIOc. 


and  alt  ^htr  eommunitalitHS  hy  mail.tkBtttd  it  addrttud 
I'd  Tks  Stevens  Indicatok,  StevHU  JiuHHUt.Jtoieim, 
N.J. 

Ltlleri  for pubtitalion  should  it  icrilltH  Itgiilyin  mi. 
upon  em  lidt  of  Iht  faf/r;  uiiltsi  leo  long,  thty  ti'ill  it 


serUd  oj 


•nlliH. 


'fl'C'AIN  the  Indicator  appears  behind 
/I  time.  This  is  almost  entirely  owing  to 
the  relaxation  preceeding  the  dissolution  of  so 
powerful  a  monopoly  as  the  Indicator  Pub- 
lishing Company.  However,  our  readers,  we 
feel  sure,  will  pardon  this  when  they  consider 
the  sacrifice  we  are  going  to  make  for  their 
good.     But  we  will  endeavor  to  brace  up  for 


WE  heartily  agree  wifh  Mr.  A.  B.  on 
several  points  set  forth  in  his  com. 
munication,  /.  e.,  the  want  of  a  catalogue,  the 
lack  of  sufficient  chairs,  and  the  total  absence 
of  a  suitable  reading-room,  but  when  it  comes 


to  forming  a  "  Library  Committee  ""  from  the 
cliLssc^,  we  think  he  has  gone  a  little  too  far. 
Suth  a  proposition  is  as  impracticable  as  it  is 
impossible,  and  we  doubt  very  much  thai  Mr. 
A.  H.  himself  would  be  willing  to  serve  on  (he 
proposed  Committee. 


n  T  a  meeting  of  a  special  board  appoinied 
El  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Alumni  Association  of  Stevens  Institute  of 
Technology,  and  of  a  Committee  of  the  Indi- 
cator Publishing  Company,  held  in  June 
1886,  with  a  view  of  establishing  a  basis  on 
which  united  action  of  the  Alumni  Association 
and  the  undergraduates  could  be  secured  in 
the  interests  of  the  paper,  the  following 
agreements  were  entered  into: 

First. — Dissolution  of  the  present  stod 
company  controlling  the  Indicator,  and  ihf 
appointment  of  a  board  of  editors  consisting 
of  two  alumni  and  four  under -graduates,  one 
from  each  class. 

Second. — In  case  of  discussion  as  to  the 
propriety  of  matter  for  publication,  a  majority 
vote  is  to  effect  a  final  decision,  the  provision, 
however,  being  made  that  the  alumni  editors 
should  decide  as  to  the  fitness  for  publication 
of  material  coming  through  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  board. 

Thin!. — I'he  under-graduate  members  of 
the  board  ate  to  be  selected  every  year  by  iht 
under  graduate  members  of  the  retiring  board, 
from  two  men  nominated  by  each  class. 

Fourth. — The  business  management  of  the 
paper  is  to  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  under- 
graduates, 

j:'!'///;.— Publication  is  to  be  made  quarterly 
instead  of  monthly,  as  heretofore  ;  the  pap« 
is  to  be  increased  in  size,  and  its  standard 
throughout  as  a  college  magazine  elevated." 

This  change  can  hardly  be  anything  but 
beneficial.  We  can  count  on  the  articles  from 
the  alumni  editors  as  being  creditable,  not 
only  to  the  organization  from  who^  they 
were  chosen,  but  also  to  the  profession  in 
general.  The  two  gentlemen  who  have  been 
selected  are  men  of  reputation,  whose  writiafj' 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR, 


123 


as  standard  authorities  on  many 
They  have  not  signified  their  will- 
accept  the  positions  tendered 
we  earnestly  hope  that  they  will, 
:  year  at  any  rate,  as  they  will  un- 
place  the  Indicator  in  the  first 
the  outset. 

ds  the  undergraduate  editors,  it  is 
nt    that    they   can    produce    more 

matter    for    a    quarterly    than    a 

n  of  the  greater  amount  of  time  to 
to  such  work,  they  will  be  enabled 
e  result  of  their  labors  of  infinite 
emselves  and  of  considerable  inter- 
rs. 

an    be  little   doubt  of   its   success 
ncial  standpoint,  judging  from  past 

• 

nt  about  16  percent. of  the  Alumni 
to  the  Indicator,  but  under  the 
e  every  member  of  the  Alumni 
1  will  be  a  subscriber,  the  annual 
g  been  raised  the  necessary  amount^ 
nount  to  quite  a  large  sum.  Hereto- 
bscriptions  have  amounted  to  about 
it.  of  total  cost  of  publication, 
the  new  management  the  cost  of 
1  will  assuredly  be  less  than  hereto- 
he  subscriptions  will  then  amount 
70  per  cent,  of  the  actual  cost  of 
1,  so  that  with  a  business  manager, 
exert  himself  as  he  should,  there 
le  quite  a  surplus  even  under  ordi- 
tions. 


C0fflffiUF^rGji5pr8^. 


iBRARY — Its  Uses  and  Abuses. 


Htors  of  the  Indicator  : 

;h  our  college  has  the  reputation  of 
first  of  its. kind  in  the  country,  it  is 
J  very  unenviable  position  of  having 
>f  no  practical  value  to  the  students, 
a  very  short  statement,  the  uses  of 
^  are  nil.     Let  us  see  how  true  this 


statement  is.  We  have  a  large  room — yes  ; 
quite  a  number  of  tables — yes  ;  ^\q  chairs — 
yes  ;  1,000  (?)  books — yes  ;  and  that  is  all. 
Suppose  any  one  of  us  should  wish  to  look  up 
a  certain  reference.  Now,  if  all  the  other 
conveniences  were  at  hand,  we  should  have 
to  go  through  the  following  routine.  As  there 
is  no  catalogue,  go  to  each  case  and  read  the 
title  of  every  work  until  the  desired  one  is 
found.  This  takes  up  from  one-half  to  two- 
thirds  of  the  time,  if  you  have  good  eyes 
and  read  quickly.  Then  hunt  up  O.  W.  J. 
and  get  him  to  go  to  the  library  and  open  the 
case — after  signing  a  card  you  have  at  last 
the  desired  treasure.  Then,  after  settling  down 
and  finding  the  proper  place  in  the  book,  you 
take  out  your  watch  and  find  that  there  is  just 
enough  time  left  to  be  off,  either  to  a  recita- 
tion or  elsewhere. 

Again,  suppose,  now,  that  you  did  have 
another  hour  or  so  to  spare  after  obtaining  the 
book,  where  will  you  go.  There  is  a  standing 
rule  in  the  library  that  no  books  must  be  taken 
from  the  building.  There  are  then  one  of  two 
places  to  choose  from.  Either  go  to  the  class- 
room or  stay  in  the  library.  But,  you  can  do 
neither.  The  class-room  is  out  of  the  ques- 
tion entirely.  No  one  can  study  there.  The 
library  is  a  general  lounging  room  for  all 
classes ;  it  is  a  general  passage-way  to  all  the 
rooms  in  the  building  for  all  who  come  in  the 
side-door ;  and  finally  it  is  the  college  post- 
office  and  advertising  stand.  Putting  all  these 
things  together,  one  can  obtain  an  idea  of  the 
chances  there  are  for  study  or  even  reading. 

And  yet  in  physics,  in  engineering,  in  math- 
ematics we  are  continually  being  referred  to 
books,  which  we  do  not  possess  and  which  we 
cannot  afford  to  buy  ;  and  all  these  books  are 
in  the  library,  and  we,  because  of  the  existing 
state  of  affairs  in  the  library,  are  unable  to 
derive  any  benefit  from  attending  the  lectures 
in  the  various  departments. 

These  things  ought  to  be  remedied,  and  the 
writer  desires  to  propose  the  following  scheme. 
He  hopes  that,  in  the  interest  of  all  the 
students,  it  will  be  thoroughly  discussed  and 
some  action  taken  upon  it  by  the  authorities. 

In  the  first  place,  that  the  library  may  not 
only  be  one  in  name,  but  in  reality ;  it  must 
be  made  quiet.  This  can  only  be  done  by 
closing  up  the  entrance  that  leads  into  it  from 
the  side  door,  and  also  closing  the  small  en- 
trance into  the  wash-room.  By  closing  up  the 
side  entrance  no  one  is  inconvenienced.  All 
the  class-rooms  are  on  the  upper  floors,  and 
the  students  can  just  as  well  go  right  up  into 


124 


THE   STE^VENS   INDICATOR. 


their  respective  class-rooms  as  turn  into  the 
library. 

Having  now  obtained  a  quiet  room,  the  next 
thing  is  to  put  the  management  of  the  library 
into  the  hands  of  some  who  have  requisite 
time  at  their  disposal.  To  this  end  let  there 
be  chosen  from  each  class  in  the  Institute  two 
members,  who  are  to  form  the  **  Library  Com- 
mittee." These  men  are  to  be  elected  by  the 
class  from  a  certain  number  selected  by  the 
Professor  of  literature.  The  duties  of  this 
committee  shall  be  to  keep  all  books  tabulated; 
to  see  that  the  library  is  only  used  as  a  refer- 
ence library  ;  that  no  books  are  removed  ;  that 
whenever  a  book  is  desired,  they  can  give  in- 
formation as  to  whether  it  is  in  the  library, 
and  to  tell  where  it  is  ;  they  shall  be  respon- 
sible for  all  books,  etc.,  etc. 

By  this  means,  no  extra  expenses  will  be  in- 
curred by  the  Institute  ;  so  that  there  can  be 
no  objection  from  that  side.  The  interest  of 
the  students  will  certainly  be  awakened,  and 
having  a  place  where  they  can  read  and  study, 
the  library  will  certainly  be  made  use  of  as  it 
ought  to  be,  and  the  results  thereby  attained 
will  certainly  add  to  the  high  name  of  our 
Institute.  A.  B. 


'i:s^.  •^: 


Considering  the  day,  the  boys  turned  out 
pretty  well  on  Bartholdi  Day. 

What  has  become  of  that  "  cane  rush  " 
that  was  to  take  place  between  '89  and  '90  ? 

Going  !  Going !  Gone  !  What  !  Why, 
the  cross-section  paper.  Let  us  sing  the 
fortieth  hymn. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  non-fraternity  men 
held  Wednesday,  November  3d,  Fred  N.  Con- 
net  was  elected  neutral  editor  on  the  Bolt  for 
1887. 

The  name  of  Ladd  Plumley,  formerly  a 
member  of  the  class  of  '87  S.  I.  T.,  appears 
in  the  college  roll  in  the  catalogue  of  Lehigh 
University,  Bethlehem,  Penn. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  October  20th,  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Leeds  held  a  reception  for  the  Senior 


Class.     The  Class  was  fairly  well  represented, 
and  passed  a  very  pleasant  evening. 

At  the  regular  meeting  in  October,  Pierson, 
'88,  and  Schenck,  '88,  were  elected  members 
of  the  I.  P.  Co.  At  the  same  time  Schenck 
was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  board  of 
editors. 

Prof.  Rroeh  deserves  many  thanks  for  the 
kindly  interest  which  he  exhibited  in  making 
the  arrangements  for  Bartholdi  Day,  by  which 
the  students  were  offered  a  position  in  the 
parade. 

Prof,  of  Engineering,  lecturing  on  fire  ex- 
tinguishing apparatus,  and  a  little  mixed : 

Well,  they  found  they  could  not  throw 
the  fire  into  that  flat,  so  they  put  out  the  water 
with  pails." 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  company, 
November  15,  Fuller,  '88,  was  elected  Business 
Manager,  Finch,  '90,  having  resigned.  At 
the  same  time  Pierson  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy  in  the  board  of  editors. 

We  have  recently  heard  of  a  photographer 
who,  having  occasion  to  use  some  cyanide  of 
potassium,  bit  a  piece  in  half  to  make  it 
smaller  ;  but  we  did  not  hear  whether  his 
funeral  cost  any  more  on  that  account  or  ; 
not.  i 

Prof.  W recently  remarked  that,  under 

certain  conditions,  a  specified  problem  would 
not  be  "  soluble."  This  shows  a  new  applica- 
tion of  the  word  soluble.  We  have  heard  it 
applied  to  material  substances  before,  but 
never  to  anything  as  abstract  as  a  problem. 
"  Live  and  learn." 

The  latest  discussion  in  "  Dutch  "  is  the 
difference  between  a  "  Krupp  "  cannon  and  a 
red  nose.  Also  the  question  as  to  which 
burns  the  longer,  a  wax  candle  or  a  tallow 
candle.  Our  liberal  translator  says  he  don't 
sec  the  joke  to  the  former  ;  but  he  says  that 
in  the  latter  case  neither  candle  burns  longer. 
They  both  burn  shorter.     He  !  he  ! 

This  must  be  the  season  when  "  the  soul  of 
man  is  stirred  within  him,'*  for  one  man  be- 
gins an  engineering  essay  as  follows  :  "  Since 
first  the  human  race  directed  its  tottering  in- 
fant steps  into  the  path  that  leads  up  to  civil- 
ization, men  have  been  attempting,  not  with- 
out success,  to  impose  the  drudgery  of  their 
tasks  upon  dumb  beasts  and  uncomplaining 
machinery." 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


■25 


lesday  evening,  November  9,  Dr.  and 
:ds  held  a.  reception  for  the  Junior 
The  weather  favored  the  occasion,  and 
was  well  represented,  considering  the 
who  reside  out  of  town.  Some  of  the 
■s  attended,  and  the  members  of  the 
sent  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  them 
The  evenmg  was  much  enjoyed  by 
ts  to  the  host  and  hostess. 

srvous  system  of  '88  has  had  a  very 
lock.  It  was  discovered  on  the  night 
isot  Leeds'  reception  that  Beyer  had 
^ith  those  beautiful  whiskers  of  his. 
not  been  for  the  fact  thai  an  un- 
>lacid  state  of  mind  existed  on  that 
,  a  very  serious  panic  might  have  en- 
m  such  a  dreadfully  exciting  cause 
ts  appearance  without  any  warning 
Be  careful  about  those  things  in 
e.  Do  such  things  gradually,  or  else 
:  will  get  hurt  yet. 

egulatton  rush  has  taken  place  be- 
3  and  "90.  The  former  met  the  latter 
.11  adjoining  the  mathematics  room, 
ed  an  outward  pressure  on  '90,  and 
me  terrified  and  exerted  a  back  pres- 
89.  But  in  this  case  the  summation 
el  forces  was  not  equal  to  zero,  a  fact 
suited  in  '89's  acquiring  anacceleratd 
n  the  direction  of  the  greater  force, 
ened  to  be  coming  from  a  recitation 
h."  at  the  time,  and  was  thus  made 
untary  witness  of  the  affair,  which 
lie  class  to  be  the  recipient,  the  next 
a  lecture  for  rushing  '89. 


g  this  season  the  team  has  done  very 
rk,  having  met  Yale  once,  Princeton 
id  Harvard  once,  it  being  noticeable 
;se  games  thai  the  scores,  in  compari- 

olher  matches,  were  very  creditable 
ens.  There  seems  to  be  something 
y  wrong  with  the  centre  of  our  rush 
he  men  do  not  "  block  "  long  enough 
[uarter-back  lo  be  able  to  put  the  ball 

to    the   half-backs.     Also,  when  the 


half-backs  run  with  the  ball,  they  do  not  run 
towards  the  side  of  the  field  which  is  clear, 
but  try  to  get  through  the  line  immediately  in 
front  of  them,  where  they  have  a  very  small 
chance  of  getting  through.  Now,  let  the 
centre  "  brace  up  "  and  block  hard,  so  as  to 
give  the  quarter  back  time  to  pass  the  ball 
and  to  pass  it  well.  Our  half-backs  are  both 
good  runners,  and,  I  think,  if  given  a  chance, 
that  they  wilt  improve  it,  and  that  we  will  be 
able  to  make  good  record  before  the  season  is 

HARVARD    vs.  STEVENS. 

The  following  team  went  to  Cambridge  to 
play  the  annual  football  match  with  Harvard 
on  Saturday,  Oct.  16,  1886. 

Stevens.— Rushers,  Flack,  Phelps,  Weichet, 
Firestone  ;  center,  Hart ;  (Captain)  Emmet, 
Hawkins  ;  quarler-back,  Lopez  ;  half-backs, 
Cunti  and  Uhlenhaul  ;  full-back,  Taylor. 

HARVARt>.— Rushers,  Harding,  Remington, 
Woodman,  Brooks ;  (Center  and  Captain), 
Burgess,  Butler  and  Holden  ;  quarter-back, 
Dudley;  half-backs.  Porter  and  Seais;  full- 
back, Peabody.  Referee,  Mr.  Fiske,  '86, 
Harvard.  Time  of  game,  one  hour  and 
thirty  minutes. 

During  the  first  half  our  team  played  a  very 
good  game  keeping  the  score  down  to  10 
points,  one  touch-down  and  goal,  and  one 
touch-down  and  no  goal  being  made  by  Har- 
vard lo  Stevens'  o. 

With  the  wind  in  their  favor  in  the  second 
half  Harvard  secured  ,14  points,  Stevens  not 
scoring,  making  the  total  score,  Harvard  44, 
Stevens  o.  

Yale  vs.  Stkvens,— Wednesday,  October 
2o,  1886,  at  St.  George  Cricket  Grounds, 
Hoboken,  N.  J., 

Vale.- Rushers,  Robinson.  Gill,  Burke, 
Corbin,  Woodruff,  Carter,  Wallace  ;  quarter- 
back, Beecher ;  half-backs,  Walkinsoii  and 
Wurtemburg  ;  full-back,  Pratt. 

Stevens.— Rushers,  Reid,  Emmet,  Drum- 
mond,  Hall,  Firestone,  Taylor  and  Torrance  ; 
quarter-back,  De  Hart ;  half-backs,  Campbell 
and  Cunlz  ;  full-back,  Uhlenhaul. 

Referee,  Mr.  Bradford,  '87.  Princeton. 
Capt.  Hart  was  unable  to  play  from  injuries 
received  at  Harvard,  and  Campbell  acted  as 
captain.  Our  team  made  a  very  creditable 
showing  as  it  was  little  better  than  a  "  scrub," 
Harl,  Phelps,  Crisfield,  Hawkins  and  Lopez 
not  being  able  to  play.  The  playing  of  Yale 
was  excellent.     The  ball  was  kicked  off  by 


126 


THE    S  TE  VE NS    IND ICATOR. 


Yale  at  3.15  p.  m.,  and  Wurtom])urg  made  a 
touchdown  in  three  minutes,  Watkinson  kick- 
ing a  goal  six  points,  a  goal  frc»m  field  by 
Watkinson,  five  points  and  a  touchdown  by 
Watkinson,  resulting  in  no  goal,  four  points, 
followed  by  a  touchdown  by  Wurtemburg  ; 
goal  by  Watkinson  ;  six  points  and  a  touch- 
down by  Carter  ;  no  goal,  four  points,  a  touch- 
down by  Wallace  :  goal  by  Watkinson.  Six 
points  ended  the  first  half.  Vale  scoring  31 
points  to  Stevens'  o.  During  the  second  half 
Stevens  jilayed  in  better  form,  dill  made  the 
first  touchdown  for  Vale  ;  goal  by  Watkinson, 
six  points  ;  followed  by  touchdown  by  Wal- 
lace, four  j)oints,  punted  out  to  Heecher. 
Watkinson  tried  for  goal,  but  missed.  A 
safety  by  Campbell,  two  j)oints  ;  a  goal  from 
field  by  Watkinson,  five  points  ;  followed  by 
touchdown  by  Wallace  ;  goal  by  Watkinson, 
six  points.  Time  called  here.  Vale,  23  : 
Stevens,  o.  Total  score  :  Vale,  54  j)oints,  to 
Stevens  o.     Time  of  game,  one  hour. 

Lafayette  vs.  Stevens. — Saturdav,  Oct. 
23,  1886,  at  St.  Cieorge  ( Ticket  Crounds, 
Hoboken,  N.  J., 

Lafayette. — Rushers,  (Julelius  '.r\iptain), 
Overton,  Harvey,  William.^  Rohrback,  Cum- 
mings  and  Brady  ;  quarter-back,  Krick  ;  half- 
backs, C'amp  and  Paine  ;  full-bac  k,  Mcllwaine. 

Stevens. — Rushers,  Crisfield,  I )rummond. 
Hart  (Cai)tain),  Clark,  Firestone,  Pnelj)s  and 
Reid  ;  (juarterback,  Lopez  ;  half-backs.  Camp- 
bell and  C'untz  ;  full-back,  Uhlenhaut. 

Referee,  l^nil  Schult/,  \'ale.  Hall  was 
kicked  oft'  by  Stevens  at  3  j).  m.  I'rom  the 
first  it  was  evident  that  the  game  would  be 
close,  as  the  teams  played  evenly. 

During  the  first  half,  a  goal  from  field  by 
Camp  gave  r,af;iyette  live  points,  Steven^  not 
s(H)ring.  During  the  second  half  Stevens 
jjlayed  much  better.  In  the  last  part  of  the 
second  half  Campbell  ninde  a  free  C'U<'h  and 
tried  to  kick  a  go:d  from  the  free  ki<"k,  hut 
missed,  the  ball  going  over  the  L:\fayelte  goal 
line.  Rei<l  sec  nied  it  :md  mjde  a  toiulidown 
for  Stevens.  (lutelius.  Captain  of  Lafayette, 
])Ut  in  a  claim  ot  no  tou(hdown,  claiming  that 
Reid  was  "  off  side,"  which  was  given  hy  the 
referee  before  Cajjtain  1  lait  had  anything  to 
say  about  the  deeision.  The  dec  ision  being  pro- 
tested hy  Stevens,  the  referee  saw  that  Reid 
could  not  i^ossibly  he  off  side,  and  ])rom])tly 
reversed  hi^  decision,  giving  Stevens  ihe  trench- 
down,  from  whi<h  C:nnj)bell  easily  kicked  a 
goal.  After  a  few  minutes  more  play  time  was 
called,  the  score  being  6  to  5  in  favor  of  Stevens. 


Lehigh  7v.  Stevens. — At  Hoboken,  Od 
30,  1886. 

Lehigh. — Polk,  Palmer,  I-a  Doo,  Davi 
Netzel,  Lee  and  Cartin ;  quarter-back,  Ely 
half-backs,  Lewis  and  Phelps ;  full-bad 
Bradford,  (Captain). 

Stevkns. — Rushers,  Reid,  Phelps,  Dnua 
mond,  Clark,  Firestone,  Hart  (Captain),  am 
Crisfield  ;  quarter-back,  Lopez  ;  half-bacfa 
Campbell  and  Cuntz  ;  full-back,  Uhlenhant 

Referee,  Mr.  V.  Aldridge.  Ball  was  kickei 
off  by  Stevens  at  3.10  p.  m.,  and  was  at  one 
rushed  down  near  Lehigh's  goal,  where  it  n 
mained  nearly  all  the  time.  Campbell  mad 
a  try  for  goal,  but  missed.  Time  was  called 
neither  team  scoring.  In  the  first  half,  Qaii 
had  his  ankle  injured,  and  Taylor  took  hi 
place.  During  the  second  half,  Lehifi^  hai 
two  trials  at  goal,  but  missed  them  both.  Tb 
play  was  very  even,  both  teams  being  wd 
matched,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  rougl 
playing  of  La  Doo,  who  tackled  two  Steven 
n)en  when  outside  the  lines  and  threw  then 
the  game  ended  very  pleasantly,  the  scor 
standing  o  to  o. 


^■^rWiSrz 


v'aMS       t   '^- 


The  literary  criticisms  of  the   Princetonim 
form  an  interesting  part  of  its  columns. 

We  hope  the  B///rand  the  Ta rj^u m  wiW  no 
countenance  any  more  discussions  about  th« 
merits  of  their  />(7s/  football  attainments.  On 
college  should  not  sneer  at  another,  and  11 
return  we  should  put  as  charitable  a  con 
struction  as  j)os.sible  uj)on  the  criticism  o 
our  fellow  collegiate  papers. 

We  always  welc  jine  the  I^orthioesiern^  k. 
it  always  contains  something  of  general  in 
terest  and  high  merit.  The  paper  now  pre 
sents  a  neat  aj)pearance  and  fine  typography 
and  we  would  discourage  the  proposec 
scheme  to  have  the  paper  printed  by  th« 
students.  We  cannot  conceive  how  it  wotilc 
be  possible  ft^r  anv  students  to  find  the  greal 
amount  of  time  which  it  would  be  necessar) 
to  expend  in  this  work.  For  the  sake  of  yom 
j)aper,  and  for  the  sake  of  your  studies;  let  the 
new  scheme  be  dropped. 


JUHion  ocrAnT. 

SENIOR   OefAAT 


~i    ars.oo  PSB  annuI 

OlftO.OO  PER  ANNUi 


POOLE  &  HUNT, 


^»l]lui5i  ^ilflfip  will  'Smijti  5,  jSl.iliDiiiirij  flmm  Jkiijmr! 

SUPCRIOR  MACHINE  MOLDED  GEARll 

Spur,  Bevel,  Angle,  MortlSB,  H6llcal,  Doutite  Hitlleal  unA  Worm,l 


THE 


jStleve^s  jHdT©il©p. 


HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  DECEMBER,  1886. 


No.  9. 


"NIPPED  IN  THE   BUD." 


Would  V. 

Well — he  raised  such  1  din, 
Tbal  ne  lophoinoies  dropped  in, 

And  he's  climbed  up  the  golden  sta 


A  SKETCH  OF  EDISON'S  LIFE. 

A  person  engaged  in  the  study  of  the  lives 
of  our  great  men,  cannot  help  being  im- 
pressed with  the  fact,  strange  as  it  may  seem, 
that  only  a  very  few  of  them  ever  received 
more  than  a  limited  high  school  education, 
most  of  them,  in  fact,  having  received  so 
little  that  to  call  them  entirely  self-educated 
would  be  no  more  than  a  just  tribute  to  their 
greatness.  Some  from  lack  of  means,  others 
from  lack  of  desire,  but  whatever  the  cause 
we  find  the  majority  of  our  presidents,  states- 
men, scientists,  inventors,  etc.,  untaught,  ex- 
cept in  so  far  as  they  seem  to  have  an  inward 
monitor  who  guides  and  directs  them  into  the 
proper  channel  for  the  acquiring  of  knowledge, 
aad  the  displiy  of  it  to  those  who  may  spend 
a  large  number  of  years  in  a  college  and  yet 
never  possess  the  much  desired  "  greatness." 

Among  the  large  number  of  self-made  men, 
Thomas  Alva  Edison  stands  out  among  the 
very  foremost,  for  though  born  into  this  world 
with  less  than  moderate  circumstances,  he 
soon  makes  a  high  place  for  himself,  aided 
only  by  his  indomitable  courage,  unflagging 
enei^,  and  hjs  seemingly  in  ex  hau  stable  brain 
force. 

His  mother,  a  Scotch  woman,  and  his 
father  a  Dutchman,  lived  in  a  small  town, 
Milan,  Erie  County,  Ohio,  at  the  time  of  his 
binb,  which  took  place  Feb.  11,  1847.  At  a 
very  early  age  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own 

Donsitnlity  with  only  eight  weeks  of  com- 
I  idiool  education ;  this,  however,  was  sup- 


plemented with  help  from  his  mother  who  en- 
couraged his  taste  for  reading,  and  so  we  find 
that  by  his  twelfth  year  he  had  read  besides 
Hume  and  Audibon,  a  great  deal  of  the  Penny 
CyclopEedia.  His  love  for  reading  and  thus 
acquiring  knowledge,  together  with  his  insati- 
able liking  for  chemistry  led  him  to  determine 
to  read  every  book  in  the  public  library  of 
Detroit,  and  in  carrying  out  this  determina- 
tion he  even  went  so  far  as  to  read  Newton's 
Principia,  the  Dictionary  of  Science,  by  Ure, 
and  as  an  enjoyable  "  top  dressing"  Burton's 
Anatomy  of  Melancholy. 

On  acquiring  a. monopoly  of  the  "news 
agency "  on  the  Grand  Trunk  railroad  he 
opened  up  for  himself  a  large  field  of  reading 
matter ;  this  not  employing  all  of  his  time  he 
improvised  a  laboratory  in  one  of  the  cars, 
but  by  the  untimely  explosion  of  some  chem- 
icals the  car  was  set  on  fire  and  the  whole 
train  so  much  endangered  that  the  conductor 
threw  both  the  boy  and  his  apparatus  out  of 
the  car.  Nothing  daunted,  the  boy  collected 
a  lot  of  type  and  began  to  issue  The  Grand 
Trunk  Herald.  His  evenings  being  at  his  dis- 
posal he  enthusiastically  took  up  telegraphy, 
becoming  so  proficient  that  in  a  short  time 
he  operated  in  Port  Huron,  Mich,  ;  Stratford, 
Canada,  and  Adrain,  Mich.,  at  which  place  he 
established  a  shop  for  repairing  telegraph  in- 
struments and  the  manufacture  of  other  in- 
struments. His  next  move  was  to  Indianap- 
olis. Here  he  invented  his  automatic  repeater 
for  transferring  a  message  from  one  wire  to 
another  without  the  services  of  an  operator. 
After  traveling  a  great  deal  from  city  to  city 
he  went  to  Cincinnati,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  became  known  as  a  successful  inven- 
tor. But  being  in  such  demand  he  spent 
much  time  in  Boston  and  between  Rochester 
and  New  York.  He  was  now  engaged  in  per- 
fecting his  inventions  ;  to  this  effect  he  em- 
ployed about  300  hands  at  an  establishment 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  but  on  finding  that  the 
superintendence  of  this  took  up  too  much 
time  he  gave  it  up  and  established  in  1876,  an 
experimenting  establishment  at  Menlo  Park  ; 
this  place  has  become  the  Mecca  of  all  per- 
sons interested  in  lighting  by  electricity.     In 


130 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


1878  at  the  age  of  31  years,  Edison  created  a 
great  sensation  amon^  the  leading  European 
scientists  by  the  exhibition  of  his  Phonograph 
at  the  French  Institute.  This  exhibit  was 
followed  up  in  1881  at  the  Paris  Electrical 
Exhibition,  at  which  place  could  be  seen  his 
system  of  electric  lighting  by  incandescence, 
his  disc  dynamo-electric  machine,  also  a  micro- 
tasimeter,  which  is  used  to  measure  the  smallest 
change  in  temperature,  an  odoroscope  which 
renders  visible  the  presence  of  certain  essen- 
tial oils  and  hydrocarbon  vapors  and  registers 
their  action,  then  the  electromotograph  which 
reproduces  the  human  voice  at  a  distance,  and 
as  a  climax  one  of  his  most  wonderful  inven- 
tions is  the  quadruplex  system  of  telegraphy, 
by  means  of  which  four  messages  can  be  sent 
in  opposite  directions  and  be  perfectly  trans- 
mitted over  the  same  wire.  In  all,  Mr. 
Edison's  inventions  amount  to  about  200,  and 
being  still  a  very  young  man  we  may  look  for 
manjr  more  testimonials  of  his  marvelous  in- 
ventive genius.  '  C.  E.  H. 


*^» » 


THE  INDICATOR'S  PROFESSION. 


Three  years  ago  the  Stevens  Indicator 
came  into  the  world,  and  as  it  was  the  first- 
bom,  all  the  family  pride  centered  in  it  To 
be  sure,  its  elder  cousin,  the  Eccentric^  had 
preceded  it  by  ten  years ;  but  the  Eccentric 
had  passed  through  childhood  and  was  settled 
in  its  own  useful  comer  of  life's  busy  arena. 
The  Indicator,  however,  was  of  a  vacillating 
temperment,  now  interesting  itself  wholly  in 
athletics,  now  with  childish  thoughtlessness 
annoying  its  god-fathers,  the  faculty.  How  ten- 
derly this  scion  of  a  noble  house  was  reared  ! 
How  troubled  were  its  friends  at  its  sudden 
manifestations  of  wrath  and  folly !  How 
little  it  cared  for  serious  thought  !  Yet  now 
and  again  it  astonished  everyone  by  its  pre- 
cocity, by  the  lurkings  of  power  within  it. 

Like  many  young  men,  the  Indicator 
hoped  to  obtain  the  aid  of  some  influential 
relatives  when  it  came  time  to  start  out  in 
life  ;  but  as  the  time  drew  near  the  alumni 
showed  no  interest  beyond  asking  if  the  youth 
was  well,  and  moralizing  upon  the  constant 
care  required  to  train  up  such  a  headstrong 
and  friendless  boy.  Not  for  one  moment, 
however,  did  the  parents  despair.  The  less 
interest  the  relatives  showed,  the  more  the 
parents  sought  to  gain  their  favor  though  the 
intrinsic  merits  of  the  child. 

The  momentous  hour  had  arrived  when  the 
choice  of  a  profession  must  be  made.    At  first 

leemed  as  though  the  Indicator  inclined 


toward  journalism — one  moment  it  aped  the 
North  American  Review^  the  next  it  conde- 
scended to  be  pleased  with  Puck^  St,  Jacobus 
Otl  Almanac  and  the  Mechanical  Et^ifuer, 
Yet,  withal,  its  fondness  for  science  was  of  no 
mean  order,  and  in  its  inexperienced  way  it 
sought  to  observe  and  to  explain.  Candor 
compels  me  to  confess  that  at  this  age  the 
youth  was  self -asserting  and  erratic  ;  but  the 
first  was  caused  by  the  stem  necessities  of  an 
almost  friendless  exbtence,  while  the  latter 
arose  from  the  vain  endeavor  to  be  all  things 
to  all  men  and  thus  gain  a  few  friends. 

When  the  Indicator's  parents  asked  their 
kindred,  the  alumni,  for  advice  and  assistance, 
the  reply  was  :  ^'  If  you  will  make  a  scientific 
man  of  him  and  let  us  join  forces  in  starting 
him  in  life,  we  will  see  to  it  that  financial  sup- 
port is  not  wanting  to  make  him  a  success." 
What  reply  was  to  be  made  to  this  liberal 
ofiFer?  Could  it  in  justice  to  the  youth  be 
rejected  ? 

I  have  just  returned  from  an  interview 
with  one  deeply  concemed  in  the  welfare  of 
the  Indicator.  Next  month,  he  tells  me,  the 
professional  duties  are  to  begin.  The  profes- 
sion chosen  is  that  of  mechanical  engineering. 
The  alumni  are  numerous  and  influential ; 
surely  success  will  crown  their  undertaking. 


Railways  of  Europe  in  1884. — The  total 
length  of  railways  opened  for  traffic  at  the  end 
of  the  year  1883  amounted  to  113,716  miles. 
At  the  end  of  1884  the  length  open  was  117,- 
633  miles,  showing  an  increase  of  3.937  miles 
opened  in  the  course  of  1884,  or  3.46  percent, 
of  the  total  length  at  the  end  of  1883.  515 
miles  were  opened  in  Germany;  776  miles  in 
Austria,  Hungaria;  256  miles  in  Spain;  933 
miles  in  France;  208  miles  in  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland;  313  miles  in  Russia  and  Finland. 
—  Van  Nostrand's  Engineering  Magazine. 


A  NEW  process  for  making  steel  pipes  is 
employed  at  Burbach,  Germany;  as  soon  as 
the  steel  is  cast  into  the  round  mould,  a  core 
is  thrust  into  the  steel,  so  that  a  tube  is  formed 
between  it  and  the  walls  of  the  mould.  In 
order  to  prevent  cracking  of  this  annular 
casting  during  cooling,  the  core  is  so  made 
that  it  follows  up  the  shrinkage  of  the  steel. 
The  steel  cup  thus  obtained  may  then  be 
rolled  in  an  ordinary  train.  It  is  stated  that 
a  large  firm  in  Paris  proposes  to  apply  the 
method  to  the  manufacture  of  copper  tubing. 
— Scientific  American, 


THE    STEVENS    INDICATOR. 


THE   FIRST   LOCOMOTIVE  FOR 
AMERICA. 


The  following  verbatim  extract  from  the 
"Description  Book,  1831,"  gives  the  leading 
dimensions  of  the  first  engine  ordered  for 
use  in  the  United  States.  The  description 
was  probably  copied  from  an  older  book,  and 
was  apparently  written  in  1831.  Mr.  Allen 
has  stated  that  he  believed  this  engine,  which 
he  ordered  from  Stephenson,  to  have  been  the 
first  with  a  multitubular  boiler,  as  distinguished 
from  the  older  engines  with  a  single  or  a  re- 
turn flue.  While  Stephenson  had  faith  in  the 
multitubular  boiler,  he  could  not  persuade  his 
countrymen  to  order  a  boiler  of  the  new  type, 
but  Horatio  Allen,  with  characteristic  Ameri- 
can disdain  for  mere  precedents,  gave  Steph- 
enson an  order  for  the  first  multitubular 
boiler  used  in  a  locomotive.  It  will  be  seen, 
however,  that  this  boiler  hardly  deserved  the 
name  of  multitubular,  as  it  had  only  two  so- 
called  tubes,  each  19  in.  diameter.  Mr.  Allen 
has  stated,  however,  that  **  the  only  points  de- 
cided by  me  were  that  the  boilers  of  the  loco- 
motives built  by  Stephenson  &:  Co.  were  to  be 
multitubular  boilers,  the  dimensions  of  the 
tubes  to  be  decided  by  the  builders.  Mr. 
Allen  further  states  that  the  engines  were 
built  after  he  left  England,  and  that  he  never 
saw  the  inside  of  the  boilers.  Stephenson 
appears  to  have  had  less  confidence  in  the 
multitubular  boiler  than  Mr.  Allen,  and  there- 
fore built  the  boiler  with  two  flues  instead  of 
numerous  tubes.  The  following  is  a  verbatim 
copy  of  the  description: 

No.  12,  Allen's  engine  constructed  in  1828 : 

Boiler 4  ft.  i  in.  X  9  ft.  6  in. 

Fireplace 4  X  3 

Cylinders 9  in.  X  2  ft.  o  in. 

Chimney i  ft.  8  in. 

Pumps I  J^  in.  X  2  ft.  o  in. 

Wheels Wood. 

Diameter. * 48  in. 

Number 4 

Angle  of  cylinders  from  the  horizontal 33"* 

Size  of  tubes i  ft.  7  in. 

Number 2 

Stnught. 

This  was  the  twelfth  engine  built  by  Ste- 
phenson. The  nineteenth  was  "  the  Rocket," 
Liverpool  prize  engine,  constructed  18-29. 

The  seventeenth  was  constructed  for  Major 
Whistler,  and  was  somewhat  similar  to  Horatio 
Allen's  engine,  but  had  six  wheels  and  a  return 
flue. 


The  "  Rocket  **  is  described  as  follows  in  the 
old  "  Description  Book  "  referred  to  before  : 

Boiler 3  ft.  4  in.  X  6  ft.  o  in. 

Fireplace 2  ft.  7  in.  X  2  ft.  o  in. 

Cylinder 8X  i? 

Chimney i  ft.  2  in 

Pump iK  X  17 

Wheels,  two 4  ft.  8  in. 

Wheels,  two 2  ft.  6  in. 

Angle  of  cylinders  from  the  horizontal 35* 

Weight  without  water 3  tons  9  cwt. 

Weight  of  water 13  cwt. 

Tubes copper. 

Size  of  fire  tubes 3  in. 

Number 25 

Circumference 9*424 

Area 7.068  sq.  in. 

Distance,  centre  to  centre 4^  |n. 

Cylinders,  centre  to  centre 5  ft*  9  |n. 

Wheels,  centre  to  centre 7  f t.  2  iiL 

Depth  outside  from  bottom  of  boiler  to  bottom  of 

fire-box i  ft.  3  i^** 

Super  area  tubes 13  sq.  ft. 

Axles,  diameter  to  middle 3^  li^- 

Single  slide  valve. 

Observations. 
Outside  horizontal  cylinders. 

The  "  Rocket/'  therefore,  in  spite  of  Mr. 
Horatio  Allen,  appears  to  have  been  the  first 
multitubular  locomotive.  Mr.  Allen's  pos- 
sibly was  the  first  in  which  two  large  straight 
flues  were  used  instead  of  a  single  or  a  return 
flue. 

A  memorandum  dated  July  23,  1828,  made 
apparently  by  Mr.  Allen,  evidently  refers  to 
the  sharpest  curve  on  the  line  on  which  his 
engine  was  to  travel  :  "Sharpest  curve  on 
main  line  side  to  chord  is  1:60. "f  The  chord 
was  presumably  the  wheel-base  of  the  engine, 
but  the  whole  entry  appears  somewhat  vague, 
and  only  shows  that  the  question  of  passing 
round  a  curve  had  been  considered. 

The  old  drawings  show  that  several  points 
about  locomotive  practice  are  of  older  date 
than  is  generally  imagined.  The  following 
shows  the  earliest  dates  at  which  the  severed 
devices  named  appear  in  the  drawings  : 

Driving  axle-box  wedges about  1831 

Cylinders  inside,   centre   line  being  bel#w   front 

axle 1831 

Circular  side  valves 1832 

Deflectors  in  front  of  tubes . . ' 

Cork  placed  in  bottom  of  ex-     f     •      «ir^  i«  ^.t. »»  .o«. 

haust  pipe  to  diminish  vio-  P"8>ne  "Gohath,   1835 

lence  of  exhaust 

First  link  motion 1842 

Four-cylinder    engine,    similar    to    Shaw's    and 

Haswell's 1848 

— -^.  R.  GcMUe. 


*  This  is  equal  to  a  7  deg.  38  min.  curve. 


132 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


GEORGE  STEPHENSON. 


The  "  Father  of  Railways  "  he  is  called,  and 
although  a  merited  and  justly  applied  title,  we 
do  not  at  first  appreciate  the  rare  honor  con- 
veyed thereby.  The  railway  is  the  most  won- 
derful link  in  the  history  of  civilization,  and 
through  it  was  introduced  the  present  Age  of 
Steel.  He,  therefore,  to  whom  the  railway 
owes  its  existence,  is  one  whose  name  should 
be  held  in  the  highest  honor  by  all  of  us  who 
are  now  profited  by  the  results  of  his  labors. 
George  Stephenson  rose  to  his  position  by  his 
own  resolute  efforts,  which  conquered  all  dif- 
ficulties and  prejudices.  He  was  born  in 
Wylam,  a  colliery  village,  near  Newcastle, 
England,  June  9,  1781.  His  father  was  em- 
ployed as  fireman  of  the  pumping  engine  used 
at  the  Wylam  colliery.  Earning  but  twelve 
shillings  a  week,  he  was  too  poor  to  send  his 
children  to  school,  and  so  the  boy,  at  the  age 
of  eight,  was  put  to  work  herding  cows,  re- 
ceiving two  pence  a  day.  He  amused  himself 
here,  on  the  banks  of  a  brook  running  through 
the  field,  making  miniature  clay  mills  and  en- 
gines, with  stems  of  hemlock  for  imaginary 
steam  pipes. 

He  was  not  content,  however,  to  continue 
where  he  could  learn  so  little,  he  wanted  to 
be  working  with  men  at  the  colliery,  and  so 
found  employment  as  driver  of  the  "gin" 
horse  at  the  pit.  When  fourteen  years  old  he 
obtained  a  position  as  assistant  fireman  under 
his  father,  at  a  shilling  a  day,  and  at  seventeen 
he  was  promoted  ahead  of  his  father,  to  be 
engineman  of  the  pumps  at  the  mine.  His 
perceptive  faculties  were  keen  and  active,  and 
desiring  to  know  everything  about  his  engine, 
he  often  took  it  to  pieces  to  clean  and  exam- 
ine, until  he  had  it  in  perfect  order  and  un- 
derstood its  action  thoroughly.  He  could  not 
at  this  time  read,  and  hearing  so  much  about 
the  engines  of  Watt  and  Boulton,  he  wished  to 
know  all  about  them,  and  so  made  up  his  mind 
to  learn  to  read.  He  took  lessons  in  reading 
and  spelling  at  a  night  school,  and  soon  after- 
ward commenced  arithmetic.  His  progress  in 
study  was  wonderful,  because  his  earnestness 
was  intense,  and  he  spent  all  his  spare  time  in 
the  engine  house  "summing."  At  twenty 
years  of  age  he  was  earning  twenty  shillings  a 
week,  to  which  he  added,  by  shoemaking  and 
by  mending  clocks  and  watches  for  the  neigh- 
bors. His  study  of  engine  machinery  enabled 
him  to  remedy  the  defects  in  the  pumping  en- 
gines and  winding  machinery  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, so  that  he  came  to  be  called  "engine 
doctor." 


In  1802  he  was  married,  and  took  a  small 
cottage  with  a  bit  of  ground  attached.  Here 
his  famous  son  Robert  was  bom.  The  father, 
knowing  how  deficient  his  own  education  had 
been,  determined  that  his  son  should  not  labor 
under  the  same  disadvantage,  and  so  sent  him 
at  the  age  of  twelve  to  school.  Robert  was 
fond  of  reading  all  the  scientific  information 
he  could  get,  and  in  the  evenine  he  would 
give  to  his  father  the  results  of  his  reading. 
As  long  as  his  father  lived,  this  co*  operation 
in  study  and  work  continued. 

Up  to  this  time  several  locomotives  had 
been  made  for  hauling  coal,  but  in  every  case 
had  failed  to  prove  themselves  equal  even 
to  horses.  George  Stephenson  desired  to  do 
for  the  locomotive  what  Watt  had  done  for 
the  steam  engine — to  produce  an  efficient  and 
economical  machine.  To  do  this  he  studied 
all  the  existing  forms  of  locomotives,  with  a 
view  to  discover  the  causes  of  their  failure  and 
to  remedy  the  defects.  In  181 5  he  brought 
out  a  locomotive  in  which  the  connecting 
rods  were  joined  directly  to  the  cranks  of  the 
driving  wheels  without  the  intervention  of 
gearing,  and  the  wheels  were  provided  with 
smooth  tires.  He  had  observed  the  greater 
velocity  with  which  the  waste  steam  escaped 
from  the  cylinders  of  engines  as  compa^red 
with  that  of  the  smoke  from  the  chimney,  and 
therefore  in  this  locomotive  he  conveyed  the 
exhaust  steam  into  the  smokestack,  producing 
a  draft  through  the  fire.  This  last  improve- 
ment decided  his  success,  and  from  this  time, 
1822,  dates  the  history  of  the  locomotive 
proper.  This  engine,  with  four  others,  ran 
successfully,  each  hauling  sixty-four  tons  of 
coal  at  the  speed  of  four  miles  an  hour. 

Not  long  after  the  Stockton  and  Darlington 
Railway  was  begun,  George  Stephenson  being 
appointed  engineer  of  the  line.  By  long  per- 
suasion he  was  able  to  convince  the  railway 
company  of  the  practicability  of  steam  loco- 
motion, and  a  manufactory  was  established  at 
Newcastle  for  the  purpose  of  making  locomo- 
tives. Here  he  built  a  locomotive  with  which 
to  operate  the  line.  As  the  time  drew  near 
for  the  completion  of  the  work,  Stephenson 
said  to  his  son  :  "  I  venture  to  tell  you  that  I 
think  you  will  live  to  see  the  day  when  rail- 
ways will  supercede  almost  all  other  methods 
of  conveyance,  when  mail  coaches  will  go  by 
railway,  and  the  railroads  will  become  the 
great  highways.  The  time  is  coming  when  it 
will  be  cheaper  for  a  working  man  to  travel  on 
a  railway  than  to  walk  on  foot.  I  know  that 
there  are  great  and  almost  insurmountable 
difficulties  to  be  encountered,  but  what  I  have 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


m 


t,  were  brought  against  him,  but  to  use 
wn  words  :      I  put  up  with  every  rebuff, 


said  will  come  to  pass  as  sure  as  you  now  hear 
me.  I  only  wish  I  may  live  to  see  the  day, 
though  that  I  can  hardly  hope  for,  as  I  know 
how  slow  all  human  progress  is,  and  with  what 
diflficulty  I  have  been  able  to  get  the  locomo- 
tive introduced  thus  far,  notwithstanding  my 
ten  years  successful  experiment."  The  rail- 
way was  opened  in  1825,  George  Stephenson 
himself  running  the  first  engine.  Locomotion," 
which  attained  a  speed  of  twelve  miles  an 
hour  with  a  load  of  about  ninety  tons. 

The  Liverpool  and  Manchester  Railway 
was  then  projected.  The  work  of  laying  out 
the  line  was  given  to  Stephenson,  who  met 
with  opposition  in  every  way.  Threats  of 
violence  from  the  common  people,  legal  hos- 
tility, ridicule  and  personal  insults  in  the 
court, 
his  own 

and  went  on  with  my  plans,  determined  not 
to  be  put  down." 

The  road  completed,  the  question  was  how 
it  should  be  worked — whether  by  horses,  sta- 
tionary engines,  or  locomotives.  Stephenson 
stood  almost  alone  in  favor  of  the  last  against 
nearly  every  professional  man  of  eminence. 
Nevertheless  he  persevered,  and  finally,  under 
his  persistent  assurances  that  locomotives 
would  do  more  than  the  requirements  of  the 
road  demanded,  it  was  decided  to  adopt  them, 
provided  certain  conditions  were  fulfilled  in  a 
trial  at  a  fixed  date.  George  and  Robert 
Stephenson,  at  their  works  in  Newcastle,  built 
for  this  trial  the  celebrated  "  Rocket,"  The 
trial  took  place  in  October,  1829,  three  other 
engines  being  entered,  but  these  three  failed 
utterly,  while  the  "  Rocket "  even  exceeded 
the  requirements  for  speed.  This  at  once 
secured  the  triumph  of  the  railway  system.  In 
1830  the  road  was  opened  with  a  new  locomo- 
tive "  Rocket,"  running  at  the  rate  of  twenty 
and  thirty  miles  an  hour. 

The  firm  of  Stephenson  &  Son  was  now 
famous.  Railroads  were  being  started,  and 
orders  came  from  all  sides  for  locomotives. 
The  "  John  Bull,"  brought  to  this  country  for 
the  Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad,  was  built 
by  them  in  1831.  They  were  busy  men,  and 
were  rapidly  accumulating  wealth.  A.  large 
brick  mansion,  surrounded  with  woodland  and 
pleasure  grounds,  was  chosen  for  their  resi- 
dence, and  at  the  age  of  sixty  George  Ste- 
phenson retired  from  business,  leaving  his  son 
Robert  in  full  career  as  a  railway  engineer. 
He  died  August  12, 1848,  in  the  sixty-seventh 
year  of  his  age. 

Both    the    Stephensons,    father  and   son. 


were  remarkable  men — ^men  whom  this  age 
delights  to  honor.  Well  may  they  have  re- 
fused the  honors  of  knighthood,  which  were 
tendered  to  each  of  them,  for  they  themselves 
were  royal  powers  upon  earth,  conferring 
knighthood  and  dignity  upon  all  human 
labor."  Albitan. 


SLIGHTLY  MISTAKEN. 


**0  woman,  in  our  hours  of  ease, 

Uncertain,  coy  and  hard  to  please  '* — 

The  Junior  with  a  smile  the  book  away 

From  him  did  cast,  as  idly  still  he  lay 

Upon  a  bank  beneath  the  proud  pine  trees 

Which  seemed  to  whisper  with  the  passing  breeze. 

While  all  around  him  peaceful,  calm  there  lay, 

All  faint  in  the  soft  haze  of  summer  day 

The  fair  green  fields  and  cool  and  spicy  grove. 

Where  he  with  fellow  students  loved  to  rove, 

Oft  as  beneath  the  stars  his  way  he  took. 

Free  from  his  college  duties  and  his  book. 

With  that  soft,  loving  pressure  on  his  arm 

Of  her,  whose  presence  lent  a  heightened  charm, 

To  all  that  lovely  scene  and  starlit  night, 

For  May  doth  give  us  mortals  her  moonlight 

For  love,  as  old  Dan  Chaucer  sin^s  arie;ht. 

From  off  the  campus  came  to  him  the  call 
Of  classmates  at  their  tennis  and  their  ball. 
While  far  beyond  them  all  he  could  survey 
Where  Mohawk's  silver  in  the  distance  lay. 
Off  to  the  left  their  rugged  heads  upraise 
The  Helderbergs,  all  wavy  in  the  heat,       , 

Whose  utmost  tops  the  fleecy  clouds  did  graze 
As  though  they  loved  their  craggy  mountain  seat. 

While  thus  he  lay,  his  musing  from  bim  broke 

And  thus  communing  with  himself  he  spoke — 

"  *  O  woman,  in  our  hours  of  ease, 

Uncertain,  coy  and  hard  to  please ' — 

I  have  not  found  her  so ;  she  seemed  to  yield 

The  moment  that  I  came  upon  the  field. 

Her  brown  eyes  seemed  to  brighten  when  I  came, 

Her  smile  to  others  never  seemed  the  same. 

She  is  completely  gone  without  a  doubt 

But  surely  I  must  for  myself  look  out, 

I  wish  to  leave  no  college  widow  here  ; 

And  then — for  that — she's  much  too  sweet  and  dear." 

As  thus  he  mused  his  reverie  was  broken  ; 

He  raised  his  head  to  hear  a  sentence  spoken 

In  a  familiar  voice  and — "  Hateful  sight ! 

It  cannot  be.     My  eyes  don't  see  aright. 

'Tis  she  ;  But  who  is  he  that  by  her  side^ 

With  stately  air  and  Senior's  stride 

Doth  stalk  ?    And  what  doth  glisten  on  her  breast  ? 

Ye  gods  !  His  pin,  or  else  may  I  be — blest. 

While  she  attentive,  with  that  self-same  smile 

Doth  listen  to  his  senseless  talk  and  praise 

Of  Union.     Ever  and  anon,  the  while, 

Those  dark  brown  eyes  so  shyly  bright  she'll  raise 

Whose  beauty  would  an  anchorite  beguile 

To  sing  the  lovely  languor  in  their  gaze. 

l'envoi. 

"  All  that  glitters  is  not  gold," 

And  sometimes  e'en  a  Junior's  sold.— Ex. 


134 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


PUBLISHED  ON  THB 

15th  OF  EACH  MONTH.  DURIN6  THE  C0LLE6E  YEAR, 


BY  THB 


INDICATOR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

^teVen^  In^tifeote  of  Tecpolog}. 

— w*  KDIVOIIA.'K— 

CARTER  H.  PA(;E,Jr„  '87.  £diior-tn-<kiif. 

A.  A.  FULLER,  '88.  Business  Managtr, 

JOHN  V.  L.  PIERSON,  '88,  Exckmnge  Editsr. 
BURTON  P.  HALL,  '88. 

HUBERT  S.  WVNKOOP,  '88. 

WHXIAM  W.  SCHENCK.  '88. 

THOS.  A.  VAN  DER  WILLIGEN.  *88 

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INASMUCH  as  this  is  the  last  issue  of  the 
Indicator  under  the  present  manage- 
ment, some  of  the  members  of  the  company 
have  considered  it  of  small  importance  that 
they  should  fail  to  contribute  acceptable  arti- 
cles, or  even  anything  at  all,  giving  as  ex- 
cuses the  same  old  chestnut,  "  haven't  had 
time."  They  have  certainly  more  time  than 
those  who  have  to  undertake  a  double  share 
of  this  work,  and  are  only  taking  advantage  of 
the  present  condition  of  afiFairs  to  shirk  their 
work,  with  as  much  to  say,  "  What  are  you 
going  to  do  about  it,  anyhow  !  " 


^yPE  have  received  a  contribution  entitled, 
W  "The  Marking  System;"  a  subject 
which  has  been  "  aired  "  rather  too  extensively 
to  deserve  publication  in  the  columns  of  the 
Indicator.  In  it  the  author  condemns  the 
marking  system  of  our  college  in  no  small  de- 
gree, claiming  that  many  men  are  deterred 
from  asking  questions  on  points  concermng 
which  they  are  very  doubtful,  for  fear  of  be- 
traying their  ignorance  on  such,  and  con- 
sequently being  marked  low  for  it 

Mr.  B is  evidently  one  of  those  fellows 


who  would  like  to  ask  a  question  now  and 
then,  but  does  not  for  fear  of  the  above  re- 
sult; his  apparent  opinion  of  himself  is,  that 
his  general  standing  in  college  is  too  low  to 
permit  him  to  run  the  risk  of  getting  these 
law  marks  without  exposing  himself  to  the 
danger  of  a  "  side  door  graduation."    But  he 
does  himself  an  injustice,  for  a  low  mark  on 
such  a  point  in  an  examination  would  count 
against  one  far  more  than  if  the  matter  was 
made  clear  during  the  term,  even  though  a 
zero  was  all  the  credit  he  got  for  showing  a 
desire  to  learn.     Mr.  B advocates  abolish- 
ing the  term  mark,  and  depending  on  the 
examination  alone  to  decide  whether  or  no  a 
man  is  to  be  passed  or  conditioned.    This 
would  result  in  putting  a  premium  on  cutting  re- 
citations and  lectures,  as  if  true  marks  are  not 
to  be  included  in  a  man's  standing.     Mr.  — 
should  have  been  explicit  in  the  exclusion  of 
the  "  second   head  "  of  the  panorama  style. 
We  can,  however,  state  that  if  a  man  who  enters 
Stevens  with  the  intention  of  learning  all  he 
can,  is  desirous   of  being  informed  on  any 
point,  he  will  not  be  restrained  from  asking 
about   it   for  fear  of  a  low  mark  in  conse- 
quence. 


a  FEW  lines  in  regard  to  lathe  exercise, 
appearing  in  the  Stuffing  Box  of  our 
October  issue,  has  been  noticed  by  other 
papers  to  the  extent  of  reprinting  the  same. 
It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  the  students  of 
every  college  always  find  some  subject  about 
which  to  make  fun  or  else  to  '*  kick  against.' 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


135 


often  than  not  these  troubles  are  more 
lalf  fancied,  or  better,  the  student  is  not 
;e  as  he  thinks  he  is,  and  his  fun  making 
shows  that  he  fails  to  take  into  con- 
tion  all  the  facts  of  the  case.  All  pub- 
urnals  should   therefore  exercise  great 

and  acquaint  themselves  thoroughly 
le  facts  before  publishing  anything  from 
dergraduate  papers  of  our  colleges  which 

seem  to  reflect  upon  their  good  standing 
nagement. 

J  intended  hit  upon  lathe  exercise  is  a 
example  of  the  above  mentioned  fact. 
;  first  place  the  price  charged  for  cast 
ses  is  referred  to.  If  one  takes  into 
leration  the  price  of  small  castings  from 
undry,  the  expenses  of  carting,  sorting, 
ig  out  and  keeping  account  of  the  same, 
1  at  once  see  that  the  prices  are  nothing 
than  fair.  In  the  next  place,  it  is  the 
It's  own  fault  if  he  leaves  his  completed 
ses  lying  around  to  be  used  by  some  one 

He  has   bought  his  material,  and  can 

preserve  his  completed  exercises  or  sell 
to  another  student  or  for  old  iron.  The 
f  the  case  is,  that  the  students  are  at 
'  to  purchase  their  material  anywhere 
vish.  Mr.  Hawkridge  provides  for  us, 
jping  in  stock  constantly,  at  fair  prices, 
t  the  time  and  place  we  want  them, 
various  exercises.  In  fact,  the  accom 
ion  is  so  apparent  that  a  student  never 

of  purchasing  elsewhere.  We  hope,  if 
rong  impressions  have  been  made,  that 
:tle  explanation  will  set  things  straight 


production  of  copper  throughout  the 

last  year,  is  estimated  at  221,715  tons,  as 

red  with  a  corresponding  production  of 

3  in  1884,  and   153,057   in  1880.     The 

copper  producing  countries  last  year 
Australia,  11,400  tons;  Chili,  38,800; 
ny,  15,250;  Japan,  2,000;  Spain  and 
;al,  45j949;  and  the  United  States,  74,- 
Electrical  Review. 


The  Elasticity  of  Metals. — M.  Tresca 
lately  published  in  the  Comptes  Rendus  the 
results  of  observations  made  as  to  the  effect 
of  hammering,  and  the  variation  of  limits  of 
elasticity  as  regards  metals  and  other  sub- 
stances used  for  technical  purposes.  Hith- 
erto it  has  been  usual,  in  considering  the  de- 
formation of  solid  bodies  under  the  influence 
of  extensile  forces,  to  recognize  only  two 
definite  periods,  dependent  upon  the  mechan- 
ical properties  of  the  substances  in  question. 
These  periods  are  the  limit  of  elasticity,  and 
the  point  of  laceration.  M.  Tresca  has  found 
it  necessary  at  the  end  of  the  period  where 
the  change  of  elasticity  commences,  to  recog- 
nize a  third  stage,  which  may  be  described  as 
a  period  of  fluidity  and  which  corresponds 
with  the  possibility  of  a  continuous  deforma- 
tion under  the  constant  effect  of  the  same 
tension.  This  peculiar  condition  may  be  re- 
garded as  a  characteristic  of  substances  of  a 
very  extensible  or  plastic  nature,  as  its  absence 
is  noticed  in  materials  that  are  brittle  and 
which  are  fractured  without  previous  defor- 
mation. It  is  already  known  that  the  period 
of  alteration  of  elasticity  is  much  shorter  in 
hard  or  hardened  steel  than  in  iron.  M. 
Tresca  protests  against  the  expressing  of  the 
prolongation  of  metal  bars  produced  by  bur- 
dens in  the  form  of  a  percentage  of  their 
length..  Such  prolongations  are,  he  urges,  al- 
ways specially  local,  and  consequently  the 
same  in  long  and  short  bars,  being  limited  by 
the  proximity  of  the  point  of  fracture.  The 
indication  of  elasticity  should,  therefore,  rather 
be  sought  in  the  diminution  of  the  section  of 
the  bars  at  the  point  of  fracture.  This  portion 
of  a  lacerated  bar  is  further  remarkable  for 
the  loss  of  the  original  state  of  its  material 
composition.  At  the  point  of  fracture  the 
substance  has  become  remarkably  condensed, 
and  has  almost  entirely  lost  its  toughness. 
The  final  fracture,  therefore,  takes  place  in  a 
brittle  zone  of  the  metal,  and  the  same  con- 
dition can  be  produced  by  hammering.  If  a 
test  bar,  which  has  been  extended  almost  to 
the  point  of  fracture,  be  thoroughly  heated,  it 
can  be  still  further  extended  before  it  breaks, 
and  it  is  really  a  fact  that  by  alternate  stretch- 
ing and  heating,  such  a  bar  may  be  extremely 
changed  in  its  proportions,  as  is,  for  instance, 
the  case  in  wire  drawing. — Industries, 


The  Electric  Review  explains  the  new 
method  of  protecting  iron,  which  has  been 
brought  out  by  M.  Ade  Meritens.    The  article 


■36 


THE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


to  be  protected  is  placed  ia  a  bath  of  distilled 
water  at  a  temperature  of  from  15S  to  176 
degs.  Fahr.,  and  an  electric  current  is  sent 
through.  The  water  is  (decomposed  into  its 
elements,  the  oxygen  being  deposited  on  the 
metal,  while  the  hydrogen  appears  at  the  other 
pole.  The  current  has  only  sufficient  electro- 
motive force  to  overcome  the  resistance  of  the 
circuit  and  to  decompose  the  water ;  the 
oxide,  formed  under  such  conditions,  is  the 
magnetic  oxide  which  resists  the  action  of  the 
air  and  protects  the  metal  beneath  it.  After 
the  action  has  continued  an  hour  or  two  the 
coating  is  sufficiently  solid  to  resist  the  scratch 
brush,  and  it  will  then  take  a  brilliant  polish. 
In  order  to  obtain  a  coating  on  articles  of 
wrought  and  cast  iron,  the  order  of  operations 
has  to  be  reversed.  The  iron  is  placed  at  the 
negative  pole  of  the  apparatus  after  it  had 
been  already  applied  at  the  positive  pole. 
Here  the  oxide  ii  reduced,  and  hydrogen  is 
accumulated  in  the  pores  of  the  metal.  The 
specimens  are  then  turned  to  the  anode  and 
their  solid  coatings  treated  in  the  same  way  as 
those  of  the  steel  articles. 


PBRsefifiiis. 


Under  the  neio  managemenl  The  Indicator 
hofies  to  make  the  personal  department  very  in- 
teresting. To  attain  this  end  the  hearty  co-op- 
eration of  the  alumni  and  students  is  necessary 
It  is  therefore  requested  that  all  items  of  inter- 
est relating  to  past  and  present  students  be  sent 
to  the  Personal  Editor. 


A.  P.  Trautwein  "76  and  A.  Spies  '81,  have 
been  elected  Alumni  Editors  on  The  Indi- 
cator. 


Durand  Woodman  has  left  the  United 
States  Electric  Light  Co.,  and  has  opened  an 
ofhce  as  analytical  chernist. 


H.  A.  Hickok  has  left  the  Wallis  Iron 
Works  to  accept  a  more  lucrative  position. 
His  present  address  is  unknown  to  us, 


■84. 

D.  H.  Maury  accompanies  his  father,  U.  S. 

Minister  to   United  States  of  Columbia,  to 

that  couQtiy,  where  he  will  receive  orders  for 

American  machinery. 


Where  is  the  football  team  ?  Did  Steveai 
put  a  team  in  the  field  this  season  ?  were  the 
questions  with  which  several  individuals  were 
plied  after  the  return  game  with  Lafayette?  . 
In  reply,  it  may  be  said  that  Stevens  had  a 
team  in  the  field,  but  met  with  defeat  on  all 
sides.  Such  a  score  has  not  been  made  since 
the  existence  of  the  Indicator,  at  any  rate. 
In  some  cases  the  team  did  excellent  work, 
as,  for  instance,  in  the  Princeton  games  ;  but, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  general  playing  was 
characterized  by  such  blunders  that  the  total 
points  scored  in  eight  match  games  was  jfer 
against  390 !  Lafayette,  however,  is  <ml]r 
turning  the  tables  on  us ;  for  two  years  ago 
the  score  was  58  to  o  in  favor  of  Stevens. 
One  thing,  however,  is  entirely  inexcusable, 
and  that  is  the  failure  to  play  the  match 
arranged  with  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
It  is  the  first  time  that  such  has  occurred ; 
let  us  hope  it  is  the  last. 

Everybody  at  Stevens  knows  the  reputation 
Rutgers  has  as  regards  arranging  dates  for 
football  matches — not  an  enviable  one,  cer- 
tainly. Will  not  U.  of  Pa.  regard  Stevens  in 
the  same  light? 

The  football  season  is  generally  considered 
to  end  with  the  games  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
and  on  that  account  considerable  blame  should 
be  attached  to  the  board  of  directors  of  tlw 
Athletic  Association  for  fixing  such  a  date  for 
this  match  with  Pennsylvania,  knowing  as  thej 
ought  to  how  extremely  difficult  it  frequently 
is  to  get  a  team  together  on  ordinary  occaaoni 
to  play  a  match  out  of  Hoboken,  much  lessoD 
the  Saturday  after  Thanksgiving. 


"I  see  the  scoundrel  in  your  face,"  ei- 
claimed  the  judge  to  the  prisoner,  "i  reck- 
on, jedge,"  was  the  response,  "  that  that  'ere's 
a  persona]  reflection,  ain't  it?" — Student  Uft- 


THE   STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


■37 


ig,  going,  ^one !     What  ?   Why,  the  1n- 

)R  Publishing  Company. 

gives  us  one  more  variation  to  the  much 
1  "  Gray's  Elegy."     Thanks  ! 

.  W.  (addressing  student  at  the  board): 
:  is  this  at  the  board  ? "  Student  feels 
nd  class  indulge  in  uproarious  laughter. 

demoralization  of  the  foot  ball  team 
unfortunate  as  it  was  complete,  Stcv- 
nly    scored    6    points     against     316. 

M  I 

:y  College,  Cornell  University,  is  now 
pular  resort  for  unfortunate  Stevens 
|uite  a  colony  having  taken  up  their 
there  during  the  past  six  months. 

lenborn,  '87,  has  been  compelled  to 
lollege  on  account  of  trouble  with  his 
hich  it  is  feared  will,  become  serious. 

st  he  will  be  with  us  again  next  term, 

following  men  have  been  selected  by 
tiring  Board  of  Editors  of  the  Indica- 
icoiistitute  the  undergraduate  members 

new  board:  Kiernan, '87;  Wynkoop, 
ickson,  '89  and  Lawrence,  '90. 

illness  of  Prof.  Mayer  has  been  more 
than  was  at  first  supposed.  He  has 
jffering  from  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever, 
now  slowly  regaining  his  strength,  and 
rnestly  hoped  that  his  recovery  will  be 
iy  one. 

ou  want  to  see  a  perfect  "  jam,"  just 
look  into  the  Chemical  Laboratory  on 
lys  or  Fridays  and  see  the  Seniors  at 
Why  the  place  is  full  to  overflowing 
2niors.  It  is  surprising  how  so  many 
irk  there  together,  is  it  not? 

simply  delightful  to  see  how  much  the 
s  man  in  '87  knows  about  German. 
her  day,  an  "87  man  was  heard  to  accost 
)cent  son  of  Germany  with  the  expres- 
ipeaken  sie  English."  The  "  innocent 
ailed  to  connect.     No  wonder. 


A  short  time  since,  a  Junior  before  explain- 
ing some  work  at  the  board,  announced  that 
he  was  going  to  give  a  modification  of  "  the 
other  valve,"  there  being  about  six  hundred 
valves,  more  or  less,  to  select  from.  The 
Juniors  have  always  been  noted  for  their 
lucidity  anyway. 

We  have  heard  of  "  egg  plant,"  "  pie  plant," 
and  several  other  kinds  of  plants,  but  we  never 
heard  of  a  "lager  beer  plant  "  until  the  other 
day,  when  a  senior  took  us  aside  and  told  us 
in  the  strictest  confidence  that  a  brewery  is  a 
"  lager  beer  plant,"  Two  of  the  board  con- 
tracted brain  fever  on  the  spot. 

The  other  day,  a  very  small  "  Prep,"  was 
heard  warbling  the  following  through  the  halls 
of  the  Institute  : 

The  curfew  tolls  the  knell  of  parting  day. 

The  lowing  herd  winds  slowly  o'er  the  lea. 
And  from  the  field  the  ploughman  sneaks  away, 

To  get  a  drink  al  the  brewery. 

If  after  the  appearance  of  this  issue,  there 
is  seen  on  the  campus  half  a  dozen  individuals 
turning  hand  springs  and  giving  evidence  of 
great  and  unbounded  joy,  you  may  know  that 
they  are  the  members  of  the  Editoral  Board  of 
the  Indicator,  who  having  completed  this, 
their  last  issue,  are  made  temporarily  insane 
by  the  tremendous  strain  being  thus  suddenly 
removed  from  their  minds. 

When  the  Indicator  publication  was  dis- 
solved it  consisted  of  the  following  : 

Carter  H  Page,  Jr.,  '87,  President ;  Thor- 
burn  Reid,  '88,  Vice-President  ;  Hubert  S. 
Wynkoop,  '88,  Secretary  ;  Arthur  H.  Fuller, 
'88.  Treasurer;  Franklin  Moeller,  '87;  Burton 
P.  Hall.  '88;  John  V.  L.  Pierson,  '88;  Robert 
G.  Smith,  '88;  William  W.  Schenck,  '88;  Thos. 
A.  Van  der  Willigen,  '88  ;  George  B,  Mul- 
daur,  '89. 

Prof.  Albert  R,  Leeds,  who  has  recently  re- 
turned from  an  inspection  of  the  great  public 
water  works  of  England  and  Scotland,  read  a 
paper  on  "  The  Purification  of  Water  Supplies  " 
before  the  New  York  Academy  of  Sciences,  in 
Hamilton  Hall,  Columbia  College,  two  weeks 
ago.  Prof.  Leeds  said  he  favored  aeration  as 
the  most  feasible  method,  with  filtration,  when 
a  proper  means  should  be  found. 

The  Senior  class  has  been  actively  engaged 
for  some  time  past  in  discussing  commence- 
ment exercises.    For  that  purpose  the  follow- 


138 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


ing  have  been  appointed  to  constitute  the  class 
day  committee :  Page,  Flack  and  Anderson. 
Commencement  committee :  Moeller,  Hart, 
Firestone,  Quimby  and  Serrell.  It  was  also 
decided  to  have  a  nominating  committee,  for 
the  purpose  of  choosing  the  orators.  Nomi- 
nating committee :  McElroy,  Beard  and 
Quimby. 

It  pleaseth  the  hearts  of  the  staid  Seniors 
and  the  worthy  Juniors  to  observe  the  Fresh- 
men toil  in  the  shop.  The  avidity  with  which 
they  toil  is  likened  greatly  to  the  avidity  with 
which  the  Juniors  do  anything  else  but  toil. 
Fret  not  thyself  because  of  these  things  how- 
ever. The  Freshman  is  young  and  tender ;  he 
waxeth  old,  he  waxeth  also  wise,  and  soon  will 
he  see  the  folly  of  his  ways.  And  when  it 
comes  to  pass  thus,  he  will  cut  "  every  other 
day  and  tarry  long  on  one  exercise. 

The  class  of  '90  appears  to  have  a  very  en- 
joyable time  on  the  whole,  judging  from  the 
sounds  of  revelry  that  issue  from  its  class 
room  at  all  hours  of  the  day.  'J'he  musical  ele- 
ment seems  to  predominate  among  its  mem- 
bers and  they  are  evidently  not  of  the  kind 
who  are  at  all  backward  about  using  the  tal- 
ents which  they  possess.  It  is  a  fortunate  cir- 
cumstance that  such  is  the  case,  as  the  musical 
clubs  which  have  previously  existed  in  the  In- 
stitute, are  rapidly  becoming  lifeless.  It  is 
hoped  that  '90  will  infuse  new  life  into  these 
warring  organizations,  and  give  them  the  promi- 
nence which  they  deserve. 


,ki,||l-*:il«-J-  -U..i... 


K<.')a^f</ 


The  Princetonians  advertisement  column 
of  "  Lost  and  Found  "  seems  to  be  well  patron- 
ized. 

**The  President  of  the  Sophomore  Class 
has  given  $500  to  the  gymnasium  fund.** 
Phew  !  Our  Sophomore  President  didn*t  pay 
as  much  as  that  for  his  election. 

The  Lippincott  Publishing  Company  is  of- 
fering prizes  for  articles  on  social  lift  at  Vas- 
sar,  Yale  and  other  prominent  colleges.  If 
we  were  one  of  the  aforementioned  prominent 
colleges,  how  our  famous  class- room  riots 
would  amuse  the  outside  world  ! 


The  Pleid  contains  an  account  of  the  ad- 
vantages offered  by  the  Biological  Laboratory 
at  Annisquam,  Mass.  This  is  replete  with 
such  beautiful  Latin  names  as  Lopothum 
Fdbriciiy  LunoHa  heros  and  Holothumdea, 
Of  course  we  all  hold  their  aidea.  Don't  offer 
such  provocation  again,  please. 

Lafayette  exchanges  are  very  personal.  "In 
our  intercourse  with  old  and  new  friebdsi 
perhaps  it  would  be  well  to 

'  Be  to  their  faults  a  little  blind. 
And  to  their  wishes  very  kind,' " 

as  Sybil  well  reminds  us. 

The  Vassar  Miscellany  contains  a  five-page 
review  of  the  "  Strange  Case  of  Dr.  Jeckyll 
and  Mr.  Hyde ;"  also  an  essay  on  "  The 
Mission  of  Wagner,"  in  which  occun  the 
word  Gotterdammerung.  Oh,  girls  !  But  per- 
haps this  has  some  connection  with  several 
other  expressions  which  only  a  musician  can- 
be  expected  to  understand. 

Madisonensisy  in  an  article  on  the  poetry  of 
Benjamin  F.  Taylor,  class  of  '38,  states  that 
Mr.  Taylor  is  a  poetic  Burroughs.  We  clip 
a  few  hnes  from  *'  How  the  Brook  Went  to 
the  Mill "  : 

A  nameless  rill        *        •        •        •        • 

^        *        crept  away  in  the  tangled  gimss 

With  a  voiceless  flow  and  a  wandenng  wilt, 
The  Wish-ton-wish  of  a  silken  dress, 
The  murmured  tone  of  a  maiden's  "  Yes  !*' 
♦        ♦        etc. 

In  the  Mechanical  Engitieer  we  notice  an 
appeal,  by  William  E.  Kent,  M.  E.,  for  the 
formation  of  a  new  engineering  society  to  be 
formed  of  "  Men  Who  Have  Done  Some- 
thing." A  bright  idea.  We  see  that  an  at- 
tempt is  also  being  made  to  form  a  "  Society 
of  Stationary  Engineers."  A  paper  read  two 
months  ago  in  England  on  "  Triple  Expan- 
sion Marine  Engines,"  is  an  interesting  article 
at  the  present  time.  Through  the  columns  of 
the  Engineer^  a  gentleman  connected  with  the 
wrecking  company  which  was  engaged  on  the 
Oregon  wreck  says  :  "  It  doesn't  take  much 
of  a  storm  to  make  itself  felt  sixty  feet  down, 
where  the  Oregon  lay,  as  our  divers  were  fully 
satisfied." 


The  College  Mercury  always  contains  * 
great  amount  of  college  news.  We  suppose 
you  are  in  some  way  excusable  for  admitting 
an  article  on  the  "  Marking  System,"  but  the 
subject  is  a  terrible  "chestnut." 


THE  MECHANICAL  ENGINEER. 


Words  by  W.  F. 


Music  by  £.  S. 


1.  A         frol  -  ic  -  some  life,        with-out  care         or  strife, 

2.  The        ham-mer    he  swings      till  the    an     -     vil  rings, 

3.  He     breaks  ev  -  ery   rule,      and  breaks  ev    -     ery  tool. 


The  A  -  mer  -  i   -  can  stud   -   ents 

And    swings   his      girl  in  the 

And        oft  his       prom    -    ise 


i 


n-m^m 


^ 


m 


m 


mf   tempo  legcUo, 

I 

3f 


i 


i 


ife 


3? 


^ 


^ 


5^ 


lead; 
dance ; 
breaks ; 


Though  the  purse      be   slim,      and  the  gov-em  -  or    grim,  Still  neir-er    they    stand        in 
The         i  -  Ton    he    rolls       and    casts     it     in  moulds.  And  oft  casts    an    am  -  o  -  rous 
He     breaks  ma  -  ny  hearts,  when  -  e'er    he   de  -  parts.   And  his    ten  -  der     friends    for 


ritard. 


^ 


iN=fi^ 


^— W: 


r*' 


/^ 


fcj^„j/j  ^^^^ 


need.  With     ev  -  ery-one's  trust    they   go     on      a   "bust."     I       f an  -  cy    the    mat-  ter      clear — 

glance.         With  won-der  -  ful    zeal     he    tests    a  •  ny  steel.    And    tests  the  love    of        his     dear — 

sakes.  He  turns  ev  -  ery  brass,    and  mind    of    each  lass,        I       fan  -  cy    the    mat  -  ter      clear — 


THE   HKCaANICAL   KNGINEEK. 


^^m^ 


THE  STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


G.&B.T.ADTBOnY&W. 

aSi  Broadway,  X.  F, 


PHOTOGRAPHIC  INSTRUMENTS, 

RPPRRfiTOS  HNE  SUPPLIES 


F.  iL.'tJTHinsr, 

197  Washington  Street, 
HOBOKEN,  N.  J, 

|Otihs,  Staiionfirg.   mtti   mi%% 

DRAWING    MATERIALS. 
Text   Books  Snpplied  At   Short  Notice.      Dis- 
count off  on  all  Books. 


Messrs.  Wm.  S.  Kimball  &  Co 
have  produced  a  Cigarette  that  has 
long  been  desired.  It  is  delicately 
perfumed,  just  enough  to  destroy  the 
odor  of  the  burning  paper,  and 
changes  the  smoke  to  an  incense,  so 
entirely  different  from  the  ordinary 
Cigarette,  that  no  one  can  object  to 
its  use,  it  is  innoxious  and  univer- 
sally liked. 

Harris'  Patent  Improvements 

Established  186+.  -*i'ffevid  61166,  R.  I. 


S.  HAWKRIDGE 

(Successor  to  G.  Wale  St  Co.), 

Pl\ilo^o|)l\ickl  Ir\^ti'uir\ent  JVIkkef 

TO  THE 

STEVENS   INSTITUTE   OF   TECHNOLOGY 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J. 

AGENT   FOR   THE   WALE   IMPROVED   PHOTOGRAPHIC   LENS. 


THE    STEVENS   INDICATOR. 


GRIFFITH'S  PHARMACY, 

270    W^^SHINGTON    ST.,   HOBOKEN,    N.  J., 
0,      W.     BARRY,    (proprtetor, 

AMERICAN  &  FOREIGN  MINERAL  WATERS, 

:Ea:oT  -AJEstxd  ooxjXD  soxd.^. 
The  moat  cpmplete  aeeortment  of  Fancy  Qoodg.  Toilet  Articles  and  Perfumee 
In  the  city.    Preecriptlona  carefully  prepared,  and  all  orders   . 
promptly  attended  to. 


PACH  BROS. 


841  BROADWAY, 
NEW  YORK. 


rpllK    NEW   AND    fOMPLETB  C 
PrUUCATIONS  OF 
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work!  on  *KiicnUiirB,  AsMjIng,  Astronamy.  Boolc-k«(rft:r 
Chimliitr]-,  Drswitie  ud  PiilDtlng.  KlictrlcUr,  Ene!n»n^ 
McUtluricr.  MKhlnei7,  MechuiIcB,  UlDcnlog)'.  Seeounut^ 
StcsDi  Engine,  Ten UUtian,  etc.  etc  Also,  ■  full  tbt  of  tt:^ 
edltlona  or  JOSN  RI'SEIN'S  WORKS.  Will  be  Hni  fn*=s 
niB,<l  to  ui;  one  orderlaR  It. 


JOHN  PATTERSON  &  CO., 


^gi 


# 


PS, 


436    6th    A.VE;I^UE, 

NEW+YOEK. 


LADIES'   DEPARTMENT, 


431    F'iftli    Avenwe. 


THE    STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


Ill 


F.  W.  DEVOE  &  CO. 


(ESTABLISHED   1852), 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


ATHEM^TICAL  [NSTRUMENTS, 

Engineers'  and  Surveyors'  Supplies, 

ARCHITECTS'  &  DRAUGHTSMEN'S  MATERIALS, 
ARTISTS'  MATERIALS, 

IL     COLORS  IN   TUBES,    WATER   COLORS, 

FINE   BRUSHES, 
DRAWING  MATERIALS,  STUDIES,  ETC. 

Illustrated  Catalogues  on  application. 


OR.  FULTON  AND  WILLIAM  STREETS, 


NEW   YORK. 


nr 


Sandford 

#  Co., 

lepcbt  Tailors  k  Imporks, 

1&  West  23d  Street, 


^P.  5th  Ave.  Hotel. 


NEW  YORK. 


MAKERS  OF 


Pajamas  and  Underivear. 


// 


latest  London  Fabrics  regularly  imported. 


L.  H.  BATES, 


DRA.LER  IN 


Ladies',  Misses'  and  Children's 

WALKING  SHOES. 


Also  a  Full  Liitk  or 


GEHT'S  HAMD-SEWED  BUTTON  AHD  CONGRESS 


IX  THE  LaTRST  STTLK. 


202  — ^Vashington  Street  —  202 


HOBOEBN,  N.  J. 


N.  B.— A  full  line  of  Bicycle  and  Iiairn  Tennis 
Sboes. 


rr 


lie 


S 


D 


HOLYOKE,   MASS. 


NEW    YORK,    BOSTON,    PHILADELPHIA 
CHICAGO  AND  ST.  LOUIS. 


PUMPING  MACHINERY 

OF    EVERY    VARIETY. 

Water   Works  Engines  a   Specialty. 

SEND  FOR  CATALOGUE  NO.  41. 


L 


IV 


TNE   STEVENS  INDICATOR. 


-THE- 


HOBOKEN  GOAL  COMPANY, 


DEALERS  IN 


SCRANTON, 

OLD  COMPANY'S  LEHIGH, 
SUSQUEHANNA  WHITE  ASH, 

ALLIANCE  RED  ASH, 

AND  OTHER  COALS. 
FamillM  tad  MtanfiutiiTMi  Supplied  at  the  Loweit  Batei. 

BITUMINOUS  COAL  FOR  BLACKSMITHS'  USE. 

INGE  HULL  CANNEL. 

Varrlc.  i  Grove,  Cor.  19th  St,  Jersey  City. 
I  cllU5>.  )  jtij  St.,  bet. Grove  &  Henderson  Sts. 

f  At  the  Yards. 

1 1 1  Broadway,  i!^"^)  N^w  York. 

58  Montgomery  St.,  Jersey  City. 
.  Cor.  Bay  St.  &  Newark  Av.,  J.  C. 

GENKHAL.    OFFICE  : 

COR.  NEWARK  k   HUDSON  STS.,  HOBOKEN. 

p.  O.  Box  947.  Telephone. 


Offices : 


JOHN  SCHUEMANN, 


■^VIENNA<«- 


^ti\B  JiP 


:b-a.isieii=i.-2'. 


165  WISHMGTOM  STREET, 


|oKeD,  1.  J 


17.  jS. Sfuclerjfs*  uuijcl)  ct  Special f v. 


OAKLEY  &  SACHS, 


1  VESEY  STREET, 


(Astor  BUnuie)t 


•  ■ 


1 

*  ^  5K  ^  •♦riBw  yoi| 


•  ♦' 


A   FINE  ASSORTMENT  OF 


**1 

I. 

■1: 


Suitings,  Overcoatings,  Et^ 

CONSTANTLY  ON   HAND,  AT 
REASONABLE    PRICES. 


-^ 


A.  G.  SPALDING  &  Bl^ 

341  BROADWAY,         % 

:^pof  tii\g  Qoodj 

OF  EVERT  DESCRIPTION. 

LaWn  Tennis  Bicfcleff, 

BASE  BALL  SUPPLIES,  Etc. 

Send  for  Illustrated  Catalogue,  etatizig  Ux 

of  goods  wanted. 

COLLTEB  '>^hi*  BAIBDi 

243  Brwulway^  New  T&rk* 

©OUNSBLLOI^S  AT  llR^t 

TRADE  MARK  AND  PATEKT  CAUSES 

A    SPECIALTY. 


Amorican  and  Foreign  Patenter  obtained  pnan^ 
Interferences  conducted.  Opinions  giyen  upon  fjiniftti 
of  Infringement  and  Validity.  SpedficatiODB 
drawn.  Personal  attention  guaranteod,  aod  aO 
munications  confidentiaL 


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-ILLOTT'S 

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